You are here:

Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Liberty Bell Slot Machine

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/17/2010


Question
What is a Liberty Bell Penny Cigarette Slot Machine worth?  It dispenses tokens for l or 5 packs of cigarettes.  The wheels on the slot machine have different brands of cigarettes on them, and on the front cover of the slot machine is a lady that is almost art-deco looking.

Answer

Groetchen Tool Company
Hi Carol,

What a cute, neat little machine, it's called a trade stimulator. Used by small stores and tobacco shops and bars, and the like to Stimulate Trade of their products. Trade stimulator's don't payout in money, but some do payout in "trade tokens" some tokens may be of different values worth maybe varying amounts, like say one pack of smokes or three packs depending on the winning symbols on the reel strips when compared to the payout card or winning token delivered to the player, some were made with beer reel strips for payout tokens worth a mug of beer or five mugs or more, depending on the winning token amount or what the payout card reads, if it did not payout in tokens, and good for trade in purchasing products at the owners establishment. Thus called a "Trade Stimulator". This, made by Groetchen Tool and Manufacturing Co., "Liberty" Trade Stimulator was made in the early 1940's and this basic model of machine came in many different configurations, and model types. This is a very survivable machine, as there are a lots of them still around after all these years! This trade stimulator still holds it's own in average value with it's other counterparts, despite it's many surviving numbers. With a mid range value in todays market of $200.00. I'll attach a photo of this machine to this answer and your can enlarge it by clicking on the photo's high lighted text and then you will be able to print it out for yourself. Thank You Carol, and if this is not the correct machine you have, please let me know and we will have another look as there were tons of different trade stimulator's made, and a lot of company's back then just copied the other guys machine and started manufacturing copy's with different names on them. It was a crazy time it was. As Judges would not even allow or grant patents on a lot of early gambling machines explaining that these machines had no purpose, thus some never even received a patent!

Thank You Carol

Sincerely
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentFor years I was trying to learn anything about my trade stimulator and by chance I stumbled onto your website. You are very knowledgeable and informative and I will be extremely grateful to you for all the information you gave me. Thank you very much. Carol


  • Add to this Answer
  • Ask a Question

Rodger Knutson

Expertise

I am an expert on old coin operated machines, slot machines, trade stimulator's, jukeboxes, old arcade machines, etc. I have been identifying these for people who respond to my web site listed below, for a few years now. In almost all cases I am able to tell them about their old coin operated machines, the year, the value, and other general information about their machines. I do not know much about soda vending machines, coin banks, or scales, but I will try to help you with these if I can. Please email photo's to: jackpot7@ix.netcom.com My web site is at: http://www.coinslots.com

Experience

I bought my first slot machine, a .50 Cent Mills Black Cherry in 1969 and have been hooked from that time, I still have that Slot machine! Before that I found a open barrel full of old scraped jukebox wall boxes behind a restaurant, I wanted them all but never took a one of them. Anything that took a coin drove me nuts!

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.