Title:
Slot Machine, circa 1916
Artist:
Mills Novelty Company
Description:
Ketchikan Daily News, Saturday-Sunday, August 20-21, 1994
Glendale, Calif., "Resident Ed Peatross sticks a nickel in a wooden slot machine Thursday at the Tongass Historical Museum. The slot machine, which was invented by Peatross's great uncle Mortimer J. Mills, of Chicago, belongs to the Tongass Historical Society Collection. Peatross said the wooden slot machine is the only one he knows of in existence. The slot machine, which still works, was made between 1915-1918, said Peatross. His great uncle's company, Mills Novelty Co., made slot machines between 1890-1936. Mills also invented the original jukebox called the Violana Virtuoso, of which three still exist. Mills had 240 patents in his name, whole his son Bertie Mills had 320 patents, including the coin-operated Coca-Cola vending machine, said Peatross. Peatross, who is a retired electronic engineer, first discovered the rare slot machine in Ketchikan on his first visit 17 years ago. At the time, the slot machine didn't work. Peatross found a plug nickel jammed inside and removed it. The slot machine is now in perfect working order but the way the machine used to pay off was through a cashier after a wining hand."
Glendale, Calif., "Resident Ed Peatross sticks a nickel in a wooden slot machine Thursday at the Tongass Historical Museum. The slot machine, which was invented by Peatross's great uncle Mortimer J. Mills, of Chicago, belongs to the Tongass Historical Society Collection. Peatross said the wooden slot machine is the only one he knows of in existence. The slot machine, which still works, was made between 1915-1918, said Peatross. His great uncle's company, Mills Novelty Co., made slot machines between 1890-1936. Mills also invented the original jukebox called the Violana Virtuoso, of which three still exist. Mills had 240 patents in his name, whole his son Bertie Mills had 320 patents, including the coin-operated Coca-Cola vending machine, said Peatross. Peatross, who is a retired electronic engineer, first discovered the rare slot machine in Ketchikan on his first visit 17 years ago. At the time, the slot machine didn't work. Peatross found a plug nickel jammed inside and removed it. The slot machine is now in perfect working order but the way the machine used to pay off was through a cashier after a wining hand."
Collection:
Ketchikan Museums: Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 98.1.1.33
Click to Enlarge
Slot machine on display
Slot machine on display