Unterhaltungsautomaten

More information about the history

Image: The wheel maker Johann Lemmerz (on the right of the picture) visiting his brothers’ penny machine workshop (around 1930)

In the period after the First World War in particular, the technically adept brothers Simon and Franz Lemmerz (left and centre of the picture, with their brother Johann who founded the very successful Lemmerz wheel factory in the 1920s) specialised in the production of slot machines and penny machines. They initially tested all the newly developed machines for Königswinter in a booth on Eselsweg. After successful trial runs they then went into series production. Some of the Lemmerz machines are on permanent exhibition at the Siebengebirgsmuseum.

Image: “Love thermometer” machine, 1950s

In addition to strength testing machines, oracle and horoscope machines were also very popular. One model is the “love thermometer”, which still exists today. First you insert the coin, then place your hand on the machine and read the result that sheds light on the current state of your love life.

Image: “Couple’s oracle” at Godesburg castle, around 1950

During the Nazi dictatorship, some types of machines were frowned upon or even banned – especially if they did not comply with the absurd racial ideologies. It thus came about that Nazi party supporters even broke into the Lemmerz warehouse and threw “fortune-teller” type machines into the Rhine. Strength testers and machines with oracles and love horoscopes only enjoyed an upturn again in the 1950s.

Practical information

The Siebengebirgsmuseum regularly displays unusual items and peculiarities from the history of local tourism. Some of the Lemmerz machines are also on permanent exhibition.
Siebengebirgsmuseum Königswinter, Kellerstraße 16
Tue–Fri 2 PM–5 PM, Sat 2 PM–6 PM, Sun 11 AM–6 PM, Mondays closed > Website