Polydor Coin-op

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Curt A
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Polydor Coin-op

Post by Curt A »

A friend just found this. Does anyone have info on it, as it's unusual in the U.S.

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Victor V
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Re: Polydor Coin-op

Post by poodling around »

I came across this and thought it was very interesting.

Maybe it is rare in Europe to find one of these too ?

As Curt A mentioned, 'Does anyone have info on it' ?

Like when it was made etc ?

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Re: Polydor Coin-op

Post by CarlosV »

poodling around wrote: Tue Jan 27, 2026 11:52 am I came across this and thought it was very interesting.

Maybe it is rare in Europe to find one of these too ?

As Curt A mentioned, 'Does anyone have info on it' ?

Like when it was made etc ?
I have one, see photos below, including the Austrian seller's logo. It is probably from 1915-20 (Polydor started in 1913). I could not find any specific information about it. It is not a common machine in Germany, especially in working condition with its coin op mechanism intact. After fading out of fashion in bars, most of these machines had the coin op removed and remained in use in homes.
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Re: Polydor Coin-op

Post by poodling around »

CarlosV wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 6:54 am
poodling around wrote: Tue Jan 27, 2026 11:52 am I came across this and thought it was very interesting.

Maybe it is rare in Europe to find one of these too ?

As Curt A mentioned, 'Does anyone have info on it' ?

Like when it was made etc ?
I have one, see photos below, including the Austrian seller's logo. It is probably from 1915-20 (Polydor started in 1913). I could not find any specific information about it. It is not a common machine in Germany, especially in working condition with its coin op mechanism intact. After fading out of fashion in bars, most of these machines had the coin op removed and remained in use in homes.
Thank you very much indeed CarlosV - very interesting information indeed.

Can I ask please, does your machine still have the coin op mechanism intact ?

Also, does it still have the 'coin slot' and if so, is it on one of the the sides of the machine I wonder ?

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Re: Polydor Coin-op

Post by CarlosV »

poodling around wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:41 am
Can I ask please, does your machine still have the coin op mechanism intact ?

Also, does it still have the 'coin slot' and if so, is it on one of the the sides of the machine I wonder ?
Yes, the coin op mechanism works well. The slot is on the same side as the one pictured at the start of the thread, see photo below. The coin value s not written there, I suppose because it was sold in Austria and not in Germany, but in any case it works with the German 10 pfenning coin.
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Steve
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Re: Polydor Coin-op

Post by Steve »

CarlosV wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 9:28 am
poodling around wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:41 am
Can I ask please, does your machine still have the coin op mechanism intact ?

Also, does it still have the 'coin slot' and if so, is it on one of the the sides of the machine I wonder ?
Yes, the coin op mechanism works well. The slot is on the same side as the one pictured at the start of the thread, see photo below. The coin value s not written there, I suppose because it was sold in Austria and not in Germany, but in any case it works with the German 10 pfenning coin.
Can anyone recommend a reliable source for acquiring such currency today? Obviously, I am only looking to acquire a few dozen coins at the most! I have several German coin-ops, but don't want to risk getting the mechanisms seized up with the use of non-original but similar sized (probably British) coins.
Many thanks.

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