John Frank Meyer was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1881. Entering the printer’s trade, he established his own small printing shop in Chicago before joining a firm called the Exhibit Supply Company in 1907 as a partner. Organized in 1901 as a postcard printer, Exhibit expanded its line rapidly after Meyer joined to become the largest supplier of printed cards for fortune tellers, horoscope machines and all the other types of card vendors found in the penny arcade. Meyer took full control of Exhibit Supply Co. in 1910 and moved the firm into its own manufacturing building in 1914. As the penny arcade approached the nadir of its decline, it actually became a somewhat fashionable spot for young couples to have a risque night out viewing lewd peep shows and purchasing printed love letters from card vendors as souvenirs. By 1917, partially aided by soldiers flocking to city night life to take their girls out one last time before shipping off “over there,” Exhibit card vendors enjoyed enormous popularity and became a key component of the shrinking penny arcade business. After World War I, Meyer decided to introduce a full line of arcade machines and hired Perc Smith, a former production manager for the Meade Bicycle Company and salesman for Mills Novelty with strong credentials in manufacturing, sales, and arcade operation, to sell them. Many of the best amusement machines ever created were introduced. They produced incredible fortune tellers, arcade games, strength testers and card vendors. Titles such as, Grandfather's Clock, Hercules Ball Grip, Automatic Pistol Range, Play Ball and Peep Show Barrels to name a few stand out. Together, Meyer and Smith built Exhibit Supply into one of the most important arcade equipment manufacturers in history.
Exhibit Supply Co. released 390 machines. (1900 - 1957) - Below are some examples from The Torrence Collection.
1920S EXHIBIT SUPPLY CUPID'S POST OFFICE FORTUNE TELLER
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An extremely rare and absolutely beautiful Exhibit Supply Co. fortune teller card vendor. Gorgeous quarter sawn oak cabinet, art deco details and a fantastic marquee. Love letters are for both men and women, depending on your choice. Almost 100 years old and a fortune teller that you more than likely will never see in this condition again.
1925 EXHIBIT SUPPLY TRUE LOVE LETTER FORTUNE TELLER
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Rare and in extremely beautiful condition. Often set up as a standing fortune teller, this machine dispenses a large post card for 1 cent with the patron's future partner and a fun description of their future bride or groom. There are two-coin mechs on this game: one for a man, one for a woman (the cards dispensed are different).
1926 EXHIBIT SUPPLY SPEAR THE DRAGON
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You never see these anymore. Beautiful reproduction oak cabinet with detailed castings. The patron inserts their penny into the slot and grips two metal knobs to feel the electric current. The electric current starts out gently and increases in strength as the knight figure approaches to slay the dragon. Players would compete against one another to who could move the knight the furthest.
1927 EXHIBIT SUPPLY GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK
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Rare as hen's teeth. Fantastic cabinet with a touch of patina, original grip, clock, mechanics, claw feet, locks, coin door, keys etc. The player inserts a penny and begins to squeeze the handle. The pendulum starts to swing. The harder the player squeezes the handle, the more times the bell will ring. Extremely rare, especially in this particular condition!
1927 EXHIBIT SUPPLY HERCULES BALL GRIP
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Another early arcade strength tester you never see anymore. Fantastic cabinet, original grip, mechanics, claw feet, locks, coin door, keys, etc. The player inserts a penny and begins to squeeze the handle. As the player squeezes harder the ball begins to rise. A bell chimes as the ball lowers back into the original resting position. Extremely rare in this caliber of condition!
1928 EXHIBIT SUPPLY TIGER PULL
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Pull the tiger's tail and if you pull hard enough, the tiger "roars". Strength is measured on the large round meter lodges in the tiger's chest. Works on a penny. Absolute mint condition and works to the highest order!
1929 EXHIBIT SUPPLY DONKEY IN THE GOLD MINE FORTUNE TELLER
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You never see these anymore. Beautiful reproduction oak cabinet with detailed castings. The patron inserts their quarter, then the mineshaft chain begins moving and a donkey pulling a wagon exits the mine. In the back of the wagon is a card with your fortune written on it. As the donkey passes the drop cup, it backs up and tips your fortune card into the cup.
1929 EXHIBIT SUPPLY PALMISTRY FORTUNE TELLER
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Another extremely rare and beautiful example of the Exhibit Supply Co. fortune teller card vendor. Gorgeous quarter sawn oak cabinet, with art deco details and a great marquee. There are two-coin mechs on this game: one for the male and one for the women (the cards dispensed are different). Palm reading fortune cards revealing personal traits and the future. Again, another almost one hundred-year-old fortune teller that you more than likely will never see again.
1930S EXHIBIT SUPPLY LOVE TESTER
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Rare and equally beautiful Exhibit Supply Love Tester penny arcade machine. Completely original example, marquee, locks, claw feet grip, paper display, etc. The player inserts a penny and begins to squeeze the handle. As the player squeezes the handle one light will turn on next to the corresponding love quote describing you. Quotes like, lovable, jealous, bashful, harmless, cold, etc. Works well. Another great American treasure.
1930S EXHIBIT SUPPLY ROTARY MERCHANDISER
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The Rotary Merchandiser is a variation on the very popular digger and crane games of the 1930s. Insert a nickel and the inner platform begins to rotate. The Player can then press the "Stop" button to stop the wheel from turning and activate the pusher. Prizes are retrieved from the drawer at the front of the machine. Fun early arcade machine!
1930S EXHIBIT SUPPLY SUNBURST "LIGHT UP" DIGGER
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Perhaps the nicest known example. The Exhibit Supply Sunburst "Light Up" Digger is the only digger model ever made to have lighted panels on the lower cabinet corners and the upper header area. Referred to as the "Light-up" digger because of this unique, jukebox style, feature. Unique in style due to oversized cabinetry and elaborate inlay veneer work. The crane boom itself is more massive than other diggers. Very rare and the most beautiful digger ever made.
1930S EXHIBIT SUPPLY ASTROLOGY FORTUNE TELLER
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Another rare and equally unique Exhibit Supply fortune teller penny arcade machine. This awesome fortune teller with twelve different coin slides. Each of the coin slides coincides with a month of the year and offers fortune cards made especially to the corresponding astrological signs. Above the coin slides is an astrologer sitting near his telescope and cat, next to a window overseeing the city landscape.
1935 EXHIBIT SUPPLY PLAY BALL
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The only known only example in existence. 10 balls for a nickel. It is hard to believe that in 1935, a machine containing this caliber of advanced internal workings even existed. A beautiful, illuminated playfield, with a mounted running man unit on the playfield. Once the game has concluded, it mechanically dispenses out a printed ticket with the score of your individual game on it. A once in a lifetime type of collectible!
1939 EXHIBIT SUPPLY SMILING SAM FORTUNE TELLER
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Very rare piece of Americana and coin-op history. Perhaps the nicest example in existence. Smiling Sam "The VooDoo Man" fortune teller. The player inserts a dime, and The VooDoo Man becomes an animated figure as his eyes and mouth begin to move around. Included are the original fortunes that are vended with this great fortune teller.
1939 EXHIBIT SUPPLY FOOT VITALIZER
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What a nostalgic collectible. The player inserts a dime and then steps on the foot platform to become re-energized. Perhaps the absolute nicest example in existence. Interesting piece of Americana!
1940 EXHIBIT SUPPLY LICENSE BUREAU FORTUNE TELLER
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Often set up as a standing fortune teller, this machine dispenses a random silly license. "Any Old License To Do Any Old Thing." At the front of this machine are two coin slots, the left for female and the right for male. Each hold different license titles, for example, there are licenses for Gold Diggers, Wise Crackers and Joy Killers.
1940 EXHIBIT SUPPLY SHORT STOP
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Only a very few in existence. An extremely gorgeous vintage baseball themed woodrail. Awesome playfield animation with a rotating turntable that loads balls as basemen. Has all the great early MLB teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Reds, Indians, Cubs, Red Sox, etc.
1948 EXHIBIT SUPPLY SAMBA
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An original perfect functioning woodrail with the fantastic "Samba" dancing theme. What a fantastic game and a great addition to any pinball collection or perhaps for a dance studio owner looking for a great rare art deco dance themed piece of Americana!
1950 EXHIBIT SUPPLY DALE SIX SHOOTER
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Rare and beautifully restored by Jon. Exhibit Supply Six Shooter arcade game. In fantastic condition, works perfectly and a classic western themed gun game with a small footprint. Sharpshooter ticket vendor intact and working to perfection.
1951 EXHIBIT SUPPLY DALE GUN PATROL
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Rare and beautifully restored by Jon. Exhibit Supply Dale Gun Patrol arcade game. In fantastic condition, works perfectly and a great World War 2 themed game with a small footprint. Sharpshooter ticket vendor intact and working to perfection.
1956 EXHIBIT SUPPLY PEEP SHOW BARRELS
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Remember these? Entices viewer to insert coin to view the entertaining risqué joke. Used in penny arcades, old time traveling county fairs and carnivals. Just a great piece of Americana. Rare, pristine condition and has a nice patina.
