132
AUTOMATIC AGE
Spectacular Campaign Introduces
Bally’s “Prospector”
“ 'V 'O U ’RE gonna strike it rich on
the 23rd—watch!” This is the
slogan around which Bally Manu
facturing Company built one of the
most spectacular mystery advertising
campaigns ever carried out in the
coin-machine industry.
The opening shot of the campaign
—which introduced Prospector, a
new type Mystery Award One-shot
Payout Pin Game—was a telegraphed
invitation to leading jobbers to join
Bally in a nation-wide simultaneous
unveiling of the machine. The re
sponse, according to Ray Moloney,
Bally’s president, was overwhelming,
particularly in view of the fact that
the name and nature of the game
were not disclosed. Leading dis
tributors pledged full co-operation
and immediately joined Bally in
rounding up operators to attend the
various territorial unveilings.
To do this, the curiosity of oper
ators was first aroused by receipt of
a handful of “gold nuggets” in a
cloth bag fastened to a gold mailing
tag which also carried the “strike it
rich” slogan. This was closely fol
lowed up with invitations printed on
gold card over the imprint of local
distributors and urging operators to
attend the local unveiling. The slo
gan was also given widespread pub
licity by means of gold stickers, gold
streamers displayed in distributors’
headquarters and in trade paper ad
vertising.
“Under Cover”
Early in the week distributors re
ceived sample machines and complete
details of the plan. A special gold
ornamental bag, tied with a gold rib
bon and rosette, was furnished each
distributor to hide the cabinet and
field of the machine and heighten the
element of mystery. Operators who
saw the “veiled mystery” on display
floors throughout the country were
kept in suspense and simply remind
ed that they would “strike it rich on
August, 1935
the 23rd.” Not even the price was
disclosed; in fact, this information
was not released until the day of the
official unveiling.
Operators and jobbers were on
hand at different points throughout
the country to witness the official
unveiling of Prospector, which oc
curred at 10 A. M., Friday, August
23rd. Although primarily attending
to get a first glance at Prospector,
those attending the unveilings made
a festive event of the occasion and
celebrated the new game in a fitting
spirit.
Has Double Payout
Prospector features a double pay
out, one standard, with known award,
based on the score value of the
various holes, and the other a mys
tery payout operated when ball is
shot into the big strike pocket. The
mystery payout releases two “gold
nuggets” each good for 5 to 50 free
games and so placed in the machine
that a single mystery award will
range from $1.00 to $5.00 in free
game value. Other features of the
game are a novel “machine gun”
sound effect device for announcing
payout, an attractive gold-orn»imput
ed cabinet, many new refinements
throughout, and an 11-color panel.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE $7.00
PROFIT PER WEEK ON A $12.50
INVESTMENT?
Then put one of our Penny Cigarette Venders next
to the Cash Register on each of your locations.
W atch it catch those odd Sales Tax Pennies—
you will be surprised how quickly there are $30.00
in the Cash Box.
T his is th e fa m o u s G roetchen-B uilt
PENNY CIGARETTE VENDER
about which everyone is talking. Thousands on
location—has proven its earning capacity—based on
awarding one Package of Cigarettes whenever three
symbols of one kind are lined up. There is a rea
son for awarding only one package of Cigarettes.
The Moment you give 4, 6 or 10 Packages, winners
come so far apart that players become discouraged.
Groetchen’s Machines give the player frequent
winners—one package keeps him satisfied—yet it
gives the operator a break—protects him against
excessive payouts on gyp locations.
Large colorful Cigarette Symbols, Shakeproof
Reels, Silent Operation—Legal Gum Vender—
Last coin always visible.
Housed in brilliant
Aluminum Cabinet.
Price Only $12.50 One or 100
Veeder Counter $2.00 Extra
W H Y
P A Y
M O R E
?
GROETCHEN TOOL CO.
130 N. Union St.
Chicago, 111.
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http://www.arcade-museum.com/