Quirky News #1

Antique Coin Operated Vending Machines

Coin operated slot machines were all the rage during the early part of last century. Ornate mechanical devices located in amusement parks and arcades which purported to do everything from read your horoscope to tell your weight.

There were Piano Nickelodeons, Wurlitzer Carousel Organs complete with an assortment of instruments, the Regina changeable disk Music Box, antique pianos outfitted with seven instruments (accordion, tambourine, triangle, wood block, drum, symbols, and piano), Dancing Music Boxes, Pinball machines, Jukeboxes, Vintage and Antique Gum-ball and Peanut Machines, Soda Machines, Penny Drop Gambling Machines, Strength Testers, Metal Strip Stampers, Handshake Personality Tester, Fortune Tellers, Love Meters, Arcade Football, Photo Booths, Movie Viewers, Miniature Steam Shovel cranes, Ten Pin Bowling, Rifle Shooting, Carousel Kiddie Rides, Boxing Bag Machines. Antique Pay Phones and lots more.

Penny Arcade Memorabilia – The Days of The Antique Vending Machines Associated Press February 22, 2010 Dozens of Christopher Steele’s coin-operated weighing machines are being displayed in a gallery in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Steele explains why he’s interested in saving ‘remnants from a simpler time.’ (Feb. 22)