th e a u t o m a t ic a g e
V0L.\41 -
C HICAGO, JA N U A R Y , 1928
No. 6
^romise Shown In
German Market
For Automatic Devices
V i c e CONSUL F. VAN DEN A R E N D , Leipzig, and T R A D E COM
M ISSIO N ER T H E O D O R E P IL G E R , Berlin, Germany
This bulletin deals with the Ger-
man
Market, which appears to be a
promising one fo r American
c .^facturers o f coin controlled and
!? handling machines.
Before the war, coin - operated
Vendi ln£ machines were extensively
Sed in Germany in restaurants, sta-
department stores, and at sim
' Sphering points, to sell matches,
^ j^Ps, candy and perfumes. Auto-
a a lc Personal weighing scales were
Popular, while automatic service
0^S aurants were established in some
^ e larger cities. During the war
0 e.Se selling devices fell into disuse
n£ to a lack o f metal coins and
Appeared to a considerable extent,
th 0lria^ c service restaurants found
^ ettiselves obliged to shut down. In
s Vl^ual vending machines and per-
weighing scales are now rap-
^ coming back into use.
Currency
he unit o f currency in Germany
Reichsmark, having a par value
$0.2382, which is divided into units
° f WO, called Pfennig,
a r/*16 co*ns representing Marks 3, 2,
^ 1 and Pfennige 50, 10, 5, are the
° st extensively used.
Types o f Vending Machines
The types o f vending machines
anUfactured in Germany are bulky
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and heavy, apparently being designed
principally fo r installation in public
places such as stations and amuse
ment parks. Compact machines o f
light construction, which are being
so widely used in the United States
to place on store counters, are
scarcely to be found in Germany at
present. Nevertheless, this type o f
vending machine has certain advan
tages which render it particularly
suitable to the German market and
which should greatly facilitate its in
troduction.
The moderate cost o f the small
counter vending machines offered by
American manufacturers should prove
a distinct advantage in competition
with the heavier and relatively ex
pensive German machines.
Their
compactness should appeal to those
German shopkeepers who have been
prevented by the bulkiness, as well
as the initial expense o f machines o f
fered hitherto, from availing them
selves o f the services o f these wage-
less salesmen. Finally, their lightness
will reduce freight charges, which are
high in Germany at present, and
minimize the import duty levied on
a basis o f weight.
Coin Handling Devices
Coin
carriers, collectors, a n d
change-making machines, commonly
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