Pull Chain Vending

Shipman Mfg.

These nut vending machines are unique because they have a pull chain instead of a lever to rotate the vend wheel after insertion of a coin to dispense the product. There are only 3 manufactures to produce a pull chain vending machine besides Shipman, The Mechem Co.'s Radio Vender (1930) and Neko's Bulk Vendor (1930). 1

Researching Shipman Mfg's nut vending machine only produced the results of a few. One that was auctioned off online and another on eBay January 2017.

Started in 1932, Shipman Manufacturing Company was located at 1326 S. Lorena Street in Los Angeles California. They released 15 different machines under this trade name; 5-cent gum (1940), Spin-It (1937), Twin Vendor (1940), Hershey candy bar (1940), Select a Bar (1938), hot nut (1932), post card w/stamp, Two Way U. S. postage stamp (1938), Deluxe Triplex postage stamp, razor blade, retractable pen (1960) vending machines. They had 23+ points of distribution across the USA.

Western is a private label branding products made by Shipman. A few noted differences was the Western name in place of Shipman on the chute guard, a different locking base plate, and the addition of a lock on the top.

My Machine

My grandfather had a vending license for the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition, known as the Second World's Fair, in San Diego's Balboa Park. He had Shipman Manufacturing's nut vending and stamp vending machines located all over the park.

When the expo wrapped up and his contract expired, he collected all of his machines and proceeded to sell them. My father was about 7 years old and had his eye on the nut vending machine because of its glass view of FOOD. His father wouldn't allow him to keep one so after one ask he knew he was going to have to snag one and hide it.

One day after a buyer took a bunch of machines, what was left was scattered in many different locations around the house and garage. He knew that was the day of confusion and time to make his move. He managed to get one machine with the keys into his room knowing if he was questioned he could have to say he was playing "Expo Concessionaire", just like his dad. The machine was never missed and he was never questioned about it. When he was able to move a ladder to the attic access, up it went. It stayed there for many years. When his parents divorced and his dad was out of the house, it finally came down but was still kept away from anyone that would see it.

Growing up my dad would bring it out every few years and fill it with pistachios. It was a treat. He always told the story of hiding it as a child from his father. Now that my father has passed, it's my turn to enjoy it with my family, out in the open.

Shipman Stamp Vendor

Breaking from the Pull Chain Vending focus for a bit I want to share my newest addition and introduce the other half of the Expo pair. A vintage Shipman stamp machine as seen in a photograph of my grandfather walking in Balboa Park.

It's the same vintage green base as the nut machine and has a very cool art-deco looking front to it. On the top is the Shipman Mfg. Co. wording and above that is a sunrise. It's not the ship logo I'd expect to see from the Shipman brand.

The stamp machine measures 14.5 inches tall and sits on a 6.5 by 6.5 inch green colored porcelain base. The body above the base is 5 by 5 and 11.75 inches. There are 2 push-in coin slots, one five cent and one 10 cent. It's secured by one double-cut key lock in the front.

The paper card reads:

Guard Your
Health
Sanitary Postage Stamps
Buy Your
Postage
Stamps
Here

Some machines loaded a roll of stamps for dispensing but the cut wasn't always on the perforated line. Single folded cards offered a fool proof way to get the complete stamp, provided it was loaded correctly, and the labor cut into profits.

In 1896, The Washington Post warned of "THE DEADLY STAMP" by announcing that "Postage Stamp Tongue is a new disease", a breeding ground for virulent germs. This story came out about the the time the germ theory was emerging as the leading explanation of infectious disease transmission, known as the pathogenic theory of medicine. Stamp germ stories were printed in 1907, 1910, 1916, 1927, 1936, 1943, 1961, and after.

Stories about selling stamps from sheets found in the drawer with germ-laden loose change and touched by every employee as one or two stamps were sold at a time. The best option was to buy stamps handled less by human hands and "sealed" in sanitary holders from machines. A stamp vending industry was born and labor transferred from employee to customer.

Images

More About Shipman Mfg.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1930, Archie Shipman invested $5,000 in a furniture business that liquidated in 1931. In 1932 Archie opened with original capital of less than $1,000 and began distribution of peanut vending machine, for an eastern manufacturer, during which period he perfected a machine of his own. He began manufacturing on his own account later that year.

Archie V. Shipman started the vending business in 1932, son Robert V. Shipman joined in 1934 as mechanical engineer and was in charge of the shop. His daughter Mildred J. Shipman joined in 1946 to assist in the office. Other employees included 2 office personnel and from 18 to 25 in the plant.

Manufactures coin operated vending machines, specializing in postage stamp machine (50%), candy, razor blade, chewing gum, and peanut vending (50%).

They had 40 distributors who sold to route operators throughout the United States.

Production was done in their 13,000 square foot main floor which consisted of general machine shop equipment. The electroplating and enameling was contracted out.

Sales in 1948 and 1949 were steady at $300,000 annually down from the 1946 volume of $475,000.

In 1964 Shipman priced their machines as follows:
3-column postage stamp machine $32 $49
4-column postage stamp machine $49 $69
5-column postage stamp machine $69 $99
10-column 10 cent candy-cookie vendor $212 $289
13-column Mark II cigarette vendor $187 $262
17-column Mark II cigarette vendor $199 $280
First price is wholesale and second is operator.

1 Small Vintage Vending