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Collectibles-General (Antiques)/1940 groetchen sparks trade stimulator?

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Expert: - 1/6/2008


Question

trade stimulator
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
Priscilla,

You are right it is a Groetchen Sparks from 1940.  Most Sparks machines were manufactured with the cigarette theme.  However, I've seen several other configurations--beer, horses, fruit, numbers, and like your machine sports.  It was common practice for manufacturers to produce the same machine with different themes.

Chad
www.chadscoinop.com
buck@nvc.net
605-380-4763  
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Chad Boekelheide

Expertise

I'm an expert on coin operated machines. I can answer questions on slot machines, gumball & peanut machines, jukeboxes, arcade machines, pinball machines, gambling machines and any other device that operates with a coin. I have a couple hundred machines in my collection and have seen hundreds of others while traveling across the country and going to antique shows. I can give an appraisal on your item, but please send a picture if possible so I can give you accurate information. You can send pictures to me at buck@nvc.net

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I've been a serious collector for many years. Many of my machines can be viewed on my website. www.chadscoinop.com

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