Hake’s Auctions premier events present an eclectic mix of memorabilia for every type of collector. They have the most sought after action figures, very early baseball cards, rare political pieces, desirable original comic art, and so much more. The auction house also has a reputation for finding very rare, esoteric items, things that have never come up for auction or are hardly ever seen in their condition. That’s the case in Auction #243 with the Comic Vend, Inc. 12¢ 1960s comic book vending machine #10 with its original shipping carton.

The pressed steel vending cabinet worked similarly to food vending machines we see today. Measuring 32-1/2” wide, 58-1/4” tall, and 13” deep, it has two panels of safety glass allowing for viewing and selection from 10 different comic book bays. Comics were paid for via individual push/pull levers by each row with slots for a dime and two pennies with printed text on the front of the machine by each lever labeled 10¢ and 2¢ for the 12¢ comics.

“This machine was sent to the Scherer News Company in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1966,” consignor Werner Graf said. “Scherer was incorporated in 1955 and dissolved in 1984. Six or so years ago, a friend of mine was commissioned to clean out the building which had sat vacant for decades, and when he opened a back store room, he found this incredible piece of history untouched in its original shipping box and offered it to the Graf Dairy Hero Foundation.”

Produced in limited quantities by Comic Vend, Inc. of River Grove, Illinois (circa 1966), the vending machine saw limited release in the American Midwest beginning in ’66. They were typically found in bus and train stations or in department stores that weren’t equipped with comic book racks. This is a rare item that may be unfamiliar to some comic book readers, making it quite significant in comic book collecting.

“This is significant in three ways: first and foremost is its history. These unique vending machines were meant primarily for bus and train stations. If you were a child in 1966 dreading a long trip, seeing this machine in the station was a Godsend. You could only judge the book by its cover and didn’t have the ability to pre-scan it like a typical comic rack. It was an adventure purchase. A true piece of Americana from a bygone era,” Graf said.

“Second, they are exponentially rarer than the rarest of comic racks only because of their 1) specific placement niche, 2) limited geographic distribution, and 3) given it was hard-coded to 12¢. Net, when comic prices went to 15¢ a few short years later, almost all of these machines were scuttled because unlike conventional racks which could be in use for generations, these became worthless.

“Finally, the condition of this specific piece makes it a once in a lifetime opportunity. The two to three known examples of this machine surviving prior to this find had been in use in locations and therefore were rusted, dented, bent, scuffed, and otherwise worn down from typical wear and tear. This is a true museum-quality machine and worthy of display in any art gallery or exhibit,” Graf continued.

When asked if he had seen other examples of the comic book vending machines, Graf said, “I have been collecting for 50-plus years and prior to being alerted to this machine’s existence, I didn’t know it existed at all! In my youth, I had seen one single comic book vending machine, which looked more like a cigarette machine, in 1974 in a department store in Gary Indiana. This machine is different in that it is a true work of art. The powder, blue, green, and red color pattern and the scripted font is pure mid-‘60s gold. It’s something that would look completely appropriate at a party next to a Herman Miller table, surrounded in conversation by Frank Sinatra, Ann Margret, and a young Sean Connery, complete with an ash tray and martini casually resting on its top. The large ‘Comics Code Authority’ stamp is the final coup de grâce on its appeal. A testament to form and function.”

“Proceeds from the auction of this item will go to the Graf Dairy Hero Foundation (GDHF) – a charity that promotes a culture of heroic virtues in the youth of today by utilizing a unique collection of superhero memorabilia from yesteryear, a collection assembled over a 50-year period w/a focus on the Silver and Bronze Age (1960s-1980s). Using superheroes of these eras as shining examples, GDHF fosters a spirit of virtue among children, instilling a heroic mindset and cultivating stoic habits of character to improve personal success and a healthy society,” per Hake’s description.

Hake’s Auction #243 is open now through Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25-26, 2025, at hakes.com.