The Top 300! - Spring Classic Part 2
Lot 47:
Description
All original 5c Sun Manufacturing Co. bicycle trade stimulator circa 1986-1902. A highly sought-after and visually striking example of one of the earliest and most successful counter top trade stimulators from the golden age of penny arcades and saloon gambling. Made by Sun Manufacturing Co. of Columbus, Ohio (with ties to Waddel Wooden Ware Works), this charming mechanical game perfectly captures the bicycle craze that swept America in the 1890’s. Insert a nickel, pull and release the iron lever (which rings a bell), and watch the 2 miniature bicycle wheels spin. The pointers stop on numbered segments, and the combined total determines the prize – typically paid in cigars, drinks, or tokens by the bartender or store keeper. This clever “trade stimulating” design allowed legal light gambling at bars, cigar counters, and early arcades without automatic payouts. Housed in a handsome oak cabinet with glass front and back panels, rope twist trim, and a compact footprint ideal for countertop display. The detailed miniature bicycle remains a standout feature, evoking the high wheel and safety bicycle era. This is all original including paper, tag, cash box, and lock. Mech is original, complete, and working. In the Rick Crandall collection for over 40 years.
13.5″ x 19.5″ x 6″
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