Can anyone help me find a Scan-o-matic???

keets · August 25, 2009 11:43AM

I'm trying to find a Scan-o-matic and thought I'd see if anyone knows if they're still sold as new items??

Al H.

CaptHenway · August 25, 2009 12:30PM

My parents bought me one when I was about 12. It's probably still up in Ma's attic somewhere. Been in the house since 1956, and she ain't never thrown anything away......

What do you want one for? It was a piece of crap, as I recall.

TD

jfoot13 · August 25, 2009 12:31PM

seems as though I remember them being advertised in old comic books... might check with a comic collector and get the contact info from one of the old ads

sinin1 · August 25, 2009 12:41PM

used ones run through eBay every couple months

CaptHenway · August 25, 2009 1:02PM

I'd rather have a Bass-O-Matic!!!!!

WoodenJefferson · August 25, 2009 1:18PM

I haven't seen one of those in a couple of decades!

Talk about a blast from the past!

Free · August 25, 2009 1:54PM

Please pardon my ignorance, but what is a Scan-O-Matic? I tried google, wikipedia, etc. but couldn't find anything about this.

cone10 · August 25, 2009 2:09PM

link This one sold last Saturday on ebay.

CaptHenway · August 25, 2009 2:36PM

The link does not work.

WoodenJefferson · August 25, 2009 2:43PM

Try this one

Justacommeman · August 25, 2009 3:02PM

Now I want one

MJ

MICHAELDIXON · August 25, 2009 3:31PM

Ah, memories! I bought mine from Sears Christmas catalog many years ago. Wish I still had it.

drkilmer · August 25, 2009 5:22PM

Think I just about wore mine out back in the '70's. Probably in a box somewhere. Haha ... it would be cool to try it out again.

291fifth · August 25, 2009 5:57PM

Back in the 1960's you could find the Scan-O-Matic at E.J. Korvette's stores.

droopyd · August 25, 2009 6:28PM

<< E.J. Korvette's stores. >>

They used to have the best selection of LPs back in the mid-late '70s, including imports and indie labels.

brokeer · August 25, 2009 7:02PM

<< 

<< E.J. Korvette's stores. >>

They used to have the best selection of LPs back in the mid-late '70s, including imports and indie labels. >>

Best prices too! I got all my records there. 87th & Cicero Chicago (Hometown?) IL.

I want a Close N Play!

ksteelheader · August 25, 2009 9:59PM

<< Ah, memories! I bought mine from Sears Christmas catalog many years ago. Wish I still had it. >>

Was that the catalog from the outhouse??

mozeppa · August 25, 2009 11:11PM

<< 

<< Ah, memories! I bought mine from Sears Christmas catalog many years ago. Wish I still had it. >>

Was that the catalog from the outhouse??

>>

BEWARE THE SHINEY PAGES!

thebeav · August 26, 2009 4:13AM

I think the price of this item just increased by about 15 hundred percent !

RWB · August 26, 2009 6:46AM

The new “Scan-o-Matic” is included in the updated full-choke 12 ga Salad-Shooter. NRA approved, too!

keets · August 26, 2009 11:26AM

well, if anyone has one that is in good working order i'd gladly buy it and pay the shipping/insurance.

this handy little item was actually invented by a local dealer who seems to have disappeared into the vapor of time leaving no contact info. we had one Scan-o-matic in the store but one of the two moving parts finally wore out after "looking" at perhaps 1-1/2 to 2 million cents and we use(ed) it daily. currently we have about 160 bags of Wheat Cents that we've searched during 2009, about 30 waiting to be searched and we're still buying. the shop joke is that we have about as many Wheaties in the shop as the entire Mintage of 1909-S VDB's!!

for those unfamiliar with the Scan-o-matic, here's how it works with the picture below for reference..........................
1. The coins are placed in the tube sticking up from the unit and rest on the slide which can be seen protruding from the right side.
2. The slide is pulled outward to the right until a coin drops into a hole cut out of the end.
3. The slide is then pushed to the left back inside of the Scan-o-matic.
4. In the middle is a hole with a very lighweight piece of spring steel. The coin's weight pushes it down and the slide passes over it to push the coin under the lighted magnifyer for viewing.
5. The slide is then pushed all the way to the left till it comes against a stop, and when it's pulled back to the right the coin flips over so the other side can be viewed.
6. Pulling the slide back farther allows the spring to lift up to expose the hole and the coin drops out.
7. When the slide reaches the tube another coin drops into it and the process repeats.

it actually takes only a few seconds to look at each coin, especially if the obverse is up when the process starts. the tube holds about 50 coins so once you get the "rythym" down you can crank out a bag pretty quick. the part that wore out is the spring. i tried to repair it but the coins will no longer rest on it as they're pushed acros, they keep falling to the side and out the hole. i'd say my boss got his money's worth out of it.

so again, if you can lead me to one or several of these i'd really be grateful.

illini420 · August 26, 2009 11:30AM

<< I think the price of this item just increased by about 15 hundred percent ! >>

Most definitely!! I want one too now!!!

LanLord · August 26, 2009 11:40AM

Seems like (from Keets description) this would potentially introduce some wear and tear on the coins as they are slid against one another in the tray (not having ever seen it, I could be completely wrong here).

Otherwise, it seems like it would take a monumental task and reduce it to merely mundane.

keets · August 26, 2009 11:50AM

the fact of wear doesn't even come into play when you're considering G-VF coins tops. i mean, it isn't like we're looking at 5,000 coin bags of BU Wheat Cents.

keets · August 27, 2009 8:28AM

any other help out there??

rgCoinGuy · August 27, 2009 8:54AM

<< any other help out there?? >>

I am afraid you may have just made it much harder to find one of these, until several want lists are filled.

Ciccio · September 10, 2009 9:06AM

Hey Keets, I found a Scan-O-Matic on ebay!

Cool!

Ciao,
Ciccio

dan383 · September 10, 2009 9:16AM

<< 

<< 

<< E.J. Korvette's stores. >>

They used to have the best selection of LPs back in the mid-late '70s, including imports and indie labels. >>

Best prices too! I got all my records there. 87th & Cicero Chicago (Hometown?) IL.

I want a Close N Play! >>

Actually one corner N/E is Chicago , S/E is Hometown , S/W is Oak Lawn , & N/W is Burbank........

Dan

sinin1 · January 6, 2010 2:12AM

I thought I was going to get one last week, it was at $2.25 until last when all these snipe bids came in

dang coin freaks and their high bid sniping

grip · January 6, 2010 2:25AM

Have you tryed having it repaired?

Eagleguy · January 6, 2010 3:05AM

I own one. Haven't used it in years.

JH

keets · January 6, 2010 7:06AM

i managed to buy two of them, one from a board member and another via eBay in the original box with some paperwork. thanks for the help, guys.

LostSisler · January 6, 2010 10:06AM

I think that the price of these just went up!

Can anyone help me find a Scan-o-matic???

Comments

Leave a Comment