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Provincetown Card Vendor

Maker unknown, c. early 1900's, 8 ³/₄". I didn't know this model existed until it appeared on ebay one day. I talked to the owner and he said he'd forgot he had it, and stumbled across it one day while cleaning out a closet. It wasn't his type of machine, but it is my type so we negotiated a price and then it was mine!

When I say "model" above, I'm using the term loosely because I think this is a hand-made one-of-a-kind machine. It's a simple wood box with a simple mechanism inside. I don't know the significance of the "Provincetown" on the sides, but it may indicate some relationship with Provincetown, Massachusetts. That's the only Provincetown I know of, so it's impossible for me to break that mental association.

You put a penny in the coin slot and pull on the metal slab that protrudes at the bottom right, and a card comes out the wide slot just below the display card. Or, you remove the lid---which simply nests unlocked into the box---take a card, and replace the lid. This crime will save you your entire penny, and if you have time you can look through all the cards and take your favorite. Or favorites.

The machine is 100% original and seems to work, although the mechanism is not smooth and I'm always afraid something's gonna snap. The card displayed now was installed by the previous owner, but it's the right era and looks good.