Tom Gustwiller inducted into COCA Hall of Fame

At the November COCA meeting in Chicago, Tom Gustwiller was the honored recipient of the 2013 COCA Hall of Fame Award.  The etched crystal award was presented by COCA Hall of Fame committee chairman Erick Johnson.

This award is presented to those that have made “significant contributions” to the betterment of our club and/or the hobby of collecting coin operated machines.

{image_1}Tom was recognized both for his support of the club and his numerous contributions as a historian and author.

Tom bought his first slot machine in 1970. By the mid 70's he started to buy and sell machines and started collecting. He focused on trade stimulators when everyone else was collecting 3-reelers.

During those early years of our hobby Tom talked to COCA Hall of Famer Dick Bueschel about machines weekly. He borrowed Dick’s vast stockpile of literature through the years for research. He used this knowledge to write articles for “Coin Slot Magazine” and also for “Coin-Op Classics Magazine”.

When Dick passed away he assumed the duty of writing his monthly “Antique Week Newspaper” column on coin-op. In 1985 he published his first coin-op reference book “For Amusement Only”.

In 2011 he published his second coin-op book “Reel Amusement.”  This hard cover book features full color photography of trade stimulators, slots, vending and arcade machines.

Tom was a part of the original group that supported Frank DeMayo in his successful quest to form the COCA club.  Tom opened his western Ohio home for tours during the first national COCA convention.  Tom has been a feature speaker at COCA meetings.  He has also hosted a local Ohio COCA gathering and written numerous articles for COCA Times Magazine.

At one time or another he has owned most every trade stimulator known and still maintains a collection of over 350 machines.  Tom is always ready to share his coin-op knowledge with fellow collectors of all ages.

Erick Johnson presents Tom Gustwiller the H.O.F. Award.                     Tom and some of his machines

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