Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #077 - 1981 - July [International Arcade Museum]
T»HCE ©
C 0 R N( E R
MOST WANTED TOKENS
by Stephen P. AI pert
There are many slot machines that used tokens
The coin machine industry apparently didn't even
which haven't been found yet (the tokens, that is, not
issue tokens or medals associated with their own coin
the machines). These old tokens, if they name or
picture the machine, would most certainly be on any
amusement token collector's most wanted list. For
advertise
machine trade shows. Here was an opportunity to
the
companies
and
new
machines
on
souvenir pocket-piece tokens and medals. Most other
example, I recently obtained a previously unknown
industries issued souvenir or advertising pieces for
token picturing Caille's THE LION slot machine, and
their trade shows and conventions.
another collector has found the first BEN HUR token.
But even more conspicuous by its absence is the
However, the purpose of this article is not to discuss
the many old yet to be found coin machine tokens.
Instead I want to explore the other types of tokens and
lack of tokens and medals of the coin machine industry
from or associated with World Fairs and Expositions.
Again, many many companies issued advertising and
medals related to the coin machine industry — or to be
souvenir tokens and medals relative to their exhibits at
more precise, the apparent conspicuous lack of such
the fairs, or to publicize the awards their products won
items.
at the fairs. The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in
Nearly all of the important American industriesof the
20th century (which should include the coin machine
Chicago was too close in time to the beginning of the
coin machine industry. But other expositions in sub
industry as you'd surely agree, being a reader of The
sequent years should have been prime showplaces for
Coin Slot) issued a wide variety of advertising, novelty
the latest marvels in automatic coin operated machines.
and commemorative tokens and medals. The type of
Appropriate major fairs were: the Pan American Inter
items I'm referring to include advertising keychain
national Exposition, Buffalo, NY, 1901; the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, 1904; The Alaska-
Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, 1909; The Panama-
Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco, 1915;
The Century of Progress Exposition, Chicago, 1933-
medals, company anniversary medals, employee safety
or award medals, large paperweight medals, encased
pennies, advertising tokens, advertising pocket mirrors,
and advertising pinback buttons.
All of these items appear to be completely lacking
from the coin machine manufacturers, especially the
major manufacturers such as Mills, Watling, Caille,
Jennings and Pace.
Take anniversary tokens. Many companies regularly
issue advertising keychain medals to commemorate
1934; The Great Lakes Exposition, Cleveland, 1936;
The Golden Gate International Exposition, San Fran
cisco, 1939-1940; and The New York World's Fair,
1939-1940.
Did any of the coin machine manufacturers exhibit
any of their machines at these expositions? Or was the
their 10th, 25th, 50th, etc. anniversary. Some compa
industry's only participation just setting up a penny
nies are so anxious to publicize their anniversaries,
they also honor their 15th, 20th, 40th, etc., anniver
arcade at the fairs? Thousands of different tokens and
medals are known from these expositions, but none
saries with
are coin machine industry related. The closest you can
medals.
Many companies
issue
large
impressive bronze anniversary medals or paperweights.
come is a nickel-size token from the "Bruxelles Expo
They usually picture the founder of the company, and
sition 1910" which says "Amusements Automatiques
give dates, pictures of buildings, factories or products,
and other data. Who in the coin machine hobby
Americains"; it apparently was issued to be used in
American coin machines exhibited there.
What makes all the above-discussed lack of tokens
and medals even more surprising is that the coin
machine industry was probably more token-conscious
than any other industry (other than the token, medal,
and die making industry). Since the 1890's the slot
wouldn't prize a large old medal from a major coin
machine
manufacturer,
picturing
the
founder and
maybe some machines? If only they existed! Maybe
they do— but if so some should have turned up by
now. These anniversary medals generally were given
to customers or clients as advertising souvenirs, or
machine manufacturers were associated with tokens
gifts. Shouldn't at least one coin machine manufacturer
— which were dispensed from the machines as special
have issued at least one anniversary medal?
payouts, or used instead of coins to pretend that the
Then there are employee medals — for long service
machines weren't gambling devices.
Could it be that the machines were already spending
or employment, safety, top salesmen, etc. But not one
of these from the coin machine industry is known to
so
me.
accessory of their products, that they didn't want to
.com
m
u
e
:
s
from - in m a u larger
Encased cents are e
a d
penny put
aluminum
e
d
d shaped) containing
a
a
o
l
c
holder or frame
(round
or
horseshoe
r
n
.a
advertising.
seen
coins advertising just
Dow I've //w
ww encased
:
about every
business
and profession, but not coin
p
t
t
h
machine manufacturers. The closest you can get are
some encased cents of small amusement companies,
amusement parks, and bingo parlors.
© 34
The
International
—THE
COIN Arcade
SLOT Museum
much
on
the tokens which were a
necessary
spend any more on similar items (other tokens, medals,
advertising pieces)? Or can the lack of other tokens
and medals be explained by the nature of the product
— gambling machines — which had to contend with an
ever increasing number of local laws banning them?
Thus maybe they didn't want the additional publicity
the tokens and medals would have provided. Were the
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
July 1981