This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/28/2013
How cool is this? Close your eyes and it's 1956 all over again. Ike is safely in the White House, Elvis is causing consternation across the land by wiggling his hips on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Communists are causing all kinds of aggravation in Eastern Europe. Mickey Mantle is en route to his Triple Crown and Don Larsen will add to Brooklyn angst big time with a perfect game in mid-October when it matters most. And a mere 3 cents will get you a genuine U.S. Postal Service stamp, but more importantly, one penny appropriately inserted into this shiny red baseball card vending machine could get you a 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle card, or maybe a Don Larsen. And a bubble gum ball, too. Now open your eyes and shove a penny cautiously into this handsomely time-traveled shiny-red baseball card vending machine. We can't promise the possibility of getting a 1956 Topps Mantle, unless of course you stick one in there beforehand. Baby boomers will remember this 13-by-5-inch beauty (and 13 inches tall) from grocery store or soda fountain counter tops. This is in marvelous condition, completely restored to Mint condition, and seems to be in perfect working order as well. The weights are included that are used to put on top of the two columns of cards from each side and ensure that a card is pushed out each time; the key that opens both the top and the money box on the back is provided and is in likewise working order. Three 4-by-6-inch glass panes are provided; four original 1956 Topps and a not-too-shabby quartet it is indeed: Don Zimmer, Pee Wee Reese, Sandy Amoros and Carl Furillo – Dodgers all. If you're too squeamish to put actual 1950's Topps cards inside, a handsome stack of their popular Heritage or Archives cards from modern day will work quite nicely. A handful of pennies and about half of the window’s-worth of gumballs are provided. The pristine decal on the window says “Premiere Ball Gum and Card – 1 Cent.” There’s nothing more to add.