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Advance Penny Dispenser

Advance Machine Company, Chicago, IL, c. early 1900s, 10 ¹/₄". I saw one of these in California before I moved to (literally) the greener pastures of Indiana in 2000 and I remember thinking how neat it was and that I wanted one. That was the last one I saw until I saw this one 5 years later. Someone was holding it in the parking lot at the Chicagoland show, and I moved quickly over there to find out if the dude holding it was holding it because he'd just bought it or because he wanted to sell it. To my great joy it was the latter.

We negotiated a fair price, which consisted of me asking him his price, him stating it, me asking him if he could do any better, him saying no, then both of us turning to the guy who'd stuck his head between us and drooled over the piece while he asked pantingly if it was for sale. I can't be sure, but he might have been sporting wood when he did this. I said "no, it's not" and then turned back to the seller, said "okay," and paid him.

One push of the lever delivers 5 pennies into the center trough, which delivers them to your hand if you had the foresight to put it below the trough.

This is a nice example. It's made of cast aluminum and has its original black paint with gold trim, but I've seen these made of cast iron as well. I imagine the cast iron is earlier.