This is an assortment of Park-O-Meter parking meters. They were manufactured by the Magee-Hale Park-O-Meter Company. The founder of this company, Carl C. Magee, is recognized as the first person to receive a patent for a paying parking meter. His patent was issued in 1938. Magee’s invention of the parking meters was the result of a request by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to solve their downtown-parking problem. People were parking in the parking spaces for too long, including people who worked downtown that parked in the spots all day. This resulted in lost income for the local merchants. Paying for a parking spot assured that people would move once their time was expired on the meter. In addition, the meters earned significant revenue for the town of Oklahoma City.
The meters pictured here allowed 2 hours of parking for a nickel. They were manufactured in the 1950s and have been restored and painted in different colors. A great reuse of one of these meters would be as a conversation piece in a gameroom or office.
These items are not for sale. We show restored items in this blog to encourage discussion, prompt questions and further the hobby of collecting and restoration. We also enjoy sharing the photos of the many items we have restored over the years.
24 responses so far ↓
1 jim // Mar 20, 2010 at 9:14 pm
GREAT Pictures! Think of the history – Also, I’m trying to find a manual on an old Park-O-Meter to restore to place in my office and add pic to my website. Also need its keys. These meters are very cool. (do one green thing today!)
2 vintagevending // Mar 22, 2010 at 8:51 am
Jim,
Try this page: http://www.ionet.net/~luttrell/tips.html#locks
It has some information that may be able to help you.
3 kelly // Mar 22, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I have a park- o- meter made by magee-hale it runs on pennie’s and nickle’s states patent’s pending , manufactured by – macnick co, tulsa.ok, it has a parking time of 1hr. Works great and to the best of my knowledge original paint (brownish/copper/type color). It only has 1 coin slot and is ser #657. Can you tell me anything about this meter
4 Bruce H // May 30, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Kelly…. I just picked up a couple like you describe. Someone made these into a lamp. When I plug them in, there are a bunch of tiney lights on the face plate and on the meter itself that come on. I have a key that works in both for the coin door, but do not have a key to open the ‘face’ of the meter. One meter works and the other is jammed and the top light doesn’t work either. Mine are red white and blue. Both say Automatic Park-O-Meter Pat Pending. One says “Original Carl Magee Parking Meter” on the other face plate. Where did you find the serial number on yours???
Thanks
Bruce
5 Kim // Oct 9, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I have a vintage all red Coca Cola park-o-meter. Can you tell me where o find out what it is worth?
6 Wayne Lease // Dec 1, 2010 at 11:30 am
I am seeking repair parts for my recently purchased older meter. It is a Magee-Hale 2 hour assembly that uses pennys and nickles. It appears the timer is malfunctioning. Please advise. Thank you, Wayne D. Lease 509-493-3582
7 jim // Feb 7, 2011 at 6:17 pm
I have a 1952 magee/hale parking meter that needs a little work to start working again.
Do you repair parking meters.
please reply
thanks
Jim
Peabody ma.
8 mark // Feb 15, 2011 at 7:14 pm
where can you get replacement parts for a
magee-hale parking meter
9 Carl // Feb 23, 2011 at 6:00 am
Do you know what size clock key is used to wind the clock mechanism of the Park O Meter..
Thanks
Carl
Churchville NY
10 Mark // Mar 5, 2011 at 12:44 pm
A tiny spring on the upper “expired” shaft seems to have slipped off it’s stops and I can’t tell where to re hook. The patent page on the internet is the wrong model. Would someone take a picture of the top from the clock side of their meter & email it to me so I can try to see where this spring fit?
11 Carl // Apr 12, 2011 at 11:23 am
I found the correct winding Key for my Park O Meter. The winding shaft is approx 4.9 mm
square so you need a 5.0 mm key.
Clock key sizes are confusing with US sizes and Euro sizes.
US size 5.0mm is size 13
Euro size 5.0 mm is size 11
be careful to order the correct one
carl
churchville, NY USA
12 Santa54 // May 15, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Nice pictures. I don’t do e-bay….does anyone have a source for the Park-O-Meter bezels that fit the post at the ground? They were die-cast with raised letters that say Park-O-Meter. I have a couple of them but they are broken beyond repair. Also looking for a service manual for the 2 hour Magee-Hale penny/nickel meter. Thanks
13 Dale Nicholson // Aug 8, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I have a Magee-Hale Park-O-Meter. The only number I can find on it is A-29. Where I find keys for it?
14 Tim Dearth // Sep 5, 2011 at 11:44 am
Where can I find parts for my Park-O Meter? It has a 60-min. limit using nickles and pennys. I also need the key for the lock on top that opens the unit. Thanks.
15 Bruce Kayser // Sep 28, 2011 at 6:13 am
Do you do repairs on park o meters?
I have a complete unit that takes nickles, dimes and quarters with both keys that needs service.
Thank you.
16 Dixie Bonnet // Sep 30, 2011 at 3:00 pm
I need key to open face and install new face in magee.hale parking meter. need key to open money box, I have three of the meters. will one key open all the meters or do i need key for each meter. i have two new parts for the inside of the face. please reply.
thank you. would like a phone number is possible to speak with you.
17 frank hoffmna // Oct 12, 2011 at 6:41 pm
do you repair magee-hale parking meters? the coin insert seems jammed. it’s in frontl of a private residence. appreciaate any help.
18 Pam // Oct 16, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Hi, Just purchased the parking meter that is 2 hours and takes penny nickle and dime but unfortunately it doesn’t have any keys. Was wondering if you have any keys for it. Thanks Pam
19 vintagevending // Oct 20, 2011 at 10:53 am
Frank, we are not in the restoration business any longer and don’t do repairs. Maybe someone out there can help you and send contact info? Fellow blog readers?
20 Maryanna // Nov 5, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I have a dozen vintage park-o-meters that I would like to sell.
If you are interested, please email me and let me know.
leapcassie@yahoo.com
21 Ryno // Dec 8, 2011 at 12:04 am
I have a 1950’s Park O Meter and am in need of all three keys and an original base.If anyone can help please message me. Thanks
ryno_corson@yahoo.com
22 Robert Beyerlein // Dec 21, 2011 at 9:26 am
I have a Duncan Model 50 parking Meter that need some help. I removed a bent Quarter and put it back together but must have done something wrong. Can you help or tell me who can? Thank you.
23 Sam // Dec 29, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Hey all!
I have a 1940s ish Duncan Miller meter that takes nickles and pennies in the same slot…. I was wondering if people had any advice on the following. It is caked with dust from sitting in the basement of an old police building for years. There is also some paint overspray on it.
1) I want to paint it and give it the original hammered finish green paint…. does anyone know where to have this done? or where i can get some to do it myself?
2) How can i clean the dust/over-spray off from the clear acrylic face without scratching it all to heck?
Cheers,
Sam
24 Bill Wyrick // Jan 21, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Hi, I got a parking meter today but I cannot find any pictures of it. It is a Duncan but it is more round in shape. The globe or glass on top looks like a bowl turned upside down with a metal frame around it. Any thoughts?
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