I think you have selected a complex topic in which there seems not necessarily a logical explanation for what box was in which machine. There are other threads on this subject but it would really be great at some time to try & get an era roll call on coin boxes with pics.
Like you I favour coin operated machines so I have coin boxes in all my machines but have chosen to fabricate the boxes rather than purchasing & incurring high shipping costs from US.
This is a box I fabricated for my GTB 1958 Rocketship which is an exact replica of the era:

RScbdisp.jpg

This is a coin box also an exact replica for GTB machines of the 70s era prior to the large coin door (note the slightly offset 3rd chute slot):

coinbox706.jpg

I can add that correct coin box for 1954 Gottlieb is 8 inches by 5 inches.

I keep a look out for these but they are very hard to find.

I don't even have a lid for the only one I have!

IMG_9075.jpg

I've found that the coin boxes, at least for the Gottlieb wedgeheads, seem to fit one another. The only exception I can remember is the door on my Jacks Open didn't want to close with one of them in there. Tim Arnold came to the rescue and turned me on to one that fit as I recall.

Pretty much the same with the sixties Williams reverse wedgeheads. Although I think when they went to the deeper cabinets they also went to a same sized but deeper coin box.

So my motto is the same as the USPS uses for their flat rate boxes... "If it fits it ships". Although of course would rather have the correct coin box for all my games... and probably do for the most part.

But now as far as lids, I've got too many missing to want to go down 'that' road.

Yeah, now that's one thing I can't say, as I don't own any of those earlier style cabinets from Gottlieb, like Rack a Ball and the like. I'm a coin op enthusiast but only have experience with games in my collection.

But maybe the one I have in my Mystic Marvel will fit all 50's? 8 by 5 inches.

It is in just right place for coins from Heath Chute to drop in.

And that's another thing... I'm gonna have to chase down coin boxes for most of my woodrails when I get around to shopping them out. I'm trying to knock out my metal rails first... for whatever reason.

One question...

Why?

For me that's the way it was & I like that feeling-ok not everyones' cup of tea but certainly mine. It brings back great memories as a young guy where I would get the next 'zack' (5p) to play a machine. I see the coin mechs as an integral part of the operation of a machine in terms of originality and realism & I find visitors love the notion of inserting a coin to have a game.

I've been trying to put together a coinbox guide here:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/photo-request-for-coinboxes-assembling-a-coinbox-guide

Great initiative Forceflow thks

It's just me, but I have no nostalgia about dropping coins in games. Playing the games yes, but I don't care how they get started.

I lost way too much money in games over the years to feel nostalgia about that.

But to each his own.

Personally, I've always kind of like the sounds the coin made as it went through the coin mech and when it dropped into the coinbox.

Plus, I don't consider a game really "complete" unless it has the coin box.

I'm using the pinball machines as "banks". The money from the coin boxes fund upkeep and replacement parts for the games.

Bruce

Yup, the box, as well as the mechs complete the machine, but thankfully, are nor required. As I would have to have mods in all of my machines to bypass that feature. dont know why so many were left out??? whut did they do with them? use them as chicken feeders?
Like the Bank thing Fever! wish my kids felt that way too!