Pay-O-Meter

[AU24K]

Found this in an old house that was going to be torn down. Was paid to salvage copper, old clawfoot bathtubs and that kind of architectural misc. The boss said I could have this. I have googled everything I can think of about this until I'm googly...
There is no patent number, just a "pat. pend.". It takes quarters and has a time limit of 45 minutes.
Any info is appreciated.
Thanks.
Scott

 

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[TheSleeper]

Does it have a coin slot on it?

If it does it looks like the control box for the old vibra bed unit some motels had in them.

Saw after i posted u said it takes quarters, yeah its a vibrating bed control box, mounted on the headboard, the whole bed massages great for after a long day traveling.

 

[mojjax]

Does it have a coin slot on it?

If it does it looks like the control box for the old vibra bed unit some motels had in them.

Saw after i posted u said it takes quarters, yeah its a vibrating bed control box, mounted on the headboard, the whole bed massages great for after a long day traveling.

That's really neat ! Is that a key at the bottom?

 

[TheSleeper]

Yes its basically a lock box control unit, u put the quarters in, bed massages. Then the house cleaning crew opens the box removes the money the next day. Or if the manager doesn`t trust them he goes around to the rooms, open the box`s and removes the money.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

I think its one of those pay as you go for electric . In Chicago they used to have them in apartments, flats,etc....you didnt get electric unless you paid first......No monthly bills....you pay ...you get electric....I think they still use them in BK.....

 

[AU24K]

I had to make a key to fit it. It works great. I use it for a timer for my radio at night so that it will shut off after 45 minutes.
Scott

 

[TreasureTales]

I think its one of those pay as you go for electric . In Chicago they used to have them in apartments, flats,etc....you didnt get electric unless you paid first......No monthly bills....you pay ...you get electric....I think they still use them in BK.....

This would be my thought as well.


I've seen the coin boxes for vibra-beds. Each one that I saw had something like "Vibra-Bed" or "Massage-O-Matic" (or something similar) on the front or side of the box. That is not seen in the photos provided. Therefore I assume this box is for electric energy in general, rather than specifically designed for a coin-operated machine.

 

[TheSleeper]

well maybe, i was baseing my assumption on the line of text under the name, volts, cycles, "hp"

Usually a "hp" rating is only used when an item is a motor controller.

Also if u look at the size of the cords, they do not look to be heavy enough to route elec power for many items, perhaps only one.

 

[cheese]

I agree...it has stated HP, Cycles, and amps...with what looks like a 12 to 16 guage 3 conductor wire. Cycles and HP would be pretty specific to an electric motor. The medium to small wire would probably not be suitable for more than 15 amps, which is a small load...similar to the startup amp draw from a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hp motor.

 

[bogeymcq]

Love it !! What a great quirky find!!


Where you able to open it? Any coins


Bogart

 

[mech]

neat find.

heres a simular one (different mfg) on EBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-COIN-OP...609477QQihZ004QQcategoryZ117365QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Ant]

I remember the Hotel masage machines, and they didn't last anywhere near 45 minutes, only like 10 to 20 minutes. It think I remember something like that on pay televisions in bus stations and airports. But, from the looks of the electrical configuration it could be hooked up to run just about anything rated at a 110 volts.

Just another avenue to investage.

HH

 

[blurr]

I remember the Hotel masage machines, and didn't last anywhere near 45 minutes, only like 10 to 20 minutes. It think I remember something like that on pay televisions bus stations and airports. But, from the looks of the electrical configuration it could be hooked up to run just about anything rated at a 110 volts.

Just another avenue to investage.

HH

I agree, this thing could be hooked up to any piece of equipment with the same or lower specs that the box describes. For instance, those little rides for kids at walmart. 45 minutes is a long time though. It could be for a vibrabed also. Not beefy enough for a service line though.

John

 

[AU24K]

The old house it came out of was like a boarding house. I always thought that it might have been for running an electric razor. The cord is about the same size as a skill saw cord.
When I finally opened it up it had no coins in it. When I showed it to my boss to ask for it, he shook it possibly knowing the potential for coins. Having no sound of coins in it when he shook it and not having a key, he wasn't interested in it.
The id plate states: 120volts, 600 cycles, 1/3 HP, type 8200, No. 8572.
A.B.T. Mfg. Corp.
715 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, 12, Ill.
I'm wondering how old it is.
I could find nothing by googling even close to this money maker.
Perhaps I'm still green on googling.
Any one find anything with this additional info?
Thanks.
Scott

 

[mech]

http://www.klov.com/manuf_detail.php?manuf_id=3&game_id=1377

A.B.T Mfg Co of Chicago Illinois made game machines.

History of the company.. (note the address on the plate and the site)

http://www.crowriver.com/abt.htm

"From their factory at 715 - 727 North Kedzie St, within sight of the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago, hundreds of workers stamped out metal parts, cut, formed and finished wood and basically produced the games from raw materials at one end of the plant to finished games at the other. Introduced in 1925, at a price of $50.00, by the time a decade had passed over 120,000 has been sold, with peak production reaching nearly 2,000 games a month."


cheers and congrats on a nice one

 

[mech]

Oh Yeah, forgot to add...

DA BEARS!!