Caille Brothers Manufacturing Co. was established by Auguste Arthur Caille in 1893 and was based in Detroit, Michigan. Caille Bros. was one of the most successful companies in the coin operated industry during the 19th century and early 20th century. By 1904, they had become the largest employer in Detroit, MI. They became extremely popular releasing not only slot machines, but grew the company to include arcade games, weight scales, strength testers and gum machines. It was their coin operated and slot devices that ultimately led to the establishment of penny arcades, places where various coin operated machines could be played. The enormous sales volume of the coin slot machines produced by the Caille Bros. would always testify to their distinctive merit of having produced slot machines of the highest quality and design in their day, earning Caille Bros. a reputation as the "Rolls Royce" of floor machines. They would eventually expand their product line to include other items such as marine motors, scales, and the conveyor belts used in grocery stores. Once penny arcades began to decline Caille began building coin-operated "moving picture'' machines, called nickelodeons. Following the death of company President Auguste Caille in 1916, the company continued to release mainly trade simulators and gambling machines, but with little variety in their mechanical game output, they were soon overtaken by newer players in the industry such as A.B.T, Chester Pollard and Exhibit Supply Co., eventually leading Adolph A. Caille, the surviving brother, to sell the business to the Fuller Johnson Co. in 1937.
Caille Brothers Manufacturing Co. released 258 machines. (1895 - 1938) - Below are some examples from The Torrence Collection.
1900S CAILLE BROTHERS GEORGE WASHINGTON SCALE
|
|
|
Rare, early 1900s Caille Brothers George Washington scale. Works on a penny. Exceptionally original in every way including all castings, cabinet, internal workings, etc. Beautiful mahogany wood with fluted columns. This gorgeous scale works to perfection using a penny and is extremely accurate. Absolutely one of the most desired and beautiful scales ever produced!
1900S CAILLE BROTHERS HYGIENIC EXERCISER LUNG TESTER
|
|
|
Early 1900s Caille Brothers Hygienic Exerciser Lung Tester in perfect working order. Works on a penny. Fantastic art deco penny arcade piece. Players would blow powerfully into the rubber hose and the numbers on the side of the glass dome would indicate your lung strength. Great early strength testing coin operated game.
1904 CAILLE BROTHERS MICKEY FINN TUG OF WAR
|
|
|
Extremely rare 1904 Caille Brothers Mickey Finn Arcade Strength Tester. Beautiful original metal case with gorgeous face plate, original wood floor and internal workings. Works on a penny with original lock and keys as well. A tug of war type strength tester. In the front face of the machine, a devil's head appears if the player scores 750 points. Works well and is a unique and interesting machine!
1908 CAILLE BROTHERS MASCOT GRIP AND LUNG TESTER
|
|
|
Beautiful 1908 Caille Brothers Mascot Penny Arcade Grip and Lung Tester. Original finished oak case with copper plating on the iron feet and decorative castings. Works on a penny, this is a dual use penny arcade machine. It has a grip tester in the center of the cabinet and a lung tester on the side. Lights on the front dial would illuminate to register the strength of the patron. A wonderfully rare machine.
