C.O.C.A. Times

E.E. Junior and Their Gumball Games of Skill
by Ken Rounds
The basketball vendor is made of cast aluminum,
while the football version is formed steel.
Mechanically both machines are well conceived,
with each step precisely thought out. PLAY FOOT-
BALL includes brass parts that can be adjusted as
required, so as to vend fewer gumballs in the event
the price of sugar increased.
PLAY BASKETBALL functioned as follows:
1. The gumball was passed to the shooter by insert-
ing a penny in the slot, and then pushing the front
lever all the way to the right.
2. The player tapped the right-hand lever firmly in
order to try and make a basket.
3. Depositing the coin gave the player three shots
for his or her penny.
4. The player was awarded any gumball to enter the
basket, plus one additional gumball delivered at
the right side of the machine.
Located at 711 East 61st Street in Los Angeles,
the E.E. Junior Company is known for having made
two vending machines, the PLAY BASKETBALL
and PLAY FOOTBALL. We know a little about the
history of this company. For instance, it seems to
have been in business since early 1930, lasting until
1934 before conking out. Along with these two
vending machines they also contributed a few pin-
ball games to the California pinball frenzy of 1932 PLAY FOOTBALLfunctioned as follows:
to 1934.
These two games of skill were apparently 1. Gumballs were put into play by inserting a penny
Junior's only contributions to the vending machine
into the slot and pulling the lever. A total of five
industry. Although they are "patent pending" no evi-
gumballs then lined up opposite the kicker's foot.
dence survives to show that this ever led to actual 2. The player tapped the lower lever firmly to try
patents. There seems to be little in their design that
for a goal kick as the kicker's foot swings for-
is unique and therefore patentable. However, the
ward.
only other gum vendors known to involve skill play 3. Depositing the coin gave the player five tries for
are the various Penny Drops, therefore making the
his or her penny.
E.E. Junior machines a rare example of this genre. 4. The player was awarded any gumball which
Very few of these machines have apparently sur-
made it over the goal post, plus one additional
vived in working order. Estimates place the number
gumball.
of known working "3 for 1¢" PLAY BASKET-
BALL machines at a mere half dozen; the "2 for 1¢" Note: Ken has since sold most of his collection but
machines fewer than that. Maybe three or four of the still enjoys the hobby of coin-op.
rarer PLAY FOOTBALL machines exist. In fact, I
have been told by most vending collectors that
they've never seen the latter item.
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