This is truly an amazing one of a kind handmade piece of Americana. It is a folk art / tramp art mechanical / coin operated gaming device with a circus theme made in circa 1930’s (see provenance below). Please see below provenance the operation of the game as I understand it. The approximate dimensions of the case are 9″ high by 17″ square. Provenance The provenance of this piece is shown in picture #3. Operation / Understanding of the Game To highlight first, you will see pictures with and without the plexiglass covering the game. This was originally designed in this way (but original was glass insert). The reason being is that to play / operate the game, the case must be opened. When not in use and to transport the glass could be reinserted. You can slide the glass in and out by removed of 2 screws. It operates as follows: There is coin drop slot in the front which when you drop a coin, it travels through the case to a wooden chute attached to a hinge on the inside of the case. Once the person drops the coin, there is a wooden push knob next to the coin drop slot which must be actuated immediately after dropping the coin. When this knob is pushed, it swings the wooden chute with the coin towards a slotted pulley attached to the bottom of the wheel rotating with the circus animals / #’s on top. The coin is then intended to engage once of the slots on the pulley which brings the wheel to a stop. There is a flag stick on the top of the game which indicates which circus animal / # wins the game and collects the winnings / prize. You can see the mechanism / design in the last pictures. Honestly it is amazing ingenuity…. Custom handmade with wood, scrap metal parts, springs, hinges, etc. It appears some of the components may have been replaced over the past 90+ years due to wear and tear. What I will note is that the setup of the mechanism inside and the height of the pulley are very sensitive adjustments. You can get the wheel to stop quickly but these alignments are critical from what I have found upon trial and error on my part. This is a truly an exceptional piece….. When will you ever see one again? Circus’ are now from a bygone era which will only make this piece appreciate in value!!! Please see all pictures for details on the condition. Gambling, pinball, arcade, coin op, coin operated, vending machine, Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, triple crown, man cave, mancave, bar, cigars. 1930Ringling Bros-Barnum & Bailey (90 cars) (Billboard Apr 5 1930)1930Sells-Floto (30 cars) do (John Ringling Owner)1930Hagenbeck-Wallace (30 cars) do (BB May 3, 10, 1930)1930Al G Barnes (30 cars) do (BB Mch 29 Apr 5 1930)1930John Robinson (25 cars) (BB May 3 1930) do1930Sparks (20 cars) (511 Apr 26 1930) do1930Robbins Bros (25 cars) (Fred Buchanan Pr) (BB May 3, 10 1930)1930Christy Bros (20 cars) Closed (BB Apr 12 1930)1930Cole Bros (15 cars) Floyd King Pr do1930Downie Bros Motorized Chas Sparks buys from A Downie late in the season. (BB, Mch 24, Jy 12 1930)1930Mighty Haag Motorized1930Gentry Bros Sam Dill mgr do (BB May 10 1930)1930Cole & Rogers do1930Schell Bros (BB Apr 26 1930) do1930Hunts Circus do1930Lewis & Zimmerman1930W L Main (Wm Newton Mgr)1930Russell Bros (C W Webb Mgr)1930Barnett Bros (BB Mch 29, Ag 13 1930)1930Seils-Sterling1930M L Clark & Sons1930Anderson Bros1930La Mont Bros1930Ketrow Bros1930Orton Bros1930Brison Bros (Sam Dock Mgr)1930Cook Bros1930Al F Wheeler1930Richards Bros1930Conroy Bros (Leroy Easter & Small Burdett Prs)1930O’Neil Bros1930Vanderburg Bros1930Olinger (S Clyde) Bros1930Harr Bros (Delmar Harridge Pr)1930Holly Bros (Bert Hollingsworth Mgr)1930Robinson Bros (Tom Atkinson Pr)1930McClure Bros1930J J Evans1930Henry (J E) Bros1930Parrish (Doc) Bros1930Bardon & Doss (Wm B Doss Mgr)1930Rose Kilian1930Escalante Bros1930Coup Bros (E G Smith Mgr) closed1930Yankee Patterson Combined (Jas Lenox Wood Pr)1930Clack (AC) & Holmes (J J)1930Campbell Bros (H W Campbell & J P McHale Prs)1930Miller Bros 101 Ranch Wild West (30 cars) (BB May 3 1930)1930King Bros Rodeo Wild West1930Allen Bros Wild West1930Pubillones, (Cuba)1930Beas Circus Modelo, (Mexico)1930Ed Shipp W. (BB May 12 1934)1934Gentry (H B) Bros (BB July 21 1934)1934Chas T Hunt1934Seal Bros1934Beverley Bros1934Conroy Bros (Leroy Easter Mgr) (BB May 12 1934)1934Kay Bros (Wm Ketrow Pr)1934Silver Bros (Sam Dock Pr)1934Rice Bros (Howard King Pr) (BB Apr 9 1934)1934Lee Bros (Geo & Harold Christy Prs) (BB July 14 1934)1934Milliken Bros1934Marlows Mighty (Reuben Ray Mgr) (BB May 5, 19, 1934)1934Banard (BH) Bros (BB Jun 2 1934)1934Olinger Bros1934A H Reed (139 May 26 1934)1934Orange Bros1934Star Bros (Tom Atkinson & E J McCollister) (BB July 7 1934)1934Cole & Rice1934Cooper Bros1934E A Harrington-Pawnee Bill1934Speagles’ Show1934Famous Robbins Show1934Celmar Bros1934Duggan Bros (BB S 11 1934)1934King of Beasts Circus (Wm K Schultz Mgr)1934World Bros (Jas Heron Mgr)1934Tuckers Circus1934Bryan Woods Monkey Circus1934Irwin Bros Dog & Pony Show1934Harry Hybarger1934Beers-Barnes Show1934R L Atterbury (BB May 12 1934)1934Cole & Rogers (Lester Patterson Mgr) (BB Sep 25 1934)1934La Mont Bros1934McCall Circus1934Miller Bros Circus1934M Bailey1934Fowler Bros1934Hamilton Bros1934Henry Bros1934Rineharts’ Circus1934Robinson Bros California Circus1934Whitie Rodenberger Fullbright Sisters1934Tol Bros Spanish-American Circus1934Bob Mortons Indoor Circus (BB May 4 1934)1934Eastern States (BB Jun 2 1934) do1934Black Bros do1934Milton Holland do1934Whettens do1934Frank Wirth do1934Geo Hamids Hippodrome1934Standard Oil Wild Animal Circus (Zack Terrell Mgr) Chicago Fair1934Buck Taylors Show (Atlantic City)1934Orrin Davenports Grotto Circus (BB Feb 3 1934)1934John Robinsons Indoor Circus (BB May 19 1934)1934Tiger Bill Show (Col E D Snyder-G W McIntosh Prs)1934Jones Bros Wild West Circus1934Allen Bros Wild West Circus1934Buzz Bartons Wild West1934King Bros Rodeo Wild West1934California Frank’s Rodeo & Wild West1934Bair Bros Circus and Rodeo1934Harry Taylor’s Rodeo1934Circo Mexico (M Escalante Pr) (California)1935Ringling Bros-Barnum & Bailey. (S 1 Gumpertz Mqr) (BB, Apr 4, 27 1935)1935Hagenbeck-Wallace & Forepaugh-Sells (R L Clauson Mgr) (BB Apr 27, May 4 1935) 19351935Cole Bros – Clyde Beatty (Jess Adkins & Zack Terrell Prs) (BB Apr 27, May 4 1935)1935Al G Barnes (S L Cronin Mgr) (BB Mch 30 1935)1935Downie Bros (Chas Sparks Pr) (BB Apr 27 1935)1935Tom Mix (BB Mch 16 1935)1935Russell Bros (C W Webb Pr) (BB May 11 1935)1935Barnett Bros (Ray W Rogers Pr) (BB, Apr 20 1935)1935Gorman Bros (Tom Gorman Pr) (BB May 4 1935)1935Seils-Sterling (Lindemann Bros Pr) (BB Apr 27 1935)1935Lewis Bros (BB Apr 11, 25, Jul 27 1935)1935Haags Mighty (Mrs Ernest Haag Pro) (BB May 4 1935)1935Kay Bros (Wim Ketrow Pr) (BB Apr 27 1935)1935Seal Bros (BB, May IS 1935)1935Orange Bros (John Willander Pr)1935Schell Bros (Geo Engesser Pr) (BB Mch 16, Apr 6 1935)1935Hunts1935Walter L Main later Combined with Honest Bill (Wm Newton Jr) (BB Jun 1 1935)1935Famous Robbins (BB Jun 14 1935)1935Bays Bros (Taken over by Adkins & Terrell) (BB Jul 6 1935)1935Bailey Bros Bought mid-season by Harley Sadler (BB, Jun 1, 15, 1935)1935Atterbury Bros (BB Jun 1 1935)1935Vanderburg Bros1935Bryan Bros (BB July 6 1935)1935Fowler Bros1935Milliken Bros1935Jethro Almond1935Siebrand Bros (BB May 18 1935)1935Silver Bros1935Rooney Bros. This item is in the category “Toys & Hobbies\Vintage & Antique Toys\Other Vintage & Antique Toys”. The seller is “bdr131″ and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Brand: Handmade – One of a Kind
• Year: Circa 1930’s
• Themes:: Circus, Racing, Gambling, Folk Art, Tramp Art, Coin Op
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States