And so it must have been when this machine was packed away, presumably just after decimalisation. We’ve previously sold a similar, single column German ‘Turbon’ machine that was built for 2 Shillings (2/– or a florin) which would have had somewhat of an extended life on the dimensionally identical new 10p coin, provided you could still find anything to sell at a profit for 10p, and then only until 1992. This machine would definitely have come out of service 20 years earlier in 1970* though, as it operates on a 2 Shilling & Sixpence (2/6 or a half crown) coin. Don’t worry as if you want to make it yours, we will give you plenty of coins to get you vending! *The half crown was de-monetized ‘early’ on the 1st January 1970, over a year before full decimalisation.
What’s impressive and unusual is the 2 column function. Turn the chrome handle and the whole assembly rotates, and you can gain another 6 products. Let’s see it in action;
Here’s that hefty turn mechanism in closeup;
DWM Automatenbau GmbH were a German company with (at least an office) in Berlin; West we assume!
By pure fluke in a huge amount of flyers we picked up a while ago (and do intend to upload) was the DWM flyer for this exact machine. They called this machine the “Neukölln” which has no meaningful translation as it turns out to simply be one of the 12 boroughs of Berlin. It’s a form of machine known as an Automat (typically used in Europe to refer to the type of machine, rather than the American use to refer to a type of restaurant using such equipment) since it is up to the user to fill with whichever items they see fit, and was even available to order with cooling equipment (probably only economically viable for larger models), heat lamps, and even rear doors so they could be refilled from behind. Our model is fitted with the usual metalwork to carry a simple tube light or heat lamp, but I don’t think one has ever been fitted.
Finally, here’s the flyer with some translations;
It’s interesting to see the mention of Münzprüfer who are now nearly 100 years old and still going – they make some complex, and very well made (expensive!) coin mechanisms to this day.
The good news is – this machine can be yours!
