Posted 3 years ago
kmiller8821
(7 items)
I recently inherited my Uncle's gumball machine collection. I've been doing research and trying to figure out everything about it.
I believe these are H&W/Ford gumball machines. They are both in great shape. The silver one's globe has a small chip missing in the base, but otherwise functional. Interestingly, both machines can be opened with the same padlock key.
Just trying to expand my knowledge on these.
Your uncle had a great collection..
Thank you, I have 1 more still coming that I've never seen before. Once I get it, I'll be posting it up as well because I can't find anything like it just based on the one picture I was sent of it. It should be here in a few weeks.
So out of curiosity ...how did the globe come out of the other machine? With the square glass.
I actually updated that one's description when I figured it out. :)
However, I also had fun trying to figure out how to get this globe out. You pull the lever and then lift the entire globe up. I was just worried gumballs were going to end up everywhere but there is a collar on it and they don't come out. I would also say the gumballs in this thing are vintage as one fell on the ground and shattered like glass. Safe to say these gumballs are for "display purposes only".
I gained a fascination with those round globe machines from remembering seeing them as a kid. For some reason I found them more interesting than other gumball machines because of the way you got your gum. Instead of turning a handle like most machines, you slid the [whatever you call it] to the side.
Later in life I learned a bit more about the Ford gumball machines that I just found interesting as a kid and had to have one. One year as my wife and I were having dinner and she asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said I would send her a link to a listing on ebay and that was all I wanted. It was a Ford gumball machine. After that I got another Ford and two Harts, which are similar to Fords. Anyway, I know I'm rambling on about my machines. Yours are nice too. You have a nice collection. Take good care of it.
-- Earth
Thank you. They are both in very good condition. The silver one has a small chip in the glass globe at the collar, most likely from someone not understanding the proper way to open it without glass damage. However, it's very minor. The gumballs within still have "Ford" on many of them. I'm leaving those in there, that machine is just "for display". I may replace the candy later but for now, I'm leaving it alone.
Ford Gum & Machine Company is still around. Their big thing now is the gum. You can still get gumballs that say Ford on them. I believe the only machines that make now are the Carousel machines that are simply made to look like vintage machines, but are not really for commercial use. Founded in 1913 by Ford Mason. Their website is fordgum.com.
-- Earth