Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #087 - 1982 - May[International Arcade Museum]
arrival of the slot machines, most tokens were nickel
size so they could be gambled away in the machines.
The great majority of slot machine tokens were
made of brass Aluminum was too soft to withstand the
rugged use, and copper or nickel tokens were more
expensive. By the 1930's, some slot machine tokens
were made with an iron center portion, probably to
enable certain machines to distinguish tokens from
coins and sort them out. Some tokens were plated with
nickel or chrome, to simulate the more expensive
nickel tokens.
In non-machine trade tokens, both brass and alumi
num were widely used, with nickel and copper used to
a small extent. Fancy bimetallic tokens were also
available: brass tokens with an aluminum center. But
these were more expensive, and not too many were
made, compared to the all brass or all aluminum
tokens.
In the never-ending search to come up with a
cheaper composition material for tokens, substances
such as wood, fiber, and plastic began to appear in the
1930's and 1940's. Wood was widely used to make
wooden nickels, which at first were rectangular thin
slices of wood, with printing, used by communities
during the Depression as a money substitute or
souvenir issue to raise money. The round, thick, coin-
like wooden nickels came about a little later, and are
still widely used as tokens.
During World War II, brass and other coining materials
were needed for the war effort. Pennies were struck in
steel during 1943. Token manufacturers couldn't obtain
—Classified Ads
FOR SALE FOR SALE F<
Order a new classified ad (received in our office or at
Roy Arrington's Auction until May 2) and win a full
page of display advertising.
1st place — 1 full page
2nd place — V? page
3rd place — 1A page
4th place — Vs page
5th place — 3 classified ads
Winners' names to be drawn May 2 at Roy Arrington's
Auction!
10$ COIN FRONT ROL-A-TOP professionally restored $2,800,
1893 Maley Eclipse Trade Stimulator, G. C. rare, $3,000.10$ High
Top BONUS $1,275. 25$ Mills POINSETTIA needs work $850.
Others. 513-531-7618.
Jennings 250 STANDARD CHIEF $1,000. Rare Jennings CLUB
SPECIAL 1$ $1,500. Mills 5$ CHERRY $1,050. Keeney 10$
DOUBLE UP Console $450. Others Larry Drummond 614-259-5018.
.com
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use Looks brand new
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25C WAR EAGLE Reproduction
slot machine.
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and is beautiful inside
d Why pay up to $3,000 for an
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ca
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nlo
original? Priced
to sell for .a
$1,295. 201-546-3558.
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D MINIATURES
BRONZE
w of Bill Harris Western figures. #7 of 100,
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Cowboy, h One Armed Bandit, Indian, Miner, Mexican Bandito,
PACES RACES TOKENS, depicting race horse and jockey, original,
brass about size of a nickel, 15 for $10 plus SASE, Gold Bug Coin
Shops, Inc., 5349 N. Keystone, Indianapolis, IN 46220.
brass so they had to find substitute materials, and tried
iron, zinc, lead, fiber, and plastic Iron was unsatisfactory
because it rusted. Zinc has the problem of corroding
easily (watch what happens to the new 1982 copper-
plated zinc pennies now in circulation). Lead is soft
and heavy and doesn't hold up well in circulation. Fiber
is compressed layers of paper, token dies were used to
strike tokens out of fiber. The fiber tokens are light
weight and of various colors (usually red, green, or tan).
Small OPA ration tokens were made out of red and
blue fiber. Fiber is unsuitable for coin machine use
(although a few pinball machine tokens were made out
of fiber); they are damaged by water.
Sales tax tokens issued by states to make change in
fractions of a cent, were struck in aluminum, zinc,
brass, copper, fiber, cardboard, and plastic.
In recent years tokens are being made out of brass,
aluminum, copper, and plastic. Plastic is currently the
cheapest medium for token manufacture. When super
markets needed tokens to make change for food
stamps a few years ago, they ordered plastic tokens or
paper coupons.
Currently many tokens are being made for use in
coin machines The casinos in Nevada and New Jersey
are using large tokens made of nickel and brass
(because a hefty feel is desired and they are put
through rugged use). Amusement arcades all over the
country are using brass or nickel tokens instead of
quartera Aluminum tokens are used in instances
where the tokens are kicked out by the machine only,
and not played back in (such as in coin fall machines).
Some arcades use plastic tokens for this same purpose.
—Classified Ads
FOR SALE FOR SALE F(
VICTOR LITTLE 6 — mint, restored, beautifully recast back door,
glass restored to original detail and beauty. P30 Rubin's book
Rare, fancy cast iron countertop. $12,000. Crandall, 313-487-
9001, evenings.
1$ LITTLE DUKE, excellent double jackpot $2,900, 25$ Mills
COUNTER OK $1,950, 24" Evans Counter Top Standing Wheel
$325. Photos and descriptions, just ask, Dave DeRosa, 518-346-
6876. 4 Elmer Ave., Schenectady, NY 12308.
REPLACEMENT CABINETS: MostMills, Jennings, Pace and Watling
models, of solid oak from tried and true plans, with all wooden parts
for assembly. Reasonable prices, satisfaction guaranteed. For
details call (702) 358-7553, or write WOODTECH, Box 1942,
Sparks. NV 89431.
PUNCHBOARDS - We have thousands of old punchboardsout of the
30's, 40's and 50's. They are colorful eyecatchers for shows and
shops. Fast sellers! Send $15 for 4 assorted and catalogue of the
unusual trade stimulators. Amusement Sales. 127 No. Main, Midvale,
UT 84047. (801) 255-4731.
FREE MILLS DECAL, 11 for$10or$1 each; Mills mechanism label -
5 for$1; Groetchen Columbia parts manual reprint $2.50; Regal 1 $
or5$ decals$1.50 each, 10for$12. SASE for list of gumballdecals
and slot machine labels. Craig Willardson, P.O. Box8296 Spokane,
WA 99203.
sold as set or will sell individual figures, 10 in all; One Armed
MILLS 1924 O.K. VENDER Bell, very rare 50$ play, excellent
condition, the first cast aluminum model O.K. VENDER Bell, photos
available. $2,600. (518) 346-6876.4 Elmer Ave., Schenectady, NY
12308.
Buffalo Bill, Civil War Officer, Civil War Infantryman, Mountain Man
and Paul Bunyan. $350 each, F.O.B. Denver, Call Bill Harris for
details or to order. (303) 431-9266.
Sterling silver slot machine jewelry charm $15.00, necklace $20.00,
silver-plated necklace $8.00. Send postpaid. Scrimshaw slot jewelry
also available. Write The Jewel Belle, 1622 Mills, N. Muskegon,
Michigan 49445.
© The International Arcade Museum
May, 1982
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
THE COIN SLOT-49