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Ring Ding Clown

L. M. Becker Co., Brillion, WI, c. 1950's, 10 ¹/₂". This model oozes personality. Put a penny into the slot and push its nose to the left, and it spits out a gumball (so to speak).

The machine is made almost entirely of plastic. I've seen bases and lids in red and in blue, and have seen machines with a red base/blue lid and with a blue base/red lid. In all cases the midsection has been yellow and the nose has been red. Other than color, differences between individual machines include the style of the eyes and the decal around the rim of the lid. Some have writing or paper decals on the lid, while others are unadorned.

Like the Ring Ding Spaceship, these aren't uncommon machines but they're hard to find in stellar condition. Most have at least one crack in the globe or body and most have cloudy globes.

Although not a "high end machine," I don't know of a cuter vintage gumball machine from any era. Kids love it, and I don't think it's beneath adults.

The machine pictured above is 100% original.