| The many pictures show views all around and inside this 1926 Mills Target Practice Trade Stimulator Penny Drop Game. This heavy quality made game was used as a gambling device years ago in bars or stores when a bartender or operator would usually pay out in money if your dropped penny ended up in one of the right slots. Statistically pennies will normally end up in the slots marked ''G'', but occasionally there will be a winner dropped. The areas marked ''G'' you were technically supposed to get a gumball. The areas marked ''1'', ''2'', and ''5'' at the top and bottom, you would get 5c, 10c, and 25c in trade respectively. If a penny gets in any of the top sections or in the numbered sections at the bottom, they stay there until the operator or bartender verifies it and turns the knob at the top that operate slots to release the penny to the money box inside. The cash box inside is divided into (7) sections so you can see how many winners there were for the night, week, month, or whatever. The exterior of the game is made of forged aluminum parts. It can be taken completely apart for cleaning or repair. There is a glass front, a wooden back board and an interior wooden board with steel pins or nails, (5) black rubber bumpers, and silver painted letters and numbers at the bottom. Inside there are tin slots coming from the top section and a multi compartment cash box drawer at the bottom. The game has a Roman Olympian theme. The exterior has four Olympic Athletes, and ornate designs all around. The Mills owl logo and ''Target Practice'' are on the front top section. There are also some identifying numbers in the metal and on a small paper tag inside. There are various holes in the base as made (on the sides and underneath) to bolt or screw the game down so that someone couldn't cheat or walk off with the game. It could be mounted on a bar top, table top, or shelf. There is a lock on the front that works well, and you will receive the key that we got with the machine. They key does not work very well anymore. We would recommend keeping the original working lock and getting a new key made for it. Since the key makes it difficult to lock and unlock, it will be sent unlocked. The only damage to the game is on the mechanism that you insert the pennies. There are a few cracks. Please see the close up pictures. Currently we have clear tape over it and it works just fine. The cracks on the section could probably be repaired, but we were waiting to find an original identical replacement part. The triangle shaped sign inside pictures an arrow in a target and it is marked as follows: THE UNITED STATES GOV'T EXCISE TAX HAS BEEN PAID ON THIS MACHINE.
A GAME OF SKILL
PLAY 1c
NO BLANKS
IF YOU ARE A GOOD MARKSMAN YOU WILL GET -
G = GUM
1 = 5c IN TRADE
2 = 10c IN TRADE
5 = 25c IN TRADE The game is operated by penny coins and there is no electricity required. Not counting the coin mechanism the game measures 12-3/8'' wide x 19'' tall x 8'' deep. This trade stimulator game is clean and in excellent or better condition as pictured and described above. Most of the white spots and lines are light reflections on the glass, but there are a few minor wear spots from pennies near the top on the wood inside. The game itself weighs about 13 pounds, but it will be wrapped in much padding and mailed in a much larger box for protection. Insurance will be required on this item and will be included in the shipping & handling price. |
