Classic Mode

Automatic Age

Issue: 1929 August

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The law was passed by Congress on March 4, 1909. There is no
record of procedure under it, but it was subsequently tightened
UP by the amendment removing enforcement from the discretion
of the court. It had apparently been generally forgotten and it
remained for C. Walter Randall, distinguished New York attorney,
to bring it to light. Mr. Randall wanted it understood that he was
merely amused at the discovery, and that he would have kept it
to himself if there were any remote chance that it might stir up
trouble.
“ Someone might find it interesting on its bearing on the current
Problem of literal law enforcement,” he said. There’s no getting
around the law, as it stands. The language of the statute is im­
perative, and anyone who uses anything for money less than $1
is violating the laws of this country and is subject to punishment,
rf his country wants to punish him.”
The federal statute was the outcome of currency troubles, fol­
lowing the money panic of 1907. To meet emergencies, there were
issues of cashiers certificates and clearing house certificates and
Particularly, in the west where there were municipal and county
issues of scrip, and a general run for synthetic currency, almost as
troublesome as the present circulation of homemade gin. Congress
nocked all this in the head, but that was 20 years ago and no one
could foresee the great progress that would be made by coin­
operated devices of all kinds, and in the consequent demand for
a law national in scope that would effectively check efforts to de­
fraud these machines.
It is not our purpose to suggest that present plans backed by
Rational organizations and firms interested in the coin machine
Industry should be let go. As far as our information goes, the
kills that have been drawn up, the fellows back of them, and the
Motives of all concerned are worthy. Since a very trivial incident
jn the life of one of the world’s wealthiest men has brought to
*ght this forgotten law, we would like to see a test case instituted
to determine its application and effectiveness in relation to the
Problem which our industry faces.
A test case is the quickest and surest way to determine what
a law means, and if the legislative committee of the national as­
sociation, or one of the large corporations interested in “ slug”
Prevention, can bring a test case before the courts the whole trade
win look on with intrest and hope that a statute promising legal
relief is already at hand.
© International Arcade Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
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East and West, Optimism Prevails
In most sections it has been a splendid season for coin machine
operators. In the East particularly the resorts have done an
unprecedented business. This was because of the protracted heat
spell in early June which started the vacation season with a rush.
Another thing that has helped has been the rainless holidays
through most of the season. The penny arcade men in the Eastern
resorts all report the greatest business in their history. In the
West things are picking up. Wheat is bringing 50% more than
two months ago. The crop outlook is good and the general tone
of optimism prevails among all business interests throughout this
section reflecting to the advantage of the coin machine industry.
Coin Machine Gives
Talking Movie Play
An automatic “ dime-in-the-slot”
talking motion picture machine de­
signed fo r the projection o f talking
and singing films in daylight in an
enclosed box-like apparatus was dem­
onstrated recently in the Hotel
Greystone, New York, by its inven­
tor, Robert C. Belgau.
Mr. Belgau calls his invent'on
“ The A erophone” and said it was de­
signed fo r installation in any public
place or private home. Five minutes
are required to show a film. The
coin is dispensed with in machines
to be used in the home, the apparatus
being controlled with a switch.
According to the inventor, when
a coin is inserted tiny red and blue
“ footlights” flash on, a curtain rises
displaying a glazed glass screen ap­
proximately 24 inches wide by 20
inches high, and after the footlights
are automatically dimmed the pic-
tui’e is flashed on the screen.
A t the conclusion the curtain de­
scends for a moment to reascend
again while the screen performer
takes a bow. Then the final curta'n
and the flush o f the footlights fo r a
half minute completes the program.
© International Arcade Museum
Each machine, with this size screen,
will hold 1,500 feet o f sixteen-milli­
meter film with the sound track on
the film itself, which is the equiva­
lent o f almost 3,200 feet o f standard
thirty-five-millimeter film commonly
used in cinema theatres.
Mr. Belgau also plans to construct
a machine with a screen fou r times
the size o f the smaller one, which
will hold the equivalent o f 8,COO feet
o f film almost the length o f a fea ­
ture photoplay. This large footage
is managed by a special projection
and film device.
The inventor said he hopes to
manufacture the automatons on a
lartre scale and to place them in
trains, ships, hotel lobbies, restau­
rants schools and other places.
Mr. Belgau is a native o f Pittsfield,
Mass., and was form erly an engineer
with the Standard M otor Carriage
Company o f Newton, Mass. He at­
tended Spring Hill College at Mobile,
Ala.
OEE T H E L A T E S T A M U SE ­
M ENT M A CH IN ES in our ads.
on pages 26a, b, c, d. Amusement
Machine Corporation o f America.
http://www.arcade-museum.com /

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