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Simpson Lincoln

R. D. Simpson Co., Columbus, OH, c. 1910s or 1920s, 14". Silent Salesmen Too doesn't date this machine, so my assignment of "1910s or 1920's" is based on the circa-ness of other Simpsons in that book. It strikes me as an earlier model than most of the other cast iron Simpsons that are dated, such as the 1930 Simpson Vendor, the 1927 Well Here We Are, and the 1923 Famous 1-2-3. It's later than the 1907 Simpson---which was the first Simpson---and date-wise looks more in line with the Simpson Model A or the Simpson Jr., but those last two machines aren't dated so I can't use them as a reference. Maybe about the time of the ornate, highly embossed aluminum Simpson Simplex, which was 1917? That's my guess---the latter half of the 1910s, although it wouldn't surprise me to learn that it snuck over the decade line into the 1920s. Not that exactitude matters that much with dating, but I like to be thorough (and rereading this paragraph I seem to have erred on the side of overthoroughness, but I'll leave it, 'cause why not?).

The Lincoln is a straightforward cast iron model, but the lower half of the base and the feet give it a different look. The few examples I can recall seeing have been painted, although I have a faint impression from somewhere, sometime, that some may have been nickel-plated. Don't quote me on that 'cause I don't recall ever seeing one in person, but if you have then let me know and I'll update this. The design of the mechanism mimics that of hundreds of other vendors; put a penny in the slot and pull the handle right to left, and some goodies are dropped behind the gate.

The first example of this model that I saw was at the Pasadena show in the 1990s, when I was just starting to collect and didn't know much about anything. I remember being impressed with the machine's stateliness. I was also impressed with the price, which I don't recall specifically but remember being way out of my range. Ever since then I've thought this was an impressive model and kinda sorta wanted one, but I didn't chase it and one never fell into my lap and my interest waned over the years. I didn't stop liking the model, but I stopped thinking about it and didn't see any that would have prompted my interest to return. Then, just before the November 2018 Chicagoland show, a friend was selling the one above and it caught my eye. At first I passed on it because my interest had gone semi-dormant and I thought the price was a teensy bit high. But I kept looking at it and talking to my friend, and as I was doing that my interest started to come out of hibernation and the price came down a little, and after a few minutes of looking and talking the price and my interest level met each other and we had a deal. I'm glad it worked out that way, 'cause it's a great machine.

The example above is 100% original except for the paint. It was repainted long long ago, presumably by a vendor, and is a little lighter than the original color. I know this because the bottom is the original paint, but I'd guess that the repaint is almost as old as the original paint and has the great ancient patina that the original paint would have (and still has on the machine's bottom).