C.O.C.A. Times

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.
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