Antique American Stamp Machine Discussion

Hi all

I needed a change of scenery yesterday, so I drove up to southern Maine and hit two antique shops. While looking around, I came across an antique stamp machine, which alone was nice to see. Then I noticed the stamps displayed on/in it!

A 5-cent Columbian.

This begs the question, did someone add the stamp, or was such a machine actually around during 1893? Seems a bit too modern. Perhaps the patent # seen in the photo can be looked up.

Thoughts?

(I apologize for the photo quality... my cell phone's camera is El Stinkola)

Patent 2444747 was issued in 1948.

Well that answers THAT question!!!!!!!

;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Note also that the special delivery stamp on the 10c side was issued some 30 years later than the Columbian, and it's very clearly used. I've never seen a used stamp displayed in a post office vending machine.

Another very good point

Did you try it? I would have gambled a nickel for a 5 cent Columbian.

Dennis

No, I didn't even think of that! ;-) For some reason, though I love antique shops, I get all nervous and uptight. Perhaps it is because everything is priced so high now. Very rare to score anything these days...

As I remember these machines from my youth, the stamps were contained in a cardboard folder about the size of a stick of chewing gum. The 5c slot produced 4x1c (post card rate) stamps while the 10c provided 3x3c (letter rate) stamps. The penny overcharge "for your convenience" being thr gross profit to the machines owner. They were generally found in drug stores, souvenir ships, etc.

Like these?



If anyone collects these, let me know. I have several different, but don't actually collect them...

Nells, we notice a coin display to the left of the machine. Did this shop have stamps for sale too?

I found this machine in the Colorado state capitol building this week...first time in forever that I've seen one out in public like this.

My stamp machine. Found in a barn in Kansas.

Great machines! I think of them as heads, with the stamps being the eyes and the last one having a sad mouth ("pull").

Nells' looks rather bored.

Old joke:

How do you spot a philatelist in Vegas?

He's the one playing the stamp machine.

Dudley - nope, though another vendor did have baggies of mixed stamps. I took a peek through them, nothing to write home about.

I have asked the admins if I can change the thread topic/name to cover chatter regarding antique American stamp machines.

Stay tuned...

Nells, did you buy that machine?