Columbia Sales story began in the mid 1920’s as a one man show. Mr. Robert F. Palmer, Sr. designed and built his first ticket machine while enrolled as a correspondence student at the Chicago Engineering Works. He received his degree in Applied Electrical Engineering at the tender young age of twenty in 1926. He built his prototype ticket machine in his garage in Wheeling, West Virginia. He received several patents (patent no. 2,388,433) for his ingenious work and went on to open his company in 1939. Today, in 2025, we stand as the only Tip Board manufacturer in the United States. As we celebrate 86 years in business, we honor the legacy our grandfather (Gidi), our father (Pete), our brother (Joey) and our Uncle (Robert). Below is Robert F. Palmer, Sr at his business in late 1950’s or early 1960’s.
