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National (Gum)

National Novelty Co., Minneapolis, MN, c. 1910, 13". This model is so similar to the William Michael Gum that Silent Salesmen Too says "it is presumed (National) also made the William Michael gumball machine." I agree. National Novelty Co. is also credited with having made a bulk vendor that's the twin of the William Michael Peanut, so it looks like both of the gumball models and both of the bulk models came from the same factory, and one of each type was considered to be "National" and the other was considered to be "William Michael."

Based on just the names I don't know if National made the William Michael models or if perhaps National Novelty Co. was defunct by 1930 and William Michael & Company had the machines made without going through National. Whatever the scenario, I'd be surprised if the machines didn't come from the same factory and molds. I'm sure Mr. Enes had a reason for his opinion that National made the William Michael, and that is the most straightforward and likely explanation as long as National was still in business in 1930. The patent date that Bill associated with the National models is 1910 and the date for the William Michael models is the 1930's, which I find interesting if they're basically the same machine made by the same company. I presume that William Michael & Company didn't exist until 1930 or so and that's why the William Michael dates are later. The William Michael Gum and William Michael Peanut are the only two William Michael vendors listed in Silent Salesmen Too whereas National Novelty has five models listed of widely differing styles, with four of them dated circa 1910 and the other one dated 1915. So based on dates and number of models, it would appear that National was the leader and William Michael was the follower.

The round globe shown above is correct for the National gumball machine, while a teardrop globe is nearly always found on the William Michael Gum. That's how I distinguish them at a glance across 20 feet of space while prowling the aisles at the Chicagoland show, and I don't recall that method ever failing me.

The National gumball machine is usually found painted, but also came with a white porcelain finish as shown above. The painted version is much more common.

The machine above is 100% original except that the decal is new and the original baseplate has been repainted. The midsection looks to have been bead-blasted at some point, which gives it a frosted look. The porcelain is perfect, and that was my main attraction to this machine and is why I bought it.