I stumbled across the original source for the slot machine myth that I could not previous access, from the September 1940 issue of the American Mercury! This salacious account is far from the most reliable source, but it's fascinating in its alacrity. Will update the post soon.

The Strong Museum of Play may not focus on coin-op, but they have some amazing pieces on display! Here's a few snippets from their main arcade exhibit - including my favorite mechanical trade stimulator: The Fairest Wheel!

Slightly grotesque but nonetheless fascinating, this Mills lung tester called Hats Off from the early penny arcade era is a wonderful example of creative theming for the era. Also, the game's free if your lungs are hardy!

Ready to rock with Rock-O-Ball? Rock-Ola really knew how to brand in the 1930s. Even this miniature skee ball-alike soars with a fun name like that!

Created as an add-on to kiddie rides, Bally's Fun-Phone was an interesting audio novelty to keep kids occupied while a grown-up did their shopping. All of the fun of the telephone with none of the AT&T mark-up!

Ron Haliburton is one of the few designers of electro-mechanical games that moved on into early video games! His work with All-Tech and Allied Leisure were stellar examples of late EM design. Check out the article for info on Alyssa' project!

The Fourth is passed, but patriotic coin-op lives on with the Uncle Sam handshake grip testers! This iconic, creepy mannequin lasted on location for decades after first appearing in the early 1900s.

There's plenty more Mills to come, but this was the first decade of madness that forged the company who would redefine coin-operated machines. The Owl flies high!

Under the auspices of his family, Mills Novelty survived and would soon catapult itself into massive success on the back of the penny arcade phenomenon. This isn't even everything I could have covered: Including robberies, accusations of racketeering, cornering the market on peanuts...

Herbert Mills and the company secretary were both sentenced to a year in jail. During his time in the clink, Herbert was said to have charitably contributed to his fellow prisoners' lives, including excess resources from his company.

Several arrests were made, including that of Herbert Mills, who was convicted of using federal postage to send "lewd" photographs. As this was going on, the company entered yet another labor dispute - which allegedly led to the suicide of one of the former workers.

A photo viewing device distributed by Mills suddenly started making news across the country - for the wrong reasons. The photos distributed with these machines were judged to be of an obscene nature. Though they tried to deny it, eventually the evidence led back to Mills.

Nevertheless, by 1900, Mills Novelty was a booming business. According to Herbert Mills, they were exporting machines from Chicago by the thousands every month and employing over 600 people in their factory. Then they went a step too far.

Even after returning to the building, Mills had to fight against the anti-trade stimulator movement popping up in parts of the country. The following year, they were caught up in a machinist's strike temporarily stalling their growth.

However, on January 28, 1898, the building block of 11 to 23 S. Jefferson St. was engulfed in a raging flame. While the building was not totally destroyed, Mills Novelty was displaced and suffered an estimated loss of $5,000 and had only $3,500 in capital.

From its earliest days, Mills had national ambitions for their selection of trade stimulators and vending machines. Their branch offices spanned coast to coast and their variety of offerings was immense. Their signature machine was The Owl; the animal soon became part of their logo.

M.B.M. Cigar was only a side business for Mortimer, but eventually his fourth son, Herbert, took an interest in coin-op. Fully adopting the name Mills Novelty in 1897, they set up a manufacturing facility on Jefferson St in Chicago to create coin-op amusements.

Mills Novelty was originally founded by Mortimer Birdsul Mills, a Canadian emigre who migrated to Chicago and filed many railway patents. On April 14, 1891, he filed a patent for a cigar vending machine and founded a company to sell the device: M.B.M. Cigar Vending Machine Co.

Mills Novelty was the most important company in the formation of the American coin-op industry in the early 1900s. And in its first years of operation, it faced several major crises that nearly put it out of business. This is the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad first decade of Mills Novelty.

Despite widespread pinball bans in the 1940s, some people still found their salvation in the silver ball. This 1949 articles by Ted Hodges highlights the 'addictive' quality of these underground games in the post-War era.

The first notable automatic photo station operated in Minneapolis in 1890. For just a nickel and two minutes of development time, you could walk away with a handsome picture with minimal human involvement.

Par-Golf, and elaborately painted mechanical pinball by Moorman Game Co of New York City. The game has a several interesting gimmicks - which you can view in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNuh...

The opening was truly grand! Some amazing historic pinballs and lots to look at! Looking forward to seeing the space evolve and hopefully take in some great business!

This weekend marks the opening of The Flip museum in Chicago, a pinball-dedicated museum space in its homeland! www.theflip.museum/blog/grand-o... I'll be heading to the grand opening at 4pm today. They've amassed an impressive collection!

Gum pistols! Here's the Victor Vending machine Home Run, where you could earn a sweet for your sweet home runs

Mills Novelty pioneered in the micro-sized music access device. Move over remote touchscreens, this is the Wallbox.

Hailing from the unusual amusement zone of Boston, Massachusetts, the Tally-Bowl was a unique take on the skee ball/miniature bowling concept. Players had to roll the ball up a turn-around ramp - and then reset the balls themselves! It was not long-lived.

Rock-Ola's 1937 World Series machine, created by Harry Williams as a continuation of the EM pitch-and-bat baseball game. I previously did a thread all about the creation of this vital genre: bsky.app/profile/ourl...

Rarely is a coin-op story so soaked in family drama, differing alliances, and quasi-legal politicking. This story was constructed from interviews by myself and by Alex of @theycreateworlds.bsky.social Learn more details about the story: www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW...

Bill Nutting responded in the press with a simple - if forceful - clarification and ignored any confusing comparisons thereafter. In the marketplace of ideas, Computer Quiz (the real one) turned out to be the more successful implementation of the idea - and that's according to Dave Nutting.