MERKUR I Deutsches Automatenmuseum (2)

Do you know the German Vending Machine Museum?

Go on a journey of discovery into times past: whether chocolate vendors, old fortune-telling machines, one-armed bandits, cool jukeboxes or nostalgic pinball machines – in the Gauselmann Collection, you can discover around 200 vintage “treasures.”

approx. 6 min.
Do you know the German Vending Machine Museum?

Discover, remember, experience

Whether you're a die-hard fan of mechanical history or just looking for something interesting to do, this museum is a great choice. The Gauselmann Collection is designed for everyone, regardless of age or expertise; there's always something captivating to find here.German Vending Machine Museum – Gauselmann Collection, there truly is something for everyone to discover, whether young or old, expert or not.

This isn't just a corporate showcase for MERKUR, but a curated private collection from the Gauselmann family. Featuring coin-operated machines from across the globe dating from 1888 to 1977, it serves as a time machine that transports you to a bygone era.

You'll be amazed by the sheer creativity and the clever mechanical designs of the past. Even though these machines lack the digital complexity of today's tech, their ingenuity is still guaranteed to impress you.

Explore the variety of exhibits waiting for you at the German Vending Machine Museum, and discover the other attractions available at the picturesque Schloss Benkhausen, where the Gauselmann Collection is housed.

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Merchandise and service machines

The era of automated service took off in the late 19th century, sparked by the first English patent for a stamp-vending machine in 1857. This triggered a technical revolution, making a wide array of goods and services accessible to anyone with a single coin.

MERKUR I DAM I Hattrik_alt

Amusement machines

Amusement machines provided pure entertainment for the price of a coin. From strength tests and sporting games to fortune-telling and visual displays, these were about the experience rather than winning cash. You could typically find them in beer gardens, local inns, and traveling carnivals.

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Pin games, 'bombers', and the evolution of pinball

The modern pinball machine didn't appear overnight. Its lineage traces back to 18th-century bagatelle, through 19th-century pin games and early 20th-century 'bombers,' before the pinball machine we recognize today debuted in 1947. The constant throughout this evolution has been the rolling ball.

MERKUR | German Vending Machine Museum: Mechanical Musical Instruments

Mechanical music machines

The evolution of music machines is a fascinating journey, moving from pinned cylinders and perforated discs to shellac and vinyl records. For a small fee, these machines brought the most popular hits of the day to the general public in shared spaces.

MERKUR | German Vending Machine Museum: Games of Skill

Skill machines

By the end of the 1800s, skill-based gaming became a hit across Europe. People loved challenging themselves with balancing acts, ball-catching, or coin-shooting. Initially, instead of money, winners received tokens that could be traded for physical prizes.

MERKUR | German Vending Machine Museum: Games of Chance and Slot Machines

Fortune and gaming machines

Automated gambling emerged in the final third of the 19th century. While the USA drove a huge variety of these machines—which is reflected in the museum's extensive American collection—cash-paying gaming machines as we know them today are a German innovation from 1953, coinciding with the first uniform gambling laws in West Germany.

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Jukeboxes

There is something timelessly satisfying about dropping a coin into a slot, picking a song, and watching the mechanical arm precisely select and play a record. This magic is just as captivating now as it was 90 years ago. A milestone was reached in 1927 when the Automatic Musical Instrument Company (AMI) introduced the National Automatic Selective Phonograph, the first jukebox to feature a tube amplifier.

Did you know … ❓

… why not take a virtual tour of the Gauselmann Collection at the German Vending Machine Museum to get a sneak peek at these historic machines? virtual tour and get a first impression of the old machines?

Further impressions

MERKUR | German Vending Machine Museum (Gallery 2)

1/4 Don't miss our current special exhibit focused on the magic of the funfair: 'Step right up, step right in!'The current special exhibition on the theme of the funfair: Step right up, step right in!

MERKUR I 2023-01-19 Schloss Benkhausen (2)

2/4 The museum is beautifully situated within the peaceful grounds of Schloss Benkhausen in Espelkamp.The German Vending Machine Museum is set in the idyllic surroundings of Schloss Benkhausen in Espelkamp.

MERKUR I 2023-01-19 Schloss Benkhausen (1)

3/4 Set within a stunning park, Schloss Benkhausen is an ideal destination for both relaxation and special events.Nestled in a fascinating park landscape, Schloss Benkhausen provides the perfect setting for events and leisure.

MERKUR | 2023-01-19 Schloss Benkhausen | Nature Trails

4/4 After exploring the museum, why not stretch your legs with a walk through the surrounding flower meadows and forests?Hiking trails through forests and flower meadows invite you to take a walk after your museum visit!

Getting here and parking

German Vending Machine Museum - Gauselmann Collection Schlossallee 1 (Neustadtstraße 40) 32339 Espelkamp, Germany GPS: 52.344266, 8.575860Deutsches Automatenmuseum - Sammlung Gauselmann
Schlossallee 1 (Neustadtstraße 40)
32339 Espelkamp - Deutschland
GPS Koordinaten: 52.344266, 8.575860

Complimentary parking is available for visitors at both the museum and Schloss Benkhausen.

Our opening hours

  • Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Open Saturdays & Sundays from February through November
  • As well as on public holidays: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Further excursion tips

Your visit doesn't have to end at the museum. At Schloss Benkhausen, you can unwind with a coffee and a slice of cake at the Rentei café. Afterward, take a peaceful stroll along the estate's circular path, passing by the Mittelland Canal, lush meadows, and quiet woods. Schloss Benkhausen offers you many more ways to enjoy your day. You can savour a cosy coffee or a delicious piece of cake in our Rentei . Afterwards, the circular walking trail around the castle invites you to take an extended stroll along the Mittelland Canal and through the meadows and woods of the estate.

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Come and experience the German Vending Machine Museum!