“DECO ERA” DIGGERS
The Art Deco era of the mid-1920's through the 1930's was the time of
the greatest popularity of coin activated diggers. It was during that
period when most of today's most valuable antique models were produced.
In the 1930's there were over 35 companies building and selling diggers,
and the competition for sales often centered on the cabinetwork. Sales
were directed to the operators of Penny Arcades, Boardwalks and
Beachfront Amusement Parks in areas of high population. The more
elaborate models were designed to be operated in the finest Hotel
Lobbies, Department Stores, and Train Stations of the day. These "Hotel
Models" were sold as floor-standing consoles, and the woodwork was often
similar to fine wood furniture; usually embellished with polished and
painted cast metal trim in Art Deco style.
Almost all of these machines play-through a cycle powered by an electric
motor, however some companies offered hand crank and electric models in
countertop design to sell to traveling operators.
A few diggers of the Deco Era category were built during and after World
War II, but in 1951 a new Federal Law, the Johnson Interstate
Transportation Act, classified all diggers as "Gambling Devices" and
electric diggers, of Deco style, were frozen in time. Following this
sudden ending a group of carnival digger operators was successful in
having their type of diggers reclassified as "Amusement Devices" in
1953, but this type had no electric motors and no coin slots.
Consequently, there were no more of the "Deco Era" cranes and diggers
produced after 1951.
“CARNIVAL” DIGGERS
From the time of the first factory production of digger games in about
1924, diggers have been used extensively by traveling carnival
operators.
Carnivals, as a business, were developing at the same general period in
time as digger machines and slot machines were becoming popular. Early
carnival companies did not always have reliable electric service so the
'hand crank' models were the choice of most operators. This put the Erie
Digger in the forefront of sales to the traveling showman. Exhibit
Supply Co., International Mutoscope Reel Co., Bally, Scientific Machine
Co. and others followed suit by offering hand-crank models. Also, the
carnival operators favored the smaller, lighter, 'counter top' models
because they could be easily transported by Railway Express in their
original shipping crate, and the crate could then be used as a stand for
the digger upon arrival at the show grounds.
Carnival diggers during that era used cash currency and silver coin in
the play field as prizes to entice repeat play. The early carnival
diggers actually brought gambling machines to small town America.
Chancing a penny or a nickel to win a Silver Dollar coin made the
carnival diggers very popular during the depression.
The entire digger business ended abruptly in 1951 with the enactment of
the Johnson Interstate Transportation Act, which classified diggers as
'Gambling Devices'. A group of carnival digger operators, led by Lee
Moss, banded together to have their type of diggers exempted and they
were successful in obtaining a new classification for diggers as
"Amusement Devices". As a result diggers were operated differently from
1953 until the late 1970's to comply with Federal Law. This is why many
of the diggers currently available to the collector market are found
without electric motors, coin mechs, prize chutes, or locking cabinet
backs.
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