Vintage Coin Operated Machine

Vintage coin operated machine

The era of the coin-operated Vintage coin-operated machine coincided with the commercial birth of the gasoline-powered automobile. The last quarter of the 19th century saw the beginnings of both, and it’s likely that the first quarter of the 21st century will see their end. But until then, the machines continue to operate, though they’re being slowly replaced by credit cards and electronic gadgets.

Collectors have been able to find a wide array of interesting pieces in this category at 1stDibs, from jukeboxes, gumball and peanut machines to pinballs. They also come in a variety of styles, from Art Deco and industrial to folk art.

It’s no surprise that the popularity of collecting the

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The oldest machines date to 1700, when an Egyptian inventor devised a device that dispensed holy water for a five-drachma coin. Later, vendors popped up in hotels, country stores, saloons and train stations offering cigars, snuff, matches, collar buttons, pens, chewing gum, peanuts, stamps and other items. The industry grew tremendously until World War I slowed production, and then it came back with a bang during the 1920s and 1930s.

With the prohibition of bars and saloons, machines were almost wiped out until the A.B.T Manufacturing Company found success making coin-operated skill games that shifted the focus away from novelties and gambling to fun real, game-like machines that stood on their own. Vending machines were more brightly painted with a carnival-style look and used cast iron, mahogany or quarter sawn oak cabinetry.