AboutLarry Bieza Expertise I can answer virtually any question relating to coin operated machines. I have been a BUYER and COLLECTOR for over 25 years and have authored a number of PRICE GUIDES on the subject. My favorite coin operated items are penny arcade machines and pinball games, although I have a vast knowledge in all areas. I also have a huge quantity of coin operated paper advertising which can help date and identify most items.I can answer questions on vending machines, arcade machines, fortune tellers, slot machines, digger/crane machines, gumball machines, peanut machine, gum machine, strength testers, lung testers, pinball machines, gambling machines, bowling machines, etc. I have expertise in the machines from Mills Novelty, Caille, Watling, Keeney, Genco, Chicago Coin, Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, etc.
Experience I have written a number of Price Guides for penny arcade machines AND for pinball games and am considered one of the experts in the hobby on pricing.
Education/Credentials I come from the school of experience. Collecting Coin operated items is my life and hopefully you have some questions to test my abilities!
I recently acquired this machine from my fiance's grandfathers house. It looks identical to the 1940 grotchen sparks 1 cent trade stimulator except the reels are sports pictures and not cigarettes. Also the sparks plate on the top front is half covered up by a small plate showing the winning combinations. The word "sparks" is still visible but the paragraph about the gumballs is covered up by this new plate. The new plate matches perfectly to the original with the same identical colors and same "rivets" fastening it to the machine. Lastly it is a 5 cent machine and not a 1 cent. I've looked everywhere and can not find this machine. I've checked it inside and out and every piece has the same number "A3369" on it what do you think I have here?
Answer Hi Priscilla, Groetchen was one one of the premier trade stimulator manufacturers. Richard Groetchen ran the company, which was actually a large machine/design shop. They did design and prototype work for many other companies, along with their production of coinop machines. 1940 was a busy time for the company which put out 31 different models and variations of trade stimulators in that year alone! Although Groetchen started the Sparks line of machines in 1938, what you have here is a 1940 Sparks Champion model. The Champion came in a number of variations which were based on the region of the country they were being shipped. You see, back in those days there were legal restrictions against operating gambling devices in many states, just as there are still some now. The company made machines that would get around the restrictions by changing the reels, awards, payouts, etc to make them legal in a particular state. This model when it came fully dressed had a gumball vendor on the left side, and two different token vendors(the gold award was on the front, right side) that would pay out a token to be traded for cash upon hitting a winning combination. Yours must have operated in a restricted area and has had those payout devices removed. The added front sports plate covers information about payouts. Of course the bartender could still pay you over the counter (wink, wink). Value on this would be about $300-400.
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