Expert: Rodger Knutson - 4/12/2011

Question
do antique gumball machines come from taiwan? the one i have has a number -95-D015092  it says CAROUSEL or is it just a reproduction?

Answer
Hi Veronica,

Yes, gumball machine are reproduced, there are many cheap copy's out there for sale even today in major stores even. Anything from Taiwan is going to be a copy I am sure, heck they would copy you and I if we went over there and stood still long enough for them to copy us! By your questions, I think you have an idea that your machine is a copy and if your thinking that way it probably is. If it is light, or has plastic parts, cheaply made, it's a copy. A commercial antique machine is going to be build to last and hold up to the demands of kids cranking on the handles and banging them around, so if it's well built, heavy and Strong it might be original. I don't have anything to run your numbers against or anything to compare them with so that is no help to me. I hope this has help you to determined if it is real or not, also look for a manufactures name or patent information on it anywhere as most original might have this information on them, is the globe cheep plastic or is it glass.
Thank You

Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com