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pennymachines wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:08 pm Yes, apparently - arcade-museum.com has it as 1931 and the Merchantman was introduced in 1935

I think you got that backwards PM. Merchantman from around 1932 and the Imperial much later.

A newly designed Novelty Merchantman was introduced by Exhibit Supply Company in 1935 as this advert of theirs in The Coin Machine Journal of July 1935 illustration etc stating it to be newly designed clearly shows. Somewhere I've got the design patent as well, but this ad came to hand first when I was looking for it. There was an earlier Exhibit Supply Novelty Merchantman which is the one that Gameswat is currently finishing restoring. An Exhibit Supply Company advert for this earlier Novelty Merchantman in Gameswat's posting is illustrated immediately below followed by the later design underneath.

Thanks Bob. It's good to start piecing together the chronology of these. The Bumper Book of Vintage Diggers has yet to be written...

gameswat wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:36 pm I think you got that backwards PM. Merchantman from around 1932 and the Imperial much later.

I had thought the Imperial was later, but was prepared to believe arcade-museum.com, being an American site, knew better. That's also where I got the 1935 Merchantman date. I know from previous research their dating is not always reliable, so I searched Dick Bueschel's books but found nothing on the Imperial. I'm sure one of our sleuths can find something to date it. Is 1936, as shown on the label of the machine arrgee posted, correct?

The NEW Exhibit Supply Digger was introduced in 1936.

That is the 1936 Exhibit Supply catalog. Best photo I have. (from an old auction)
There is the New Imperial on the cover.

I'm looking for this, if someone has one they will part with.

Here is more information, this article published in Jan. 1937 mentions the Imperial.

With the help of some new friends on this site such as Rory (gameswat) and others
the restoration project of my Exhibit Supply Imperial is done.

There are still a few things, I could use to make it 100%
Like a better Crane boom, coin box, and the original cast feet.

I think you'll agree it's a piece of art.


To see the process go here: www.arcadetreasure.com/projects/imperial/imperial.htm

Great to see it all back together. And amazing you had to search the world to restore such a classic American machine.

brigham wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:47 pmNo Ship?

better with !