You are here:

Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Daval Marvel Trade Stimulator

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/25/2011


Question

Top Front
I guess I have a more-or-less standard Marvel.  It is apparently all original, but I have never understood exactly what it was used for.  First, it has three reels, but they have the usual oranges, lemons and cherries, plus DAVAL bars.  Second, it does not appear to take coins, although there is a slot on top.  That it what it is - just a slot, with no cover. it does have two screw holes, above and below, to the left of the slot.  There are no denomination markings.  It is painted a metallic light green color with a red plastic handle knob. It has keys for the lock on the back and another lock on the side.  This is the question: It does not need coins, as it will spin about 20 times, then you have to turn the key on the side lock to re-set it for another 20 spins. There is a glass-covered window on the bottom of the right side, and when you get a winning combination, a token drops into the window. There is a plunger to push that removes the token.  It does not dispense tokens, just displays them. There is another counter in the middle of the left side with some sort of counter So, what was this trade stimulator supposed to do, and is it working as it was intended?  I bought it at an estate auction back in the mid-1970's and have done nothing with it since then.  It works fine, as in very good cosmetic condition with nothing broken.

I have seen these sell on eBay in the $300-$400 range, and assume that's about their value, although the ones I have seen are not exactly like mine.

Answer

Duval Marval Trade Sti
Hi Dennis,

Good question, well these are called trade stimulator's, their called that because that was their intended calling in life, to stimulate trade and take your coins in the process. These were a small counter game that might of been located on a store's or bars counter. Most did take coins and the payout awards would be posted on the machine or on a card, some would drop a special token coin when hitting the jackpot, and that token was good for trade for anything the merchant would offer at the time be it cash or merchandise. These worked well where payout slot machines were illegal. There was one called a tax free Marvel where you could play without coins but a meeter on back keep track of the plays on back and you would pay for the plays later and the merchant would reset the counter to zero. Some trade stimulator's had beer or smokes on the reel strips and you could win a beer or a pack of smokes or several packs based on the winning combination, which did stimulate trade or if the merchant wanted, the winning combinations would be rewarded over the counter with cash. I have a sheet of information on this game that I will attach to this answer that will provide you with a lot more information on this model. On some token payout type, trade stimulator's you could use a coin as it was about the same size as the token, the window on the side of the machine would show you that there was a token in there to be won, and below that was the coin cup where it paid the token or coin when a jackpot was hit. A lot of this came about to skirt the states different gambling laws and it worked for awhile. Anything more I can tell you about it please just ask.

Thank You Dennis

Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentExactly what I wanted to know, and a very prompt response.


  • 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.