Ken Rubin Inducted into COCA Hall of Fame

At the April Chicagoland COCA meeting Ken Rubin was inducted into the COCA Coin-Op Hall of Fame.  Ken was selected for the Hall of Fame in 2012, but could not get to Chicago for his scheduled November induction due to severe weather in New York.

{image_1}Ken‘s fascination with coin operated machines began as a child.  He took great pleasure in playing penny arcade machines in Coney Island and nickel pinball machines in the Catskill Mountains.

Ken is considered to be the utmost  authority on Cigar Vending Machines and an expert on all types of coin-op.

Ken has made numerous contributions to COCA.  He was among the first to join with Frank DeMayo in forming the group that would become COCA.  He co-chaired the 2008 COCA national convention in New York.  He also was instrumental in organizing and hosting the 2011 convention in Houston.  He has served as a featured speaker at our COCA meetings in Chicago

In 1965, Ken was given an old pinball machine that he restored and earned nickels from by operating it in his college fraternity house. He still owns it! 

By 1970 he had acquired the collecting bug for these great “toys”. His enthusiasm continued for all types of antique coin machines and in 1979 he published the first book on the subject, “Drop Coin Here: The Book Of Antique Coin-Operated Gambling, Vending And Penny Arcade Machines.”

He is currently working on his new, soon to be published book, “Silent Cigar Salesmen, The History of Cigar Vending Machines.”

Go to COCA Hall of Fame to view more abbout Ken and the other members of the Hall of Fame.

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