Automatic Musical Company
Coin Slot Mechanism

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Barnes)

Early Automatic Musical Company coin switch mechanism with electrical knife switch and shut off pneumatic located at the right side of cast iron housing. This simple coin switch device has no provision to accumulate coin drop plays. Put in as many coins as you like and until the piano shuts off you only get one play. When a coin is dropped into the coin chute it impacts a brass spoon or plate attached to a metal rod, which in turn releases the latch holding the electrical knife switch open, whereupon the piano starts playing a tune. When the tune is finished a shut off perforation in the music roll causes the pneumatic at the right side of the knife switch to pull the knife blade open and thereafter latched open--until the next coin is dropped into the coin chute.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Barnes)

Early Automatic Musical Company tall wooden coin collector box with the locked cover in place. At far left a section of the long wooden lever that engages the mandolin mechanism's oscillating action is visible. At right is the electrical outlet box for the motor.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Barnes)

Early Automatic Musical Company coin collector box with locked wooden cover removed, and showing the interior with a red painted metal coin receptacle box. At far right is the electrical outlet box for the motor.