Automatic Age

12
T
he
A
u t o m a t ic
tries.
Importation or operation of
spring scales is prohibited in some
countries.
Domestic Production
The coin-operated machine indus­
try in the United States has grown
remarkably since 1919, when the
first census of the industry was
taken, showing an increase in the
value of production of 328 per cent
in the eight years from 1919 to 1927.
According to the Bureau of Census,
in 1927, the value of production of
coin-operated machines based on the
f. o . b. prices of machines manufac­
tured amounted to $7,058,921 as com­
pared with $4,202,106 in 1925. A l­
most 10 per cent of the domestic
production of coin-operated machines
has been exported during the part
two years.
Exports— World Distribution
In the first quarter of 1929, 3,529
coin-operated machines valued at
$177,822 were exported from the
United States1 to foreign countries.
A s exports of coin-operated machines
have been classified only since the
first of January, 1929, an accurate
comparison with previous periods
cannot be made.
However, an in­
formal questionnaire submitted to
the trade in September, 1928, indi­
cated that the value of exports of
all types of machines in 1928 amount­
ed to between $650,000 and $800,000,
as compared with an estimatr- for
1927 of about $600,000.
Shipments of commodity vending
machines in 1929 have had a wider
distx*ibution
in overseas
markets
than other types of coin-operated
machines, going to 27 foreign coun­
tries, including 11 in Europe and 8 in
Latin America. Other coin-operated
machines were distributed to 21
foreign
countries,
although
the
United Kingdom took over 60 per
cent of the shipments, while scales
wei*e exported to only 16 countries,
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A
ge
half o f which were in Latin America.
Europe was the largest regional mar­
ket, with Canada second, and Latin
America third.
Largest European Market for
Machines
Total exports to Europe in 1929
were valued at $114,207, the United
Kingdom, which is the principal mar­
ket, taking $96,194 worth, or 84 per
cent.
Coin-operated service and
amusement machines have been the
most popular in the British market,
669 machines having been shipped to
that country in the first quarter of
1919. Until recently the automatic
vending machine trade was confined
to slot machines selling confection­
ery, matches, and gum, to weighing
machines in the subway and railway
stations, and to penny arcade equip­
ment operated in amusement parks
and on seaside piers. Now, there is
an increasing demand for other types,
including machines for vending cig­
arettes and stamps. The American
product entering the British market
must compete with machine of local
manufacturers.
There are about a
dozen large British manufacturers
and a number of medium and small­
sized concerns, but they seem unable
to supply the full requirements of
the market and American machines
are competitive both in quality and
price. The outstanding handicap in
the Bx*itish market is the nondecimal
coinage system in use and the large
number of bent coins in circulation.
France and Germany
Shipments to France during the
first quarter of 1929 consisted large­
ly of service and amusement ma­
chines.
Slot machines are used in
that country mainly in bars, cafes,
motion-picture
theaters,
tobacco
shops, and railway stations.
A l­
though French concessions control
the installation of machines on
streets and in railway stations,
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