I remember as a kid seeing ads for TV sets sold on the "quarter meter plan." The set would have a coin box attached, which the buyer would have to feed to run the set. Googling the topic revealed this TIME article that says savvy retailers would attach the meter to the refrigerator, no matter what type of appliance or TV you bought!

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888097,00.html

Interesting idea but think of the costs involved to collect the money. Maybe they get the customer to empty the timer and send in the cash.

Very interesting! I could see this working well in urban areas where the bill collector wouldn't have to travel so far between customers. From the article it sounds like that was where it was most used. I can recall a Jack Benny radio show in which he has to keep feeding the TV to keep it going.

Those quarter meters were also popular in motels . . . on those vibrating beds... :D