History was made on September 17th 1994 when Ken Rubin, author of Drop Coin Here, placed the winning bid on a 1897 coin operated arcade wrist strength tester.
Approximately 600 coin operated machines from the collection of Dr. Smith went on auction on September 16-17, 1994. The machines were available for inspection for a one week period prior to the auction. A number of machines were one-of-a-kind arcade machines.
Unlike most other coin machine auctions, Sotheby's does not bring each item to the stage for the bidding process. It projected a picture of the current machine for bidding on a screen. Another automated display indicated the lot number being bid on and the current bid price. The bids were shown in U.S. dollars, but also in several foreign currencies (Japanese yen, British pound, German mark, etc.).
After all the bidding was done, history was made again. The auction brought a total of $3,317,030, an all time record for a collection of coin machines.
The auctioneer was not the flamboyant fast speaking huckster we often associate with the auction business, but a crisp mater-of-fact announcer. On the average, each item was sold in less than a minute.
The auction consisted of 780 lots including circus and carousel items, automatic music (nickelodeons and band boxes) arcade machines, trade stimulators, vending machines and paper collectibles. Unlike most other coin op events, the auction included only two jukeboxes and only a dozen slot machines.
The items were sold in an as-is condition. While some items were beautifully restored, many items were incomplete or not working..
Bidders came from across the country, making the auction a social event where many collectors were able to visit with each other in a relaxed atmosphere.
As with all auctions, some items brought unbelievable prices. The restored arcade machines, Caille cast iron machines, automatic music, and baseball related items were actively sought after and received significantly higher than going prices. Most of the other items sold at middle to high current retail levels. There was a 15% buyer's premium and a 7.5% sales tax.
American Carved Wooden Cigar Store Figure of an Indian from Coney Island, circa 1800 - $5,000
Denzel Carved Wood Menagerie Carousel Figure of a Lion - $57,500
Neiman painted Canvas Circus Side Show Banner: "Jeanie Living half Girl" circa 1930 - $1,600
Stollwerck 1 cent Chocolate and Gum Vending Machine circa 1899 - $4,250
Caille 1 cent George Washington Weighing Scale - $6,500
United "I Speak Your Weight" 5 cent Talking Scale - $6,500
Harvard Automatic Machine Company 5 cent Medal Stamper - $2,500
Cretors & Co., Popcorn and Peanut Roasting Cart (restored) - $5,500
Blinkey Eyes Jolly Fellow Gum and Match Vendor - $30,000
Mercer See Diavolo Loop the Loop Gum and Match Vendor - $30,000
The Enchantress 5 cent Floor Model Fortune Card Vendor, gypsy figure, restored, circa 1925 - $11,000
Wurlitzer Model DX Nickelodeon Piano, circa 1916 - $17,000
Roover Bros. Puss n' Boots 1 cent Floor Standing Fortune Telling Machine, circa 1896 - $17,000
Trip-L-Jax Penny Drop Counter Machine - $800
Mills Jockey 5 cent Five Reel Poker Trade Stimulator - $5,000
Mills Three Reel 5 cent Roman Head Slot Machine - $1,700
Fairest Wheel Penny Play Counter Gaming Machine - $1,100
Mills 25 cent Double Violano Virtuoso, circa 1920 - $60,000
Mills Operator's Bell three Reel 5 cent Slot Machine - $8,500
Tin Mutoscope Movie Viewers with Reels, circa 1920 - $1300, $1400, $1700, and $2000
Caille Mickey Finn 5 cent Tug of war Strength Testing Machine - $8,500
American Mutoscope Co. Cast Iron Indian Motif 1 cent Floor Standing Viewer Model E - $9,000
Solar Horoscope 5 cent Fortune Telling Machine - $1,200
Mills Chicago Musical Upright 5 cent Wheel Slot Machine - $17,000
Wurlitzer Model 1800 Juke Box - $3,000
Mills 1 cent How Much Can You Lift Strength Tester - $1,300
Mills Novelty Co. Cricket 5 cent Floor Standing Payout Machine - $23,000
Caille Cast Iron Apollo Muscle Tester 1 cent Amusement Machine, restored - $42,500
Chicago Coin Co. Band Box Minature Band Display - $700 Additional information on current pricing can be found in a number books that are available from the GameRoomAntiques Bookstore.
Copyright: 1996 Ken Durham.
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Ken Durham
GameRoomAntiques
3000 Galloway Ridge, C-306
Pittsboro NC 27312
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