In the early Seventies fortune teller machines were still in the big arcades in all of the beach towns up and down the east coast. You could see how old they all were. There is something about them that is just fascinating. You might remember the huge "submarine shooter" arcade game where you tried to shoot torpedoes and guide them towards ships that moved along the back wall of the machine. It was a huge machine that took up a ton of floor space. I think there was another "huge class" machine but I can't remember what it did.
I have always love these since I was a kid. What Brought me to watch These videos is because I want to build a realistic one but for Halloween costume and the cat on the shoulder is an amazing idea and thank you for turning it on . I remember saying these fortune tellers have the Carnivals when I was young and I Really miss them
Wow! I was thinking that just the Grandma's head moves but I was surprised that even the cat's head moves as well when operating. Being an amateur fortuneteller myself, I always had an interest with coin-operated fortunetellers. Such a cool model you have here
No particularly in the same category to be exact, even though fortune telling does have a shady history. Personally, I read tarot for people who asks me to read without asking for anything in return just because I enjoy what I'm doing in helping people through the use and deciphering of the symbols that turn up on the random cards in order look at a problem that they may have from a different angle or perspective. Tarot, or any other divination or fortune telling system, doesn't work on literally telling the future of the matter but only gives a slight, subjective possibility and perspective of what "could" happen if the person that I'm reading for let's the particular problem passively fester on without dealing with it in a healthy manner. So in a nutshell, Fate is never set in stone unless you let it to be by doing nothing about it. An interesting view on divination, fortune telling and the Occult (meaning "Censored or Hidden") as a whole was actually done by one of the founding fathers of modern psychology, Dr. Carl Jung if you're ever interested :)
John I really liked your research and theory on this fourtune teller I do believe you are correct it is an exhibit supply and I thankyou for sharing this great penny arcade piece. This show why you are one of the leading authorities on penny arcade and jukebox in the world.
We had one of these at the Pier at Weirs Beach, NH, even into the 90's. It might still be there (but if you're into jukeboxes, pinball, etc., you've probably already made a pilgrimage out that way - it's a gold mine!).
That is an extraordinary piece you have there. I'm in full agreement with you that the mechanism is German. You can tell just by looking at it. Exhibit was kind of weird in that they would take others mechanical parts and put them in their own cabinets. I'm working on a Vacuumatic now and the cab looks like it was made in someone's garage. I took a chance buying it because it really didn't look legit, but it is. I absolutely enjoyed this video, thank you for sharing. Congrats on that wonderful machine, you are very fortunate to have one in that pristine condition.
Great video, Great machine !!! Great explanation of its origin, etc. I am just getting interested in these, thank you for sharing. My interest was triggered while watching an episode of streets of San Francisco, they showed a Grandmothers Predictions machine !!!
Most fascinating video I have watched in a while. I would be curious to see how the mechanism and the electronics look. The provenance of each part can tell a lot about the history and the modifications/repairs made over the years.
So thrilling! So life like! Wonder if she used to talk?? Since her mouth opens and closes. Enjoyed watching this and love the picture clues that you've found.
I remember seeing something similar - in a case but without the cat - in Manhattan - near 34th Street or the Times Square area - sometime in the early 80's - I think it was part of a NYC exhibit - I wish I could remember more about it. I don't think it had a cat. It cost twenty five cents for a fortune - I think anyway. It was incredibly lifelike.
the clothes on the men and boy in the photo you have are from the 1920's/ 30's era. Personal cameras did not become common until around 1925 as at least 2 of your photos were obviously taken with a personal camera. Photos prior to the 20's were the stony faced stares, tin types and silver nitrate photos. The blacked out and dug out manufacturer name from Germany, I believe, was done b/c there was an embargo around the time the photos would date this machine. No imports or exports with Germany. Someone smuggled them in and the manufacturer did not want to get busted. Seems your fortune teller is a bit more mysterious than you thought!
btw I am a photographer and artist, an avid collector of vintage and antique photography, and antique doll restoration artist. One of the most popular dolls that I restore and sell was made and sold only in Germany around the same time frame as your photos; 1920's and 1930's. Finding one of those dolls in the USA is rare and I often buy them from people in Germany who ship them to me. The reason they were never sold here is because of the embargo. Prior to the embargo we got 99% of our dolls from Germany (king of dolls) and France. The embargo pushed Americans to look within for a solution to that and many other trade problems and thus American doll manufacturing was born.
Thank you so much for your input on this. Never knew about the embargo with Germany. It certainly raises a valid point in the discussion. About the photo, I have no idea where it came from originally, it can be found online fairly easily. The copy we have is probably a digital reproduction of the original. So I'm not sure how it has been altered from the actual original. Again thank you so much for your input, it will certainly help if we ever get into researching this machine more in depth.
Also the site where I found the picture online named the picture file "The Fortune Teller Circa 1909." So Ill be doing more research today about its date.
Truly the machine could have been on that street corner for 10 years and manufactured 10 years prior to that so the picture just gives a rough idea but certainly proves it is old. Just how old, I could not guess. However the blacked out and gouged out markings are intriguing and I would like to know what you discover in your research. :-)
When I was a kid, back in the 70's to 80's, there was a similar fortune teller at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. She was a gypsy. I looked forward to getting my fortune every year. I believe it was sold at auction, unfortunately.
National Jukebox Exchange Very cool - and I admire your detective work. I remember when I was young, we had a 'penny arcade' (this was before video games), with the usual; see ball, etc. I remember they had the 'mystic' (I don't know what it's usually known as), who'd do all the movements, and then, you'd pluck your fortune. It was - because of it's qualities - it's age, it's general appearance, etc.,, to me really creepy cool. Even when I was 10, 12 years old, I still loved it - more-so, for those eerie qualities. It's been oft said how those days are long gone - replaced with machine built, and machine operated 'games' (the parens because, as far as I'm concerned, they're all interchangeable). Thanks for sharing this - it takes me back in time.
Grandmother Predictions (1st year, ugly woman) Description Grandmother Predictions (1st year, ugly woman) was produced by International Mutoscope Corp. in 1925. International Mutoscope Corp. released 42 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1910.
Fascinating and informative video on the origins of this spectacular Fortune Telling machine. Thanks for posting it...Check out our "Egyptian Home Theater" we built ourselves with a lobby, ticket booth, mannequin and Deco theater seating eight...Thanks again...
Few years ago i bought a comparisable fortune teller in Belgium, this machine is completely mechanical (simular to an old clock), no electricity, the mouth and hands are moving during the act. Please can anyone who has old pictures or information that can be usefull in our restauration send to ludo@paranormica.be
I’ve only seen this thing before in the movie “Big” with Tom Hanks and pretty much nowhere else. Impressive yet creepy machine.
Wow, her range of motion is so impressive! And her wax face and hands are so much more realistic than a lot modern fortune tellers.
I love that this guy clearly loves explaining history ... would be/is a great teacher.
In the early Seventies fortune teller machines were still in the big arcades in all of the beach towns up and down the east coast. You could see how old they all were. There is something about them that is just fascinating.
You might remember the huge "submarine shooter" arcade game where you tried to shoot torpedoes and guide them towards ships that moved along the back wall of the machine. It was a huge machine that took up a ton of floor space. I think there was another "huge class" machine but I can't remember what it did.
Cool piece of art i love those if i was a richer person i would had my own collection.
Very interesting analysis and I applaud your persistence in researching this wonderful machine.
I have always love these since I was a kid. What Brought me to watch These videos is because I want to build a realistic one but for Halloween costume and the cat on the shoulder is an amazing idea and thank you for turning it on . I remember saying these fortune tellers have the Carnivals when I was young and I Really miss them
Wow! I was thinking that just the Grandma's head moves but I was surprised that even the cat's head moves as well when operating. Being an amateur fortuneteller myself, I always had an interest with coin-operated fortunetellers. Such a cool model you have here
I've never met an amateur fortune teller.
Must be a bit like an amateur card sharp.
No particularly in the same category to be exact, even though fortune telling does have a shady history. Personally, I read tarot for people who asks me to read without asking for anything in return just because I enjoy what I'm doing in helping people through the use and deciphering of the symbols that turn up on the random cards in order look at a problem that they may have from a different angle or perspective.
Tarot, or any other divination or fortune telling system, doesn't work on literally telling the future of the matter but only gives a slight, subjective possibility and perspective of what "could" happen if the person that I'm reading for let's the particular problem passively fester on without dealing with it in a healthy manner. So in a nutshell, Fate is never set in stone unless you let it to be by doing nothing about it.
An interesting view on divination, fortune telling and the Occult (meaning "Censored or Hidden") as a whole was actually done by one of the founding fathers of modern psychology, Dr. Carl Jung if you're ever interested :)
Excellent response.
@@brendareed8412
Thank You, I greatly appreciate the kind words that come from you here
May you Blessed Be 😊
Movement at 12:30
Thank you
John I really liked your research and theory on this fourtune teller I do believe you are correct it is an exhibit supply and I thankyou for sharing this great penny arcade piece. This show why you are one of the leading authorities on penny arcade and jukebox in the world.
For anyone who just wants to see it working it's at 12:37.
We had one of these at the Pier at Weirs Beach, NH, even into the 90's. It might still be there (but if you're into jukeboxes, pinball, etc., you've probably already made a pilgrimage out that way - it's a gold mine!).
great presentation of a memory lane machine of the past, thank you for all your videos regards Brian--uk
Theres one on display at the bubble room emporium in captiva FL .
That is an extraordinary piece you have there. I'm in full agreement with you that the mechanism is German. You can tell just by looking at it. Exhibit was kind of weird in that they would take others mechanical parts and put them in their own cabinets. I'm working on a Vacuumatic now and the cab looks like it was made in someone's garage. I took a chance buying it because it really didn't look legit, but it is.
I absolutely enjoyed this video, thank you for sharing. Congrats on that wonderful machine, you are very fortunate to have one in that pristine condition.
Awesome presentation!!! Awesome fortune teller!!!! Thank you for posting this.
Great video, Great machine !!! Great explanation of its origin, etc. I am just getting interested in these, thank you for sharing. My interest was triggered while watching an episode of streets of San Francisco, they showed a Grandmothers Predictions machine !!!
Most fascinating video I have watched in a while.
I would be curious to see how the mechanism and the electronics look.
The provenance of each part can tell a lot about the history and the modifications/repairs made over the years.
they used to scare the crap out of me when i was a kid =) xxx
i think they still do haha =) xxx
The manufacturer could have cut costs by having a taxidermied grandma along with the taxidermied cat.
That's very funny. :)
😳
So thrilling! So life like! Wonder if she used to talk?? Since her mouth opens and closes. Enjoyed watching this and love the picture clues that you've found.
I remember seeing something similar - in a case but without the cat - in Manhattan - near 34th Street or the Times Square area - sometime in the early 80's - I think it was part of a NYC exhibit - I wish I could remember more about it. I don't think it had a cat. It cost twenty five cents for a fortune - I think anyway. It was incredibly lifelike.
All those fortune tellers are really creepy.
I luv those things. I used 1 @ the Museum in Houston. He looked more like a gypsy. So fun.
This is so cool. Thanks for the info
"Made in Germany by..." Now if you can find out who in Germany was making Fortune Telling machines in that era, you may find your manufacturer.
the clothes on the men and boy in the photo you have are from the 1920's/ 30's era. Personal cameras did not become common until around 1925 as at least 2 of your photos were obviously taken with a personal camera. Photos prior to the 20's were the stony faced stares, tin types and silver nitrate photos. The blacked out and dug out manufacturer name from Germany, I believe, was done b/c there was an embargo around the time the photos would date this machine. No imports or exports with Germany. Someone smuggled them in and the manufacturer did not want to get busted. Seems your fortune teller is a bit more mysterious than you thought!
btw I am a photographer and artist, an avid collector of vintage and antique photography, and antique doll restoration artist. One of the most popular dolls that I restore and sell was made and sold only in Germany around the same time frame as your photos; 1920's and 1930's. Finding one of those dolls in the USA is rare and I often buy them from people in Germany who ship them to me. The reason they were never sold here is because of the embargo. Prior to the embargo we got 99% of our dolls from Germany (king of dolls) and France. The embargo pushed Americans to look within for a solution to that and many other trade problems and thus American doll manufacturing was born.
Thank you so much for your input on this. Never knew about the embargo with Germany. It certainly raises a valid point in the discussion. About the photo, I have no idea where it came from originally, it can be found online fairly easily. The copy we have is probably a digital reproduction of the original. So I'm not sure how it has been altered from the actual original. Again thank you so much for your input, it will certainly help if we ever get into researching this machine more in depth.
Also the site where I found the picture online named the picture file "The Fortune Teller Circa 1909." So Ill be doing more research today about its date.
here is the link to the picture on the library of congress website. www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ncl2004000673/PP/
Truly the machine could have been on that street corner for 10 years and manufactured 10 years prior to that so the picture just gives a rough idea but certainly proves it is old. Just how old, I could not guess. However the blacked out and gouged out markings are intriguing and I would like to know what you discover in your research. :-)
When I was a kid, back in the 70's to 80's, there was a similar fortune teller at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. She was a gypsy. I looked forward to getting my fortune every year. I believe it was sold at auction, unfortunately.
National Jukebox Exchange Very cool - and I admire your detective work.
I remember when I was young, we had a 'penny arcade' (this was before video games), with the usual; see ball, etc. I remember they had the 'mystic' (I don't know what it's usually known as), who'd do all the movements, and then, you'd pluck your fortune.
It was - because of it's qualities - it's age, it's general appearance, etc.,, to me really creepy cool. Even when I was 10, 12 years old, I still loved it - more-so, for those eerie qualities.
It's been oft said how those days are long gone - replaced with machine built, and machine operated 'games' (the parens because, as far as I'm concerned, they're all interchangeable).
Thanks for sharing this - it takes me back in time.
I remember seeing one similar at one of the old arcades around Coney island ..Around mid to late 70s..I remember the cat used to freak me out...
Oh well. A 10 year old video is better than nothing. Cool information!
NICE
I love this so unique
So unique there are four of them!
That is amazing!
"I've spent literally fifty years..."
Not exclusively, I hope!
Probably the creepiest film I’ve ever seen!
All of the older photos, and the card and old catalogue, show a shirt with bigger polka dots.
There's 4 of them though. Maybe one of them the clothes had to be replaced.
es el autómata mas increible que he visto en mi vida!!!
Amazing🙏
even shot out a card at the end there, lol
Same here.
The 1 used im sure was later. Not wax im sure. But it wasso fun
i wanna see one!!!
Wow that looks interesting but the figure is kinda creepy. When was this machine made in?
Good evening from Ireland 🇮🇪
Quería verla en movimiento saludos
Reminded of Neil Gaiman's _American Gods_:
*Your lucky number is: None*
*Your lucky color is: Dead*
*Motto: Like father, like son.*
Grandmother Predictions (1st year, ugly woman) Description
Grandmother Predictions (1st year, ugly woman) was produced by International Mutoscope Corp. in 1925.
International Mutoscope Corp. released 42 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1910.
Denise Harrington the mutoscope machine refers to a different machine
Fascinating and informative video on the origins of this spectacular Fortune Telling machine. Thanks for posting it...Check out our "Egyptian Home Theater" we built ourselves with a lobby, ticket booth, mannequin and Deco theater seating eight...Thanks again...
Creep-eee.
But really cool too...
that's not a real stuffed cat, is it?
Few years ago i bought a comparisable fortune teller in Belgium, this machine is completely mechanical (simular to an old clock), no electricity, the mouth and hands are moving during the act. Please can anyone who has old pictures or information that can be usefull in our restauration send to ludo@paranormica.be
Это же оxyенно!
does she talk
Isn't that Q?
Looks like Richard Dawkins.
So creepy o.o
bla bla bla bla bla bla bla go to 12:31 to see it working.