Museum Exhibits Rare Old Coin-Op Machines

New Jersey's Morris Museum has created an exhibit of classic coin-op machines from the early 20th century. The exhibit, "For Amusement Only: Arcades and Cafés," features objects from the museum's own collection and items on loan from private collections. It offers a fresh perspective on the longevity of coin-op as entertainment and its innovative roots.

The bulk of the exhibit is made up of items from the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection. Awarded to the museum in 2003, the entire collection is comprised of some 750 historic mechanical musical instruments and automata (mechanical figures), along with more than 5,000 programmed media, ranging from player piano rolls to pinned cylinders. Highlights of the collection are on display in the museum's 4,300-sq.ft. permanent "Musical Machines & Living Dolls" exhibition. This interactive exhibition features more than 150 pieces from this extraordinary collection and takes visitors on a journey through the history of on-demand musical entertainment.

According to museum officials, the new exhibit includes many rarely seen objects of the coin-op art range from automatic merchandisers to entertainment and gambling devices. Among the devices included in the exhibit are a 1932 fortune-teller, Grandmother's Predictions, produced by Mutoscope International Reel Co. Inc. and the 1927 Hercules Grip Tester by the Exhibit Supply Co.

The museum has also planned a series of special exhibit demonstrations conducted by the Guinness Collection staff. "For Amusement Only" closes on Oct. 10.

Serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received numerous awards, including the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' Citation of Excellence. The museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ 07960

COIN-OP CULTURE:The Morris Museum is now featuring an exhibit of classic coin-op devices that date back to the turn of the 20th century. Called "For Amusement Only: Arcades and Cafés," the exhibit puts the spotlight on rare examples of early coin-op innovation.