The first claw machine game was designed in 1893 but didn’t make its public debut until 1926. In fact, the first such games were named to evoke the construction projects that made them famous-”Panama Digger,” “Erie Digger,” “Miami Digger.” They were coin-operated and rewarded lucky and skillful players with candy prizes. Perhaps the most iconic symbol of the build project was the descending crane claw, used to excavate millions of tons of earth to carve out the nascent waterway that would become a heart valve of world commerce.Īrcade game developers capitalized on the public fascination by designing the first claw machine games. In the early 20th Century, the world was captivated by the largest excavation and construction project ever undertaken by humankind-the building of the Panama Canal.
