A Look Back at the Fascinating History of Crane Games
Apr 18, 2022
The history of crane games is a long and interesting one. From their beginnings in the late 1800s to their modern-day iterations, crane games have evolved over the years to become the popular arcade game we know today.
The first versions of crane games, called “skill cranes”, were created in the late 1800s in America. These skill cranes were cranked by hand and required players to use their own physical strength to move the claw.
In the 1920s, the first mass-produced claw machines hit the market. These machines were modeled after small steam shovels, and were encased in glass and wood.
The modern version of crane games, which allows players to move the claw where they want, was invented in the 1930s by carnival operator William Bartlett. This model, called the Miami Digger, quickly became the most successful of its kind.
The claw machine became ubiquitous in the 1980s, popping up in department stores, Pizza Hut locations, and Chuck E. Cheese. This era saw the introduction of the Panama Digger, Erie Digger, and Iron Claw, which were all variations of the Miami Digger.
Today, crane games are still popular in arcades and amusement parks. With their rich history and bright, colorful graphics, they continue to bring joy to players of all ages.
