The Mills Company was formed in 1896 and this penny dispenser was made in October of 1897. I have never seen another one like it and none of my coin-op or slot machine buddies have ever seen one either. It stands approximately 25 tall. It dispenses five pennies each time the lever is pressed downward. This was for changing dimes and nickels at the Penny arcade.
It has a nickel plated cast iron base and tube supports. The tube is nickel plated as well and may be made of brass, I dont really know. The spout at the top of the tube is slightly cocked at an angle, I do not know if this is intentional by the maker. The underside of the base shows evidence of surface rust but does not impede the performance of the mechanism.
Im sure this rust can be removed but I leave that to the collector. This is as rare as a Mills Novelty Co. Most definitely the earliest piece Ive ever seen by this company.The item "1897 MILLS NOVELTY CO. PENNY ARCADE COIN CHANGE MACHINE 5 Pennies Per Change" is in sale since Sunday, July 5, 2020. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Casino\Slots\Machines\Antique Coin Slot Machines". The seller is "churchboy" and is located in Seguin, Texas. This item can be shipped to United States.