5¢ BLACK "LU-CAT" TRADE STIMULATOR AND GUMBALL VENDING MACHINE

C. 1952. K & R Company, San Francisco CA. A very rare and desirable trade stimulator with a gum vending feature in the full form of a crouching cat. There are less than a dozen of these known today, and to date, this is the only 5¢ version where all others are 10¢ operation. Another variation is this example has a witness window on the head so the operator could see when they were running out of tickets. Place a nickel on the slot, pull the cats tail, and you will receive a ticket, which may or may not be traded in for merchandise, and a gumball will be dispensed between the cats paws. CONDITION: It is cast aluminum with original paint, showing light wear from age. It is fully operational, and comes with an unused roll of tickets and original base. PROVENANCE: From the lifelong collection of Bill Howard. Condition: (Very Good) Dimensions: 10" x 6 1/2" x 14"