Classic Mode

Automatic Age

Issue: 1936 August

A
P L A I N
S T A T E M E N T
OF
(Continued from preceding page)
• We have no quarrel with those who wish to enter this field. However, for your own good,
we hope that no one makes a gambling device out of this wonderful game but that they
will produce a well constructed, high class piece of equipment which will lend credit to
the industry and the game.
• However9 we have not licensed anyone to manufacture or distribute this game or any
similar bowling device. Through the acquisition of the National Skee Ball Company we con­
trol the original “Skee Ball99 patents and copyrights for the name “Skee Ball99 and “Skee
Roll99. iVo other manufacturer can rightfully imitate this game and call it “Skee Ball99
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.) or “Skee Roll99 (Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.) either in advertising , corre­
spondence or verbally.
• In acquiring the National Skee Ball Company, we also had another motive— namely to
eliminate guesswork and experiment . . . to build the kind of game that experience has
taught is essential to the operators’ success.
• We learned that electrical operation destroys the essentially athletic character of the
game. This is why everything about “ Skee Ball” except the lighting is mechanical.
• When the player pulls the knob to release the balls— when he bends slightly because
our game is made bowling height, he gets the mild exercise which is the basis of this game.
• When he sees his scores mechanically recorded after each ball in white numerals on a
black field, he sees it in a form that he is accustomed to seeing scores at baseball games,
football games, etc.
• When the player rolls the balls he wants the alley to feel solid— just as in bowling.
Page FOUR
© International Arcade Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
F
A
C
T
S
O
N
(R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F .)
L HOMER
E.
CAPEHART
This is why “ Skee Ball” is built of heavy red oak and weighs 522 lbs.— why we refuse to
build a game from light wood that would have a hollow sound and lose much of its play
appeal.
• Yet, because we make our own cabinets— are not obliged to buy them from outside
plants, we can sell a game that will give you years of fine service for no more than what
you would pay for a game built from light wood.
• In building the highest quality of merchandise and selling it at the right price, we are
following the same policy that has proven so successful with the Wurlitzer-Simplex Au­
tomatic Phonograph.
• It is my belief that Wurlitzer policies and methods will make “ Skee Ball” a big, profit­
able business for everybody . . . that Wurlitzer’s “ Skee Ball” is a worthy companion to
the Wurlitzer-Simplex Automatic Phonograph.
• Both were the originals . The Simplex phonograph business was purchased by us from
the Simplex Phonograph Company of Chicago— established in 1930— which company
introduced the first multi-selective type phonograph.
The National Skee Ball company
were the pioneers and the originators of the game called “ Skee Ball” (Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.).
• Already orders on hand indicate a tremendous demand for the Wurlitzer “ Skee Ball”
— a demand that promises to tax our production capacity for months to come.
So, to in­
sure deliveries when you want them, let me suggest that you wire, write or phone for full
particulars without delay.
VICE PRESIDENT, THE RUDOLPH W URLITZER MFG., CO.
NORTH TONAWANDA,
NEW YORK
Page FIVE
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http://www.arcade-museum.com/

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