Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #021 - 1976 - October [International Arcade Museum]
by
William F. Carr
Most people in the coin machine business have had a long association
with coin-operated music. The jukebox has become an interesting
and unique piece of Americana. As more and more private collectors
hoard equipment previously discarded by operators, the history of
the jukebox and its evolution becomes of increasing interest.
Our story opens on November 23, 1889 in the Palais Royal Saloon in
San Francisco, California. On this date Louis Glass installed the first
coin-operated phonograph. It played cylinder records, had one selec
tion and came equipped with four ear tubes with a nickel slot on
each set for a single play potential of 20 cents for two minutes . ..
not bad in 1889! The phonograph was only twelve years old at the
time. To provide multi-selection, phonograph parlors were opened
with rows of phonographs each with a different record. These were
later joined by mutoscopes and other amusement devices to form
the "Penny Arcade." The phonograph, however, almost always used
a nickel. Profits were high in the early years of coin operation. The
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Louisana Phonograph Company reported that one of its machines
machines fell into disuse.
By 1930, the coin pianos themselves had become obsolete and with
the depression the entire phonograph industry faced bankruptcy. It
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