In 1935, Coca-Cola contracted with Mills to develop and automatic cooled vendor for bottles. (treasurer and manager of the plant), and Ralph (vice president) ran the company. Mills sons Fred (president), Hebert Stephen, Herbert S, Jr. Mills expanded its lines to include coin-operated radios and multi-selection phonographs in 1928. The new factory produced gambling slots machines and vending machines.
Mills moved from its Green Street, Chicago, plant to a new 375,000 square feet factory and office building located at 4100 Fullerton Avenue in northwest Chicago. Mills and Charles Fey produced the Mills Liberty Bell. In 1948, he helped develop the first successful hot coffee vending machine. Jennings managed the company's pavilion.īert Mills began working for Mills in 1906. Mill bought the controlling rights from his father and renamed the company Mills Novelty Company in 1898. The company adopted an owl motif for its trademark.
In 1897, Mills launched his Mills Owl, the first mechanical upright slot machine.
