The late 1800’s through the early 1900’s saw the birth and spread of amusement parks, penny arcades and nickelodeons. Although this was due in part to an increase in the number of people living in cities and to an increase in disposable income, it was also in large part due to the invention of mass transit. In a bid to increase ridership many railroad, trolley and subway lines built or sponsored amusement parks.
At the amusement parks, along with the carousels, ferris wheels and roller coasters there was the penny arcade and in amongst the penny arcade’s slot machines, strength testers, music machines, scales, gumball machines and electric shockers were the coin-operated spirometers. Coin operated spirometers started off with simple dials and quickly became elaborate amusements unto themselves.
A coin-operated spirometer from the National Spirometer Company from around 1900.