1¢ MILLS NOVELTY CO. “LION” LUNG TESTER ARCADE MACHINE

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/3/2025

1904. The Mills Lion Lung Tester is perhaps the best-known and most iconic penny arcade machine ever made. From its first commanding appearance in Mills catalogs and Automatic Vaudeville locations over a hundred years ago, to being featured on the front cover of the inaugural issue (Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2001) of the Coin Operated Collectors Association’s COCA Times magazine, to at home in any collector’s room, the Mills Lion never fails to impress. The Lion’s eyes light up when a coin is deposited, and it roars when you blow into it. A continuously running clock measures how many seconds the player can keep the lion roaring! It was an innovation in not only design but technology – it is the first known machine to feature an animated attract mode (a feature commonly found in arcades seventy years later!) – the clock face runs continuously, not just when a coin is deposited. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity as there are only two known specimens. This one hasn’t appeared at auction before and has over a half century of known provenance: ex- consigner, ex- Grimwade, ex- LaGanke, ex- Robinson, and ex- Svoboda’s Nickeloden Tavern and Museum. The other one sold publicly once, more than thirty years ago, at Sotheby’s Smith Collection of Penny Arcade Machines auction held on September 17, 1994. CONDITION: Displaying a vintage restoration with a wonderful aged look. Fully operational and at 103" high, an impressive penny arcade piece to say the least.

This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.

Condition: (Excellent).

Item Dimensions: 26" x 15" x 96".

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