The History of Where Claw Machines Originated

Claw machines have been part of many of mankind’s childhood past. They have served as
entertainment and a test of skill and luck altogether to whoever dares challenge it’s magnificent glory.
But little is known about the claw machine’s past.

Where did they come from?

To answer that question, we must travel back in time, to the earliest of days of the 20th century. Back
then, when the excavation of the Panama Canal was ongoing, the steam shovel became famous as a
fascinating piece of machinery. This was the claw machine’s ancestor. But it was not digging for dirt,
but rather for candies.

The earliest versions of the claw machine were the Miami Digger, the Erie Digger, and the Panama
Digger. And as the technology got more advanced, like using electricity for example, so did the prizes.
Instead of using candies, the machines were now filled with noble jewelry, lighters, and cigars.

While doing that, they also upgraded the look of the machines by designing pure gold cabinets and
filled them up with silver coins or coin rolls to entice more people to play the game and gamble. By
doing that, they not only made it entertaining but also an alternative source of luxury and economic
goods.

Based on historical data, the claw machine was invented back in 1893 but was never released as a
game until the year 1926. And the claw machine we know now is all thanks to the invention of carnival
operator Willam Barlett in the 1930s.
The claw machine has a rich background that it would bring honor to play the original one just as that.
These arcade machines have become integral moments in our childhood that will be forever etched in
our souls. And after knowing how deep the roots go, you’ll never see a claw machine the same ever
again.