AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE & SPECTACULAR “YALE WONDER CLOCK”.

AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE & SPECTACULAR “YALE WONDER CLOCK”. This is an extraordinary opportunity to purchase a “fresh to the market” coin operated machine that not only appeals to music box collectors or collectors of gambling machines but to anyone who wants to own the best of the best!!!! Only on rare occasions does a machine of this magnitude become available to a prospective buyer, with most collectors not even placing a machine of this nature on their “Wish List” as they feel it is an unattainable desire!! This machine was purchased by the current owner over thirty years ago in Vermont from the family of the original owner. Only a handful of this type of machine survived over the years and there are several different versions. This example was manufactured in the first part of the 20th century in Burlington, Vermont by Charles Yale…hence the name. Comparing the few that have survived over the past 100 years this example is perhaps one of the most visually appealing versions as well as one with an exceptionally low serial number 123. Contained within a fanciful oak case is a 15 1/2″ Regina disc player as well as the gambling aspect…a spinning arrow that would stop at various locations on the reverse painted glass with numbers from 000 to 999. Originally designed to navigate around the gambling aspect, the player was supposedly purchasing a tune from the Regina player and gosh golly the gambling aspect was thrown in as a bonus. Another intriguing addition is the revolving display in the front of the machine…used for advertising purposes with which local or national merchants would hawk their goods. This example does not include any of the advertising that would have been used in the center or side windows of the machine. Just standing in front of this machine one must examine the machine closely…..amazing how so many gimmicks/options were employed!!!! The mechanism is mechanical in nature as well as also being run with dry cell batteries for operation of the lighting. A clock by New Haven Clock Company, flashing lights, various token awards, a spinning arrow, music, advertising…what else could have been added to attract a prospective player??? Always a winner, a token was always dispensed with every play, the only variable being the quote “trade value” of the token. Without a doubt the “hidden” gambling aspect was present, the total of your number that the arrow stopped on (#256 really meant 2+5+6=13) was awarded accordingly to the merchant and the value he would place on the number you achieved. Obviously a high number or a low number had the greatest value, much harder to achieve these results; just compare this to playing “craps”… rolling a seven is easy compared to rolling “boxcars” which would be extremely difficult. Hence following through on this premise the awards would be comparable, low or high total would have the greatest value and receive the greatest trade or monetary reward. Original manufacturing plaque is attached at the center above the disc changer. It reads “The Yale Wonder Clock Burlington, VT. No. 123 Pat’d April 10,1900”. Reverse painted glass on side states “The Yale Wonder Clock Pat’d April 10, 1900 Other Patents Pend’g Pays Full Value For Each Nickel Played Get Ticket Out Of Cup”. Original crank and original Edison light bulbs. This opportunity may never come up again as this machine is so rare and considered to be the earliest known example with the lowest serial number on record. To see more about the Yale Wonder Clock please see David Bowers wonderful article in the Musical Box Society Mechanical Music, Vol. 53, No. 3. SIZE: 94-1/2″ h x 13-1/2″ at deepest x 34″ at widest. PROVENANCE: Purchased by our consignor over 30 years ago in Vermont from the family of the original owner. CONDITION: Recent cleaning and both old and recent restoration includes some replaced wood trim, exterior finish and paint restoration, as well as some elements of the face. Two front glass pieces are fabulous recreations of the original inserts (the original broken door glass will accompany this lot). Side glass is original. Oak top wood facade is a recreation. Mechanism is functional and appears to be intact and complete including the electrical wires running from the clock to the lights. The batteries are present but the power requires two drops of mercury, which is not present, and is needed to complete the connection. 1-7700 (75,000-125,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2008

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1602	$86,250.00	AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE & SPECTACULAR “YALE WONDER CLOCK”. This is an extraordinary opportunity to purchase a “fresh to the market” coin operated machine that not only appeals to music box collectors or collectors of gambling machines but to anyone who wants to own the best of the best!!!! Only on rare occasions does a machine of this magnitude become available to a prospective buyer, with most collectors not even placing a machine of this nature on their “Wish List” as they feel it is an unattainable desire!! This machine was purchased by the current owner over thirty years ago in Vermont from the family of the original owner. Only a handful of this type of machine survived over the years and there are several different versions. This example was manufactured in the first part of the 20th century in Burlington, Vermont by Charles Yale…hence the name. Comparing the few that have survived over the past 100 years this example is perhaps one of the most visually appealing versions as well as one with an exceptionally low serial number 123. Contained within a fanciful oak case is a 15 1/2″ Regina disc player as well as the gambling aspect…a spinning arrow that would stop at various locations on the reverse painted glass with numbers from 000 to 999. Originally designed to navigate around the gambling aspect, the player was supposedly purchasing a tune from the Regina player and gosh golly the gambling aspect was thrown in as a bonus. Another intriguing addition is the revolving display in the front of the machine…used for advertising purposes with which local or national merchants would hawk their goods. This example does not include any of the advertising that would have been used in the center or side windows of the machine. Just standing in front of this machine one must examine the machine closely…..amazing how so many gimmicks/options were employed!!!! The mechanism is mechanical in nature as well as also being run with dry cell batteries for operation of the lighting. A clock by New Haven Clock Company, flashing lights, various token awards, a spinning arrow, music, advertising…what else could have been added to attract a prospective player??? Always a winner, a token was always dispensed with every play, the only variable being the quote “trade value” of the token. Without a doubt the “hidden” gambling aspect was present, the total of your number that the arrow stopped on (#256 really meant 2+5+6=13) was awarded accordingly to the merchant and the value he would place on the number you achieved. Obviously a high number or a low number had the greatest value, much harder to achieve these results; just compare this to playing “craps”… rolling a seven is easy compared to rolling “boxcars” which would be extremely difficult. Hence following through on this premise the awards would be comparable, low or high total would have the greatest value and receive the greatest trade or monetary reward. Original manufacturing plaque is attached at the center above the disc changer. It reads “The Yale Wonder Clock Burlington, VT. No. 123 Pat’d April 10,1900”. Reverse painted glass on side states “The Yale Wonder Clock Pat’d April 10, 1900 Other Patents Pend’g Pays Full Value For Each Nickel Played Get Ticket Out Of Cup”. Original crank and original Edison light bulbs. This opportunity may never come up again as this machine is so rare and considered to be the earliest known example with the lowest serial number on record. To see more about the Yale Wonder Clock please see David Bowers wonderful article in the Musical Box Society Mechanical Music, Vol. 53, No. 3. SIZE: 94-1/2″ h x 13-1/2″ at deepest x 34″ at widest. PROVENANCE: Purchased by our consignor over 30 years ago in Vermont from the family of the original owner. CONDITION: Recent cleaning and both old and recent restoration includes some replaced wood trim, exterior finish and paint restoration, as well as some elements of the face. Two front glass pieces are fabulous recreations of the original inserts (the original broken door glass will accompany this lot). Side glass is original. Oak top wood facade is a recreation. Mechanism is functional and appears to be intact and complete including the electrical wires running from the clock to the lights. The batteries are present but the power requires two drops of mercury, which is not present, and is needed to complete the connection. 1-7700 (75,000-125,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2008 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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