C.O.C.A. Times

Issue: 2005-November - Vol 6 Num 3

Jacobs Cigar Vender
The new line
of
machines
was based on
mechanisms for
which
Alonzo
himself received
patents in 1907
and 1909. The
company
was
formed
"to
manufacture,
buy and sell ci-
gars, gum and
candies, and to
manufacture,
buy, sell, lease
or rent vending
machines ... " In
1910, possibly
with business in
decline, President Alonzo moved in from Independence,
Mo. but left Kansas City by the end of the year. We won-
der if he lost much of his 99 grand investment.
There were three different mechanisms used by The Jacobs
Cigar Vendor Company during its run in business between
1903 and 1911. The first two required the customer to
push in a plunger to get a cigar. The third version, the
best, featured a clockwork motor design that delivered a
cigar automatically and rang a bell. It had the unusual and
sophisticated mechanical ability to deliver six cigars for five
nickels: one cigar each time for the first four nickels and
twice for the fifth. Perhaps competition made it neces-
sary.
The Jacobs name comes from the money man, Alonzo Ja-
cobs of Independence, Mo. Alonzo got his start in the
cigar business from a 1903 patent assigned to him by
Fred Hartell of Pottawatomie County, Okla. who was likely
bought out. The company prospered in Chickasha, Okla.
and around 1905, changed the name to the Jacobs Auto-
matic Cigar Vendor Company.
In July 1907, the company moved to Kansas City, Mo., and
re-incorporated back to the original name. It was capi-
talized with 100 grand, with Alonzo putting up $99,400
and six other very unequal partners anteing up $100 each.
Were his first four business years that successful?
Here's a charming, simple gravity
cigar vender that works well with
round cigars.
Gravity venders did
not have positive action mechan-
ics to move the cigars. It is made of
cast iron, sheet metal, and glass with
stenciled lettering and decorations
all around.
No company identifi-
cation as yet. A few exist in various
conditions. ca. 1915.
Around 8 Jacobs's machines, or Alonzo's legacy, still exist
in one and three box models with various mechanisms.
19"h
Cigars
10 Cents
I wrote this article with the tickle that the cigar machines give to me - I hope I passed it along. And
yes, I like to smoke one on special occasions. I would again like to remember Dick Bueschel and thank
him for his research work and patent library that contributed to this article. He was so far ahead of us.
If any collectors would like to send to me photos of their cigar venders, it might be possible to pro-
vide a patent copy. And should thousands more of positive feedbacks come in again, there could be a
part three. May the coin-op force be with you.
31
- CLASS I Fl ED ADS -
FOR SALE: Reproduction copies of the following items are
available:
1) All paper for the WADDELL BICYCLE WHEEL - $60. per
set.
2) Marquee playfield for PEO & GOTTLIEB countertop
baseball games - $25. each.
3) E-Z Marquees (numbers or baseball) - $8.50 each. All
prices plus postage.
Jack Freund, P.O. Box 4, Springfield, WI 53176 or
Email: jbgum@msn.com
WANTED: HAVE CASH, WILL TRAVEL. COLLECTOR
LOOKING TO PURCHASE EARLY VENDING , GUMBALL
AND PEANUT MACHINES AND UNUSUAL COUNTER-
TOP MACHINES. ALSO LOOKING TO BUY BASEBALL,
BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL COUNTER MACHINES.
TOP CASH PAID.
Paul Hindin, 3712 West Scenic Ave., Mequon, WI 53092 ;
Phone: (262) 242-3131 or (414) 559-9681 or
Email : BedVibr8or@aol.com
FOR SALE: Beautiful copy of the original Mansfield Mirrored
Marquee with clip-on attachment. Complete your machine
and greatly increase the value. Total cost with priority ship-
ping and insurance is $199.95.
Paul Hindin, 3712 West Scenic Ave ., Mequon, WI 53092;
Phone: (262) 242-3131 or (414) 559-9681 or
Email : BedVibr8or@aol.com
WANTED: Golf Ball Slot Machine and Kitty Slot Machine.
Also buying German, French and English Chocolate and
gum machines .
Paul Hindin, 3712 West Scenic Ave., Mequon, WI 53092;
Phone: (262) 242-3131 or (414) 559-9681 or
Email : BedVibr8or@aol.com
WANTED: Top dollar paid. Chic-O-Berry; Pulver tall case
with diamond windows; Bluebird bowling ; Norris or Hance
Target practice shooting game; Gatter Novelty Ten Pin or
Ball Shooter; and EE Jr; Complete piece or wrapper only
- Pulver Chocolate or Pulver Kola-Pepsin Gum.
Tom Novitski (205) 587-6724 or Email: tnovi@aol.com
FOR SALE: Just picked up 32 issues of Marketplace Mag-
azines. Most are 1977, some earlier ... loaded with photos,
prices, information and much more of early pinballs, slot,
trade stimulators , vending machines and arcade machines.
Great resource and a lot of fun to read. Price is $10. each
plus $2. shipping each .... or $299. delivered to any of the
continental U.S. States.
Paul Hindin, 3712 West Scenic Ave., Mequon, WI 53092;
Phone: (262) 242-3131 or (414) 559-9681 or
Email: BedVibr8or@aol.com
WANTED : Wheel layout and glass graphics for Western
Improved Automatic Roulette. Also set of photo cards for a
exhibit supply photoscope . Silver King Novelty Co. slot ma-
chine decals.
Keith Amundson, 1034 Jenks, St. Paul, MN 55106 or
Phone: (651) 776-9784
FOR SALE: Replacement back doors for both the short case
Pulver and the Yellow Zeno machines. Pulver doors, $125.
and Zeno $100. Very limited quantity. Free shipping in U.S.
Paul Hindin, 3712 West Scenic Ave. , Mequon, WI 53092 ;
Phone : (262) 242-3131 or (414) 559-9681 or
Email: BedVibr8or@aol.com
WANTED: Master penny drop machine. Reproduction OK
but original preferred . Columbus B with slug rejector. Recon-
ditioned OK but nice original condition preferred.
Please contact: Steve Kane , (240) 354-7794 or
Email: LUVGUMBALLS @YAHOO.COM
FOR SALE: Pulver reproduction gum. 13 varieties for short
case Pulvers, Clark vendor, Midget Vendor, or Self Serve. 4
varieties for tall case Pulvers. 50 cents/piece. Also have re-
prints of window award cards and care of machine. Framed
displays available.
Tom Novitski (205) 655-7589 or Email : tnovi@aol.com
FOR SALE : Nickel , Dime , and Quarter Mills Hi-Tops unre-
stored. 5 cent Jennings Dixie Bell. 5 cent F.O.K. Mint Vend-
er. 25 cent Columbia Delux, very original. Very early 5 cent
Clock Cigar Trade Stimulator, displayed at the fall Antique
Slot Machine & Game Room Super Show in Arcadia, CA.
T.J. (310) 833-2389 or Email: jackietar3 @yahoo.com
FOR SALE: 5¢ Mills/Buckley Black Cherry. Also some early
issues of Coin Slot and Loose Change magazines. I need
the 1st seven (7) issues of Coin Slot magazine .
Ken Haynes: (770) 934-2377
AntiqueSlotMachines .com is ready to welcome you to the
wonderful world of serious vintage slot machine collecting.
I am not a parttime dealer. Buy or sell with full confidence.
Let's talk!
Bob Levy, 2802 Centre Street, Pennsauken , NJ 08109 or
Phone: (856) 663-2554
WANTED: CIGAR CUTTERS/ LIGHTERS and
miscellaneous parts. Fancy and ornate pieces with
advertising desired.
Randy Razzoog, (616) 453-8044 or
Email : suhara@ameritech .net
32

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