1933-1934 Century of Progress Slot Machine Tokens

Zoins

These were just sold last week. I picked up the Good for 5 Cents token and I'm still wondering if I should buildout a collection of these.

I'm a fan of expo exonumia and the 1933 Century of Progress expo is known for having a lot of elongated cents, kind of like how the 1901 Pan American Expo has a lot of encased cents.

Any one know about these slot machine tokens? Who made them and are there more types out there? Any photos of the slot machines these were used in?

jmlanzaf

@Zoins said:
These were just sold last week. I picked up the Good for 5 Cents token and I'm still wondering if I should buildout a collection of these.

I'm a fan of expo exonumia and the 1933 Century of Progress expo is known for having a lot of elongated cents, kind of like how the 1901 Pan American Expo has a lot of encased cents.

Any one know about these slot machine tokens? Who made them and are there more types out there? Any photos of the slot machines these were used in?

I don't think those are slot machine tokens. Aren't they just trade tokens? There are a fair number of expo trade tokens used as sort of bronze or brass coupons.

291fifth

I've never seen any of those before. They are a good example of how you can learn something new on this forum every day.

Zoins

@jmlanzaf said:

@Zoins said:
These were just sold last week. I picked up the Good for 5 Cents token and I'm still wondering if I should buildout a collection of these.

I'm a fan of expo exonumia and the 1933 Century of Progress expo is known for having a lot of elongated cents, kind of like how the 1901 Pan American Expo has a lot of encased cents.

Any one know about these slot machine tokens? Who made them and are there more types out there? Any photos of the slot machines these were used in?

I don't think those are slot machine tokens. Aren't they just trade tokens? There are a fair number of expo trade tokens used as sort of bronze or brass coupons.

They are referred to as slot machine tokens by Steve Hayden and others. I can check with him on any additional information he has. I haven't seen these before and think they are interesting. It’s kind of cool to try and figure out what life was like back then.

Zoins

Here are two photos of the Italian Village. I need a map of this village to get a better feel. I wonder if it was like the Epcot World Showcase.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:sq87dt95m

https://explore.chicagocollections.org/image/uic/67/fn10x45/

DCW

They could well be a sort of slot machine token for what was known as a "trade simulator." During the Depression, these machines would sit in stores and you could win candy, gum, cigarettes, etc.
A kind of legal way around illegal gambling.
I found this in my backyard metal detecting last month. It is similar. For use with Liberty Bell machines:

sarikanair

Wow! I am seeing coins like these for the first time, I am guessing that they are trade tokens.. All the best for building the set.

coinsarefun

Pretty cool. Have not see these before.

ricko

I do not recall those cigarette slot machines... must have been before my time (when Moby Dick was a tadpole). I do recall the machines where you dropped a penny in and it bounced down through pins to settle in a slot and you won the designated prize... I forget what they were called. Neat tokens...I imagine it was a period popular item. Cheers, RickO

Hemispherical

@Zoins

Found this via goog.

Elk Gove, Illinois will be hosting the The 25th Annual World's Fair Memorabilia Show on 5 May 19.

Excerpts from the web page:

“There will be a special display of 1933 World's Fair memorabilia. Collectors and dealers will meet to buy, sell and trade items related to World's Fairs from 1876 to the present. The main focus will be on the 1933 & 1934 Chicago World's Fair.”

“There will be continuous showings of home movies and newsreels on video from the 1933/34 Chicago A Century of Progress. World's Fair collectors and fans of the fair are invited to come celebrate the 1933-34 Century of Progress and relive one of the brightest moments in Chicago's history. (Two of the stars on Chicago's flag commemorate the 1893 and 1933/34 Fairs!)”

http://worldsfairshow.com

topstuf

When I was dealing in antique toys and such and doing antique/collectible shows, I bought a Century of Progress pinball machine.

Had it in the house for several years. It was kinda cool. The square at the bottom was a lithographed tin jigsaw puzzle of the fair itself. They were hinged and dropped away until a ball went in one of the holes. When it did, a piece of the puzzle would pop up and you could complete the tin litho map.

And...well... that was about it. I sold it so I wouldn't have to move it again.