This type of device was an ingenious pay-your-way 'pull my finger' apparatus. Often found in men's toilets, they were an 'acceptable' way for men to release the pent up methane in their system without disgracing their women-folk.

Wheel Machines were introduced in the 1890's. The basic concept was akin to a carnival wheel. A coin was inserted and the wheel turned. Where it landed etermined the payout. initially these were rather plain machines in wooden cabinets with non descript
wheels. On insertion of a coin the wheels turned and the payout was determined by the number on the wheel that landed at the arrow/area.