Coin Slot

Issue: 1979 September 055

Coin Slot Magazine - #055 - 1979 - September [International Arcade Museum]
AN INTRODUCTION TO
GAMBLING MACHINE TOKENS
Stephen P. Alpert
Most token collectors who collect amusement
The token collecting hobby is a branch of nu
mismatics (coin collecting).
began as coin
collectors,
Most token collectors
tokens have no knowledge of the machines the
and started collecting
tokens were used in or the companies that made
tokens when the coins they needed became too
the machines.
expensive or coin collecting became too boring.
thing in the way of amusement machine tokens:
Thus they tend to collect every
There is a lot more excitment in collecting tokens.
those of slot machines, pinball
First, they don't all look alike, as does say a col
machines, penny arcades, and so on.
lection of Lincoln cents where the coins vary only
over ten thousand different tokens in these groups
in the date and mintmaker. Secondly, tokens are
that have been discovered so far.
machines, music
There are
much scarcer than coins and much more challeng
ing to obtain, as you need persistent searching and
luck, not just money. Thirdly, no one knows what
On the other hand, people in the antique coin
tokens were produced, as no records were kept
machine hobby find most fascinating those tokens
as to what was issued, by whom, when, where,
related to the classic early machines and manu
and for what purpose.
facturers.
Thus it
is a common
The most desirable tokens date back to
occurrence to stumble upon a token previously
the late
unknown.
early machines were advertised or mentioned on
You now own a unique item.
This
1890's and early
1900's.
Many of the
the tokens: PUCK, THE DETROIT, BLACK CAT,
rarely happens with coins.
CRICKET, ENTERTAINER, DEWEY, BIG SIX,
Most
token
collectors
about their collections.
are
very
and others.
enthusiastic
Those with a coin collect
Some early tokens also mention the name of
ing background realize the potential value of tokens,
when the mintage figures or number of known
the
specimens are compared to coins.
Co., Caille Bros. Co., D.N. Schall, Chas. Fey, Auto
A token of
manufacturer:
Illinois
Machine Co., Caille
which a hundred specimens are known would be
matic Machine And Tool Co., Watling Mfg. Co.,
relatively quite common.
Mills Novelty Co., among many others.
But a coin with only
(These
tokens will be discussed in a future article.)
a hundred pieces in collector's hands would be
worth thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
The most desirable of the early machine tokens
The token may be worth a dollar or less, because
the demand for tokens is much smaller, and be
are the ones picturing the PUCK or DETROIT
cause of the extremely large number and variety
machine.
of different tokens that have been made.
known for the seven (or more) different tokens
in
There are about ten thousand token collectors
this
Only about 20 specimens total
group.
Caille-Schiemer
Another
token
desirable token
with
the
LION
are
is the
machine
in the UBS., and each one collects only certain
types of tokens.
pictured.
I have never seen this token nor do I
om anyone who has a specimen. Possibly the
c
.
know
eum
There are specialized organiza
m: us
o
r
f
ed ad War
e-m tokens,
tokens, coal company tokens,
oad .a Civil
l
c
r
n
and merchant trade
of other types
Dow tokens.
ww Dozens Amusement
w
/
of token subfields exist,
including
Ma
/
ttp:
chine Tokens, h
which is the subject of this article.
greatly increased in price lately.
Many may soon
At present there are only a few hundred people
bring $50 or $100 or more each.
This would not
interested in these tokens, but the number is grow
be unusual, for with other types of tokens, the
ing rapidly.
rarest and most desirable pieces skyrocket in value
tions for collectors of transportation tokens, tax
© The International Arcade Museum
rarest or most desirable token has yet to be dis
covered.
The old manufacturer and machine tokens have
14
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
Coin Slot Magazine - #055 - 1979 - September [International Arcade Museum]
to several hundred dollars apiece as collector de
machines.
mand and interest grows.
made for use in the payout pinball machines of
Thousands of different tokens were
the mid 1930's to mid 1940's.
Among the more recent tokens there are thou
sands upon thousands of different machine tokens
The use of tokens in association with gambling
that are very common or in very little demand,
and amusement machines has continued to this
and they can be obtained inexpensively.
day.
Many modern pinball machine arcades now
use tokens to operate the machines.
Some arcade
In the 1920's and 1930's, slot machine tokens
machines pay out tokens as skill awards or tokens
with a hole in the center were issued in enormous
that are redeemable for prizes. And in Nevada and
quantities.
Atlantic City, some casinos use tokens to operate
are
very
known.
The Property of O.K. Vender tokens
common,
with
hundreds
of
their slot machines.
varieties
such
as For Amusement Only, No Cash Value,
etc.
And many others have numbers (usually 5
The new $2 and $5 slot
machines currently in use operate on special $2
Other common tokens have phrases only,
and $5 tokens.
A new organization is being formed for collec
digits) which may be a code identifying operators
tors and enthusiasts of amusement and gambling
or merchants.
tokens.
Charter membership in the Amusement
In the 1930's Gold Award tokens and trade
Token Collectors Association (ATCA) is free at
stimulator payout tokens (AMERICAN EAGLE,
the present time, until a newsletter or periodical
SPARKS, etc.) came upon the scene, along with
is established.
similar
Alpert, P.O. Box 66331, Los Angeles, Calif. 90066.
tokens used with the horse-race console
If interested, write to me: Stephen
COIN MACHINE SERVICES-BUYER'S GUIDE
Collectors need to know where to buy things, or get things done - so we are starting
a free listing of BUYERS GUIDE and COIN MACHINE SERVICES. If you are a dealer
restorer, own a retail shop, etc. we will give you the free listings you want -- and will
run it every issue. If you have goods or services our readers should know about, tell us
and we will include it in the COIN MACHINE SERVICES listings.
Top quality repro reel strips and award cards for
P.O. Box 617, Daly City, fcA 94015.
SEEBURG 100B JUKEBOX MIRROR SET FOR
AROUND GRILL (1/2" x 1" mirror squares on
Free Catalog: We have the widest and best selection
Cupertino, California, 95014
trade stimulators. Send large SASE to Bill Whelan,
cloth backing) $27.
R. Shaw, 1142 Scotland Dr.,
of quality reproduction parts and literature for the
Jukebox Junction,
Pinballs-Sales-service-restorations-also buy Pinballs
Box 1081, DesMoines, Iowa 50311. 515-274-4308
Steve Young, Velie Rd, Lagrangeville, N.Y. (914)
Antique Jukebox
collector.
223-5613.
Complete
Restoration and Services for Antique
Coin Operated devices.
Minnesota 55106.
SLOTS & other coin machines. Over 200 in stock.
1034 Jinks St., St. Paul
Send large SASE for complete listing.
612-776-9784.
Funtiques,
1215 Broadway, Oak Grove, Missouri 64705 (816)
om
625-3231 or (816) 625-3262.
Juke .c
m
:
u
m Service
e and
boxes and slot machines for ro
sale.
s
u
f
-m Grand-
ed E. a 134
SPRINGS - exact reproductions - Mills, Watling,
repair.
Ray Eklund, d
7804
e Terr.,
d
a
o
l
c
r
Jennings, Pace, Caille, Buckley, etc. Free brochure
n
view, Missouri w
64030.
816-761-7093.
a
Do //www.
Bernie Berten, 9420Trumbull Ave., Evergreen Park,
:
IL 60642 (312) 499-0688.
THE ANTIQUE
http AUTORCHESTRA Co. Automatic
Slot
machine
Musical
parts-Mills and
Jennings.
Instruments; Highest quality restoration;
Original component duplication; Nickelodeon art
Complete,
glass designed & repaired.
Stimulators.
450 West 4th Street
restorations on
Slot
Dynasty,
23
Slots & Trade
Palmdale
Ave.,
Daly City, CA 94015
Beaumont, Calif. 92223, (714) 845-7536.
© The International Arcade Museum
mint
15
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