“St. Dennistoun Mortuary,” a truly creepy coin-operated automaton dating from the 1920s or 30s, rather than 1900 as the auctioneers claim is for sale and is estimated to go for between $4,000-$6,000 as part of an upcoming Science, Technology & Clocks auction taking place on June 2, 2012 10:00AM.
Below is the full description from the Skinner Auctioneers website:
“St. Dennistoun Mortuary” Coin-Operated Automaton, attributed to John Dennison, c. 1900, the mahogany cabinet and glazed viewing area displays a Greek Revival mortuary building with double doors and grieving mourners out front, when a coin is inserted, doors open and the room is lighted revealing four morticians and four poor souls on embalming tables, the morticians move as if busily at work on their grisly task and mourners standing outside bob their heads as if sobbing in grief.”
Photos of the “St. Dennistoun Mortuary” Coin-Operated Automaton are below:Continue Reading







Today’s tale of totally dumb crime comes from Osceola in Florida, where 20-year old Milton Hodges was arrested after robbing a Lowes home improvement store and then stealing a golf cart from a nudist colony to use as a getaway car.





