Item: 1942 WWII Atlas Novelty Keep Em Bombing Penny Drop Trade Stimulator Coin Op Game
Sold For: $3,716.00
Bids: 15
Date: May 06, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: abacoin
Description and Image By: abacoin
Offering for sale at auction with no reserve this rare World War II penny drop skill machine that was introduced in 1942. According to Tom Gustwiller– author of Reel Amusements, the machines were only in production for a short time because they were discontinued under the War Profiteering Act. This made it illegal to operate machines like these that would con the Public into thinking that playing the machine was going to do some good (other than filling the pockets of the machine’s owner!). On the front of the machine it states that the owner has pledged to purchase U.S. Defense Stamps and Bonds with his share of the income. This would allow the U.S.A. income to buy bombers and “Keep ‘em Flying”. To play the machine, a player would place from 1 to 5 pennies in each of the 5 slots at the top (allowing up to 25 cents per play). The pennies are launched by pulling down the “Bomb Release” lever. If any of the pennies fall into a slot with a Japanese soldier or on a Rising Sun Flag, the player has won. There is a lever in the back of the machine to allow the storekeeper to release the winning pennies – which would fall into separate cash slots.
According to Mr. Gustwiller – the suggested payouts were a 25c Defense Stamp for each penny that landed in a rising Sun flag and a 10c Defense Stamp for each penny that fell on a “Jap Face”. Mr. Gustwiller lists the machine as “Rare” – with fewer than 5 machines known to exist. The machine is in good overall condition. There is a bit of damage to the wood on the center penny slot. The pull handle for clearing the pennies is a newer replacement. The machine was in storage for several decades and the previous owner used duct tape to hold the key on the back – so there is residual tape on the back. I did not remove it for fear of taking original paint off with it.