WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?

[MONTI]

OK here’s one for ya!
A customer has this machine pictured here and had no history on it and after a lot of research on my part and calling and emailing others who have been in the coin operated hobby for a while and not finding out any real information I thought I would place it here for discussion!
I have not been able to find the manufacturer, BM? and the date of manufacture I guess is about late 70's early 80's? due to the color scheme and various logos, Etc used as well as the quarter denomination used for the vended item.
It is a rather unique machine, is it just a vendor or a late "Trade Stimulator" or just an Arcade/Boardwalk machine?
There is no payout other than the vended item similar to a "Trade Stimulator" but where did this come from and where was it used?
What slot mech is used here as comparing the mech size to the cabinet size which is 5'4" in height, 18" wide and 20" in depth the mechanism seems to be smaller than the standard slot machine mechanism but it does show signs of once having a slide payout, see the base, and does look like it had a coin tube and coin head showing the mounting for them, but who made the mech? Was it used in an actual play and pay slot machine originally and then reused for this machine?
So many questions, so few answers!
If anyone has ever seen one of these or has any information please let me know as I am stumped on this one!
Been doing this hobby for 35 years and I have never seen one of these before!
MONTI

[marsonion]

I only turned up one not-very-helpful link to an auction record from 2012, stating an "unverified" $60.00 gavel price, and the image isn't coming up for me so it's probably long gone:

http://www.auctionzip.com/auction-lot/C ... 77CE09CA1/

[MONTI]

Thanks for trying Marsonian!
I didn't think they were worth much, I was more curious about their history as to mechanism used, who made it and if it was actually a smaller variety mech of a working "play and pay" slot machine and the manufacturer responsible for the modification,Etc.
Probably spending more time on this than it deserves but I hate loose ends! LOL
Maybe someone else will have a clue!
Monti

[MikeB]

I'm pretty sure those came out in the early to mid 1980's, and I think the mech is a Space (Pace) mech. I was in the coin-op business from late 1979 - 1988, and though I never had one of those, I started seeing other companies put those out around then. They were mostly in arcades, or in a few store entries like the old coin-op horses and rides for the kiddies.

[MONTI]

Thanks for your reply MikeB!
The mech looks to be a little smaller than the standard size mech as the cabinet width is 18" and the depth is 20" and the mech if it was a normal size mech would fill the space a little more so my question is if the later Pace company Space or Ace as they went thru so many changes, if Space made the mech did they make a smaller downsized mech and as it has the setup for the payout slides, Etc. did they make a smaller size mech that was a fully operational mech for play and pay function?
I know they made some different type machines, piggy backs, Etc. but I thought they were all full size mechs, but I could be wrong, it has happened before!
More often now that I'm getting older! LOL

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Hi Monti:
Here's the pix of the one from the 2012 auction. As you can see, it is another variation. Yours is blue & yellow, and this one
is blue & orange. Even though they both say 'Candy' above, this one says 'Candy' below, were yours has 'Nuts'. I thought that
the lower cabinet was different, but I see they just have the door removed, showing the delivery chute inside.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Monti:
Additionally - now you have got me curious about who "BM" is. You will notice on your machine, that a section of the card,
is cut out, just to the right of the mfrs. logo. It is present on the auction machine, but blurs-out when trying to enlarge it
to read. That area may have the mfr. name & location. Another thing interesting, is that even though it says 'Pat. Pending'
beside the logo, it also has a 'TM' (Trade Mark), as well. Which tells me that they must have quite a lineup of machines, or
whatever they manufacture, and that is also a Slot Handle in the logo. Interesting!
Now that you have me wondering, I hope you are able to dig up some additional info.
Curious Bill

[MikeB]

That 2012 auction was in fact, local to me. I live only 10 miles away from Midland Mi, and Furlo's are one of the main local auction guys. Here's the arcade that they auctioned. It was called "The Hangout": http://extremegameroom.webs.com/apps/ph ... d=12094353

Quite the mix of old and new equipment, as of that time period. It's not easy for any arcade to stay in business for very long, especially in this area.

[MONTI]

Thanks for your input Bill as besides contacting you on this prior to posting here I had contacted others as well and no one had ever seen one or had any information on it!
Even Marshall who is pretty on top of things had no idea, I wonder if Dick B. ever had any information on these things, probably not as they seem to be mid to late 80's in manufacture but darn this son-of-gun has really peaked my interest, for what ever reason, must be my OCD!
I had seen the picture in the auction that Mike had linked me to and also tried to enlarge the "Award" card to read the information but possibly that would have been just the route operators phone and address for servicing and filling, Etc.
And I have found no company with the "BM" designation so apparently everything is NOT on the internet, right? LOL
Monti

[MikeB]

This might be the patent: http://tinyurl.com/z3qo2z2 http://tinyurl.com/glzoplx

I tried looking up the "BM" logo trademark, but haven't found anything as of yet.