@ourlostarcade.bsky.social
Discovering the arcade's past!
A journey through the history of coin-op. Games, jukeboxes, vending, and more from the 1st century to the 20th!
Also @playhistory.bsky.social
A journey through the history of coin-op. Games, jukeboxes, vending, and more from the 1st century to the 20th!
Also @playhistory.bsky.social
Out there to red rid of the snow and ice... Why not treat yourself with a visit to the Winter Book?
Sure, it may just be a horse race roulette machine, but when else could I talk about it?
Sure, it may just be a horse race roulette machine, but when else could I talk about it?
January 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Out there to red rid of the snow and ice... Why not treat yourself with a visit to the Winter Book?
Sure, it may just be a horse race roulette machine, but when else could I talk about it?
Sure, it may just be a horse race roulette machine, but when else could I talk about it?
Basketball always needs a good-sized cabinet. Here's a beaut from Richman Corp, Set-Shot Basketball.
January 22, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Basketball always needs a good-sized cabinet. Here's a beaut from Richman Corp, Set-Shot Basketball.
A classic early "maze" type game, the well-named Tilt Test from Atlas Games.
There are some concepts that no modern technology can really improve.
There are some concepts that no modern technology can really improve.
January 20, 2026 at 11:17 PM
A classic early "maze" type game, the well-named Tilt Test from Atlas Games.
There are some concepts that no modern technology can really improve.
There are some concepts that no modern technology can really improve.
Among the first coin-op amusements ever with an official media license, Nakamura Seisakusho's Obake no Q-Taro kiddie rides established the company as a force to be reckoned with in Japan's rooftop amusement scene.
January 16, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Among the first coin-op amusements ever with an official media license, Nakamura Seisakusho's Obake no Q-Taro kiddie rides established the company as a force to be reckoned with in Japan's rooftop amusement scene.
A 19th century coin-op machine catalog from the long-forgotten Clawson Company.
A wide variety of novelties, trade stimulators, and vending machines right at the dawn of the penny arcade.
A wide variety of novelties, trade stimulators, and vending machines right at the dawn of the penny arcade.
January 14, 2026 at 11:45 PM
A 19th century coin-op machine catalog from the long-forgotten Clawson Company.
A wide variety of novelties, trade stimulators, and vending machines right at the dawn of the penny arcade.
A wide variety of novelties, trade stimulators, and vending machines right at the dawn of the penny arcade.
Panzer Attack by Midway rolls into position!
A sophisticated EM game from the post-video era bringing the WWII thrills.
A sophisticated EM game from the post-video era bringing the WWII thrills.
January 12, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Panzer Attack by Midway rolls into position!
A sophisticated EM game from the post-video era bringing the WWII thrills.
A sophisticated EM game from the post-video era bringing the WWII thrills.
So that's the start of the story - as best as we know right now.
But while AMI was struggling to find its footing, one of their player piano competitors was making their own contributions.
Next time, we see how the jukebox takes SHAPE.
But while AMI was struggling to find its footing, one of their player piano competitors was making their own contributions.
Next time, we see how the jukebox takes SHAPE.
January 7, 2026 at 12:09 AM
So that's the start of the story - as best as we know right now.
But while AMI was struggling to find its footing, one of their player piano competitors was making their own contributions.
Next time, we see how the jukebox takes SHAPE.
But while AMI was struggling to find its footing, one of their player piano competitors was making their own contributions.
Next time, we see how the jukebox takes SHAPE.
After jettisoning their player piano inventory, AMI managed to turn itself around and fully embraced the new market category.
They would become the first of the Big Four jukebox companies who soldiered the War years and defined a new era in publicly-played music.
They would become the first of the Big Four jukebox companies who soldiered the War years and defined a new era in publicly-played music.
January 7, 2026 at 12:07 AM
After jettisoning their player piano inventory, AMI managed to turn itself around and fully embraced the new market category.
They would become the first of the Big Four jukebox companies who soldiered the War years and defined a new era in publicly-played music.
They would become the first of the Big Four jukebox companies who soldiered the War years and defined a new era in publicly-played music.
What's up with the original release? Why did AMI never offer this revolutionary product more broadly?
Whatever the case, AMI was lucky to have this new product. After many good years, the player piano business collapsed in the Depression and forced them into receivership.
Whatever the case, AMI was lucky to have this new product. After many good years, the player piano business collapsed in the Depression and forced them into receivership.
January 7, 2026 at 12:06 AM
What's up with the original release? Why did AMI never offer this revolutionary product more broadly?
Whatever the case, AMI was lucky to have this new product. After many good years, the player piano business collapsed in the Depression and forced them into receivership.
Whatever the case, AMI was lucky to have this new product. After many good years, the player piano business collapsed in the Depression and forced them into receivership.
Shortly thereafter, AMI engineers filed a patent for their method of such a device.
By 1930, AMI claimed ownership of the device, which would go down in history as the National Automatic Selective Phonograph - after one of the predecessor companies.
By 1930, AMI claimed ownership of the device, which would go down in history as the National Automatic Selective Phonograph - after one of the predecessor companies.
January 7, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Shortly thereafter, AMI engineers filed a patent for their method of such a device.
By 1930, AMI claimed ownership of the device, which would go down in history as the National Automatic Selective Phonograph - after one of the predecessor companies.
By 1930, AMI claimed ownership of the device, which would go down in history as the National Automatic Selective Phonograph - after one of the predecessor companies.
From here, things are a bit murky.
In May 1927, news stories started appearing about the Automatic Selectic Photograph, a device that could play two sides of ten individual records with selection capability.
No company is attributed to it at the time, and it quickly disappears.
In May 1927, news stories started appearing about the Automatic Selectic Photograph, a device that could play two sides of ten individual records with selection capability.
No company is attributed to it at the time, and it quickly disappears.
January 6, 2026 at 11:58 PM
From here, things are a bit murky.
In May 1927, news stories started appearing about the Automatic Selectic Photograph, a device that could play two sides of ten individual records with selection capability.
No company is attributed to it at the time, and it quickly disappears.
In May 1927, news stories started appearing about the Automatic Selectic Photograph, a device that could play two sides of ten individual records with selection capability.
No company is attributed to it at the time, and it quickly disappears.
The other claimant to the throne was far more committed.
Automatic Musical Instrument (AMI) was the merger of two closely-related companies in its eponymous business.
They were a major supplier of multi-roll player pianos; the company was soon exploring the potential of the phonograph.
Automatic Musical Instrument (AMI) was the merger of two closely-related companies in its eponymous business.
They were a major supplier of multi-roll player pianos; the company was soon exploring the potential of the phonograph.
January 6, 2026 at 11:57 PM
The other claimant to the throne was far more committed.
Automatic Musical Instrument (AMI) was the merger of two closely-related companies in its eponymous business.
They were a major supplier of multi-roll player pianos; the company was soon exploring the potential of the phonograph.
Automatic Musical Instrument (AMI) was the merger of two closely-related companies in its eponymous business.
They were a major supplier of multi-roll player pianos; the company was soon exploring the potential of the phonograph.
But breaking into a new business was always going to be risky - doubly so at the onset of the Depression.
Holcomb & Hoke reportedly lost half a million dollars from its phonograph business. They released a few Electramuse models, yet did not stick it out to see the success of the jukebox.
Holcomb & Hoke reportedly lost half a million dollars from its phonograph business. They released a few Electramuse models, yet did not stick it out to see the success of the jukebox.
January 6, 2026 at 11:51 PM
But breaking into a new business was always going to be risky - doubly so at the onset of the Depression.
Holcomb & Hoke reportedly lost half a million dollars from its phonograph business. They released a few Electramuse models, yet did not stick it out to see the success of the jukebox.
Holcomb & Hoke reportedly lost half a million dollars from its phonograph business. They released a few Electramuse models, yet did not stick it out to see the success of the jukebox.
Electramuse first shows up in June 1927; by the next year it was advertised as a product for the coin-op industry.
It's very classy exterior was even more impressive it had a sign which was backlit - a soon to be increasingly common technique in coin-op machines.
It's very classy exterior was even more impressive it had a sign which was backlit - a soon to be increasingly common technique in coin-op machines.
January 6, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Electramuse first shows up in June 1927; by the next year it was advertised as a product for the coin-op industry.
It's very classy exterior was even more impressive it had a sign which was backlit - a soon to be increasingly common technique in coin-op machines.
It's very classy exterior was even more impressive it had a sign which was backlit - a soon to be increasingly common technique in coin-op machines.
Many of their products were at the edges of the coin-op industry though, so they were plenty familiar with the player instrument business - and presumably the Automatic Entertainer.
They decided to use the Deca-Disc as the basis for this new concept of coin-op phonograph.
They decided to use the Deca-Disc as the basis for this new concept of coin-op phonograph.
January 6, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Many of their products were at the edges of the coin-op industry though, so they were plenty familiar with the player instrument business - and presumably the Automatic Entertainer.
They decided to use the Deca-Disc as the basis for this new concept of coin-op phonograph.
They decided to use the Deca-Disc as the basis for this new concept of coin-op phonograph.
Unlike most of the companies who became involved in this nascent market, Holcomb & Hoke had absolutely nothing to do with music.
They were a turn of the century manufacturer who dealt in a variety of products, both coin-op and not. Their big claim to fame was a popcorn-maker.
They were a turn of the century manufacturer who dealt in a variety of products, both coin-op and not. Their big claim to fame was a popcorn-maker.
January 6, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Unlike most of the companies who became involved in this nascent market, Holcomb & Hoke had absolutely nothing to do with music.
They were a turn of the century manufacturer who dealt in a variety of products, both coin-op and not. Their big claim to fame was a popcorn-maker.
They were a turn of the century manufacturer who dealt in a variety of products, both coin-op and not. Their big claim to fame was a popcorn-maker.
We still lack some information to definitively say.
However, what is clear is that in 1927, at least two companies started offering multi-selection phonographs with an electric speaker attached.
The first we'll examine is the Electramuse by the company Holcomb & Hoke Mfg.
However, what is clear is that in 1927, at least two companies started offering multi-selection phonographs with an electric speaker attached.
The first we'll examine is the Electramuse by the company Holcomb & Hoke Mfg.
January 6, 2026 at 11:40 PM
We still lack some information to definitively say.
However, what is clear is that in 1927, at least two companies started offering multi-selection phonographs with an electric speaker attached.
The first we'll examine is the Electramuse by the company Holcomb & Hoke Mfg.
However, what is clear is that in 1927, at least two companies started offering multi-selection phonographs with an electric speaker attached.
The first we'll examine is the Electramuse by the company Holcomb & Hoke Mfg.
Among these switching formats was one called Deca-Disc.
As the name implies, it could switch between ten different records with a mechanism far less complicated than that of Gabel.
From these two threads come to origins of the jukebox.
But who did it first?
As the name implies, it could switch between ten different records with a mechanism far less complicated than that of Gabel.
From these two threads come to origins of the jukebox.
But who did it first?
January 6, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Among these switching formats was one called Deca-Disc.
As the name implies, it could switch between ten different records with a mechanism far less complicated than that of Gabel.
From these two threads come to origins of the jukebox.
But who did it first?
As the name implies, it could switch between ten different records with a mechanism far less complicated than that of Gabel.
From these two threads come to origins of the jukebox.
But who did it first?
Another technology starting to flower at this moment was a sophisticated, non-proprietary disc-changer for records.
Such a device was advertised for the home, but it hardly made sense in that context. Far better for a rival of the Gabel-style coin-op player, no?
Such a device was advertised for the home, but it hardly made sense in that context. Far better for a rival of the Gabel-style coin-op player, no?
January 6, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Another technology starting to flower at this moment was a sophisticated, non-proprietary disc-changer for records.
Such a device was advertised for the home, but it hardly made sense in that context. Far better for a rival of the Gabel-style coin-op player, no?
Such a device was advertised for the home, but it hardly made sense in that context. Far better for a rival of the Gabel-style coin-op player, no?
Part and parcel with this was also the ability to create electrical speakers to harness the new fidelity of that sound.
This is where coin-op machines had an edge: Though people were buying radios for their homes, a tabletop phonograph could only have pretty minuscule speakers.
This is where coin-op machines had an edge: Though people were buying radios for their homes, a tabletop phonograph could only have pretty minuscule speakers.
January 6, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Part and parcel with this was also the ability to create electrical speakers to harness the new fidelity of that sound.
This is where coin-op machines had an edge: Though people were buying radios for their homes, a tabletop phonograph could only have pretty minuscule speakers.
This is where coin-op machines had an edge: Though people were buying radios for their homes, a tabletop phonograph could only have pretty minuscule speakers.
Up until the mid-1920s, all musical was recorded in the same way: Blowing sound into a microphone directly onto an acetate.
Then came the advent of the electric-powered microphone. Not only did this open up many new possibilities for recording, it also drastically improved sound quality.
Then came the advent of the electric-powered microphone. Not only did this open up many new possibilities for recording, it also drastically improved sound quality.
January 6, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Up until the mid-1920s, all musical was recorded in the same way: Blowing sound into a microphone directly onto an acetate.
Then came the advent of the electric-powered microphone. Not only did this open up many new possibilities for recording, it also drastically improved sound quality.
Then came the advent of the electric-powered microphone. Not only did this open up many new possibilities for recording, it also drastically improved sound quality.
Perhaps I was a bit cheeky in defining the Automatic Entertainer as the "first jukebox".
The jukebox means more than a multi-selection phonograph, and it grew out of a very specific set of technologies in the 20th century.
This time, we'll be more specific: How electric sound created the jukebox.
The jukebox means more than a multi-selection phonograph, and it grew out of a very specific set of technologies in the 20th century.
This time, we'll be more specific: How electric sound created the jukebox.
January 6, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Perhaps I was a bit cheeky in defining the Automatic Entertainer as the "first jukebox".
The jukebox means more than a multi-selection phonograph, and it grew out of a very specific set of technologies in the 20th century.
This time, we'll be more specific: How electric sound created the jukebox.
The jukebox means more than a multi-selection phonograph, and it grew out of a very specific set of technologies in the 20th century.
This time, we'll be more specific: How electric sound created the jukebox.
A Happy New Year to all! May you find amusement - in all its forms - just around the corner.
December 31, 2025 at 11:08 PM
A Happy New Year to all! May you find amusement - in all its forms - just around the corner.
One of the companies that popped up at the dawn of the pinball boom in California was distributor National Amusement Co.
December 23, 2025 at 11:51 PM
One of the companies that popped up at the dawn of the pinball boom in California was distributor National Amusement Co.
This was an intro to the topic of the jukebox, which hopefully will put what we discuss afterwards into context.
Though the revolution in the late 1920s may not have been the first of its kind, the era of the Automatic Entertainer was a prelude to an explosion of coin-op music.
Though the revolution in the late 1920s may not have been the first of its kind, the era of the Automatic Entertainer was a prelude to an explosion of coin-op music.
December 18, 2025 at 11:42 PM
This was an intro to the topic of the jukebox, which hopefully will put what we discuss afterwards into context.
Though the revolution in the late 1920s may not have been the first of its kind, the era of the Automatic Entertainer was a prelude to an explosion of coin-op music.
Though the revolution in the late 1920s may not have been the first of its kind, the era of the Automatic Entertainer was a prelude to an explosion of coin-op music.