One of the projects I built for our home was a "Ticket Window" exactly as you described, made to be mounted on the wall of the stairway leading down to my theater.
thread describing construction is here
Finished and Installed Ticket Window is here
Subsequently, I do remember someone posting a link to a web-page with several ready built "ticket windows" for sale. (Yes, they ARE available!) I did a quick search and found the link... I hope you have saved your loose change, because they are not inexpensive...
http://www.vintagevending.com/produc...lts.cfm?CID=78
There might be a market for a less expensive version
I know I spent somewhere between $350 and $450 dollars for the ticket window I built. (I did not keep exact records of each trip to the hardware store, sorry.)
A set of low-voltage halogen track lights for its marquee is included in that amount. It was the single most expensive item at approx. $170. It cost me roughly $85 dollars for a custom cut piece of tempered glass for the window. The rest of the expense was for the plywood, oak boards, veneer, rope-moulding, paint, etc.
Now, I know my version could be built for less money. There is no need for oak-plywood since none of it shows in the final version I built. Instead of round veneered columns, simpler painted columns made from MDF could be substituted. (My wife wanted columns so... our ticket window has columns) MDF could be used for everything, and painted instead of stain and finish. Instead of cutting the glass, the holes and openings could be simulated with black paint, less expensive lights could be used, or no lights... Lots of ways to cut a few dollars here and there. I don't have the experience working with acrylic to know how to build a similar window using it as a material. Certainly, the glass can be replaced by clear acrylic. Pieces of acrylic can be cut to form the ticket shelf, trim, etc. Sounds doable...
If I was clairvoyant I would have known exactly how to build a ticket window up front, before I purchased my initial materials. Instead, I had to design and build as I went through the various stages of construction. Looks like usmcss will have to do the same as he explores the possibilities using alternate materials.
I can't tell you how many hours I spent building mine, but it I'll bet it was at least 8 or 10, it was spread over many weekends. I certainly can see how the commercial product is priced how it is... (although I'm sure they are making a very decent profit)
Hey... maybe we should start up a production line... It would be far less work making more than one at a time.... looks like there is a market... at least I know what the competition is charging, What I don't know is an appropriate "target price" for a competing product.
In any case, usmcss may have some great ideas of how to make a ticket window out of acrylic since that is where he has his expertise.
Joe L.