Deutsches Automatenmuseum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The collection of the Gauselmann business family began in 1985 with an American AMI B jukebox from 1948. More machines were acquired at auctions around the world, so that after just two years the holdings comprised more than 400 machines. In 1988 part of the collection was shown publicly for the first time in the exhibition “Wenn der Groschen fällt…” (When the Penny Drops…) at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.

In 1995 the “Museum Gauselmann” opened at the company headquarters in Espelkamp with almost 600 historic machines. From 1999 Armin Gauselmann was in charge of the collection. After the extensive holdings of a German machine manufacturer were added at the end of 2001, the museum received its current name; in 2007 around 650 machines from the collection of Parisian collector Jean-Claude Baudot followed.

Since October 2013 the museum has been housed at Schloss Benkhausen. Around 200 of the roughly 1,800 items in the collection are displayed there in seven sections – from vending and service machines through games of skill and chance, gambling machines, pin games and pinball to mechanical music machines and jukeboxes. The focus is on the period from the German Empire to the 1970s; machines from the company's own history play only a minor role. Most of the exhibits are in working order and are maintained by the museum's own workshop; selected machines are demonstrated on guided tours. The permanent exhibition is complemented by changing special exhibitions.

Highlights

• Around 200 mostly working coin-operated machines spanning roughly a hundred years
• Jukeboxes, orchestrions and pneumatic pianos
• One-armed bandits, pinball machines and fortune-telling machines
• Guided tours with machine demonstrations
• Interactive stations with replica machines

Permanent exhibitions

• Sammlung Gauselmann – Münzautomaten aus hundert Jahren – Around 200 historic machines in seven sections, from vending machines and games of skill through gambling machines and pinball to music machines and jukeboxes.

Founded

1995

Operated by

adp MERKUR GmbH

Admission & discounts

Cash only, no card payment. Free admission with the museum pass of the Deutscher Museumsbund (German Museums Association). School classes from general education schools receive free admission and a free guided tour after registering.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum describes itself as accessible; no further details (elevator, restroom) are given. For groups from care facilities there are tours for people with dementia.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Interactive stations explain to children and adults how vending machines work; a free puzzle questionnaire guides families through the main and special exhibitions. Scavenger hunts for various age groups are available for school classes.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Schlosscafé "Die Rentei" at Schloss Benkhausen (own opening hours); museum shop with books, kits and games; free Wi-Fi. Animals are not allowed in the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit