Amusement Tokens were used in coin operated devices, usually for entertainment. This included early forms of early slot machines, pinball and fortune telling machinery of the 1930s. Vending machines such as mint and gum ball machines may also be considered in this category.
One early location where amusement tokens were used and were paid to some game winners is the Penny Arcade. The earliest penny arcades from the nineteenth century had machines called bagatelles—a game combining pinball and billiards. Later, penny arcade machines grew closer to modern pinball. Another form of machine found in penny arcades were "peep show" machines which allowed the viewer to see various views of objects and later moving pictures. Slot machines, love testers, fortune teller machines and other coin operated devices were found in such venues. Penny arcades later led to the creation of video arcades in the 1970s.
Arcade Tokens are used in
Video Arcade Machines. In the 1970 video games became very popular and the use of these tokens are wide spread as thousands of video arcades opened all across the country. Many arcades used stock token others used their own tokens. Most with at least the name of the arcade and in some cases the city and state.
Car Wash Tokens were issued by self serve car washes of the 1960's. Tokens were despensed from a dollar bill change machine. The Most Popular car was tokens are the one issued by Sofspra. They were also the largest chain to use tokens. One unusual car wash token is in shape of a bears head.
Sales Tax Tokens
In the 1930's 14 states had authorized the use of either sales tax tokens or paper scrip as change for the taxes. It has been estimated that more than a billion sales tax tokens were issued. Even when some state governments refused to issue sales tax tokens, many businesses issued them on their own to help their customers. State issued sales tax tokens were made of copper, brass, paper, fiber, aluminum, zinc, and plastic. Many were colored. The language ranged from:
Arizona's......to make change for correct sales tax
Louisiana's.... Public Welfare Tax Token
Oklahoma's.... For Old Age Assistance
Telephone Tokens were used in pay phones from the late 1800 to World War 2. Individual telephone companies, places of business and organizations issued and used telephone tokens. They were used by employees and the general public. You will see telephone tokens marked Gettone, Goeta and Y.S.&S. Co. (Yale Slot & Slug Co.) and individual phone companies marked "One Switch" or "One Local Switch".
Wooden Money was first issued by the Citizen's Bank of Tenino, Washington, on December 5, 1931. Several other places, mostly in the Pacific North-West, issued wooden money after that. Some followed the flat format of Tenino and others used round pieces. In 1934 a new use for wooden money or wooden nickels was found in a combination of advertising for civic celebrations and providing souvenirs of the celebration.
Just when the adage "Don’t take any Wooden Nickels!" was added to the American language is unclear, but the reasons are easy to understand. The Most Popular wooden nickels are thoses issued by Sambo's Restaurant in the 1970's and 1980's.
