1 Cent Blinkey Eye Gum Vendor by Standard Gum Machine Works

The 1 Cent Blinkey Eye Gum vendor, produced around 1907 by Standard Gum Machine Works of Pittsburgh, is a notable example of early 20th-century vending machines. Crafted from cast iron, the machine features embossed lettering on the front that reads “Soda Mint Gum.” Its distinctive design includes a figural face, and when gum is dispensed, the clown's eyes blink, giving rise to its “Blinkey Eye” moniker.

The machine operated through a simple but clever mechanical system that combined vending with a visual novelty effect. Here’s how it worked:

• The user would place a 1-cent coin into the machine's slot.
• After inserting the penny, the user would turn a crank or press a lever to activate the dispensing mechanism.
• The machine would release a piece of Soda Mint Gum, which would drop into a retrieval slot.
• As the gum was dispensed, the figural face on the machine would animate—specifically, the clown’s eyes would blink. This effect was likely triggered by an internal lever or cam mechanism that moved the eyelids in sync with the vending process.

This vending machine is considered rare and highly sought after by collectors. For instance, a 2012 auction saw a Blinkey Eye Gum Vendor sell for $22,500. Another example was listed in a 2017 auction with an estimated value between $30,000 and $35,000.

Standard Gum Machine Works was an American company active in the early 20th century, known for manufacturing coin-operated vending machines. According to the International Arcade Museum, the company released at least eight different machines, with its earliest known model dating back to 1905.