AUTOMATIC AGE
August, 1937
13
Voice of the Operator
Interesting Replies Received from Operators in Answer
to a Nation-Wide Survey
/'kN C E again we have received some
very interesting and intelligent re
plies to the questionnaire which the
A u t o m a t i c A g e has been sending out
in it’s monthly survey that it has been
conducting among the operators. W e
wish it would be possible to publish
all o f the replies which we receive,
because o f their interest to the entire
industry, but space will not permit.
Dut to the tremendous interest which
this survey has aroused among the
trade, we will continue to publish the
“ Voice o f the Operator” in September.
Hetts of Ark. is Undertaking
An Educational Campaign
m
“ I wish it were possible to increase
the production o f new skill games. I
say skill games, because no automatic
payout games are allowed in this ter
ritory. Skill games are the type o f
coin games which attract the public,
even though they do not give the suc
cessful player an award. With an
increased production o f that type of
game, I look forw ard to the public
becoming greater patrons o f the coin
operated machines, than ever before.
“ In pin games, too much stress has
been placed on automatic games and
very little stress upon skill games.
In fact skill games appear to have
been neglected. Legal difficulties pro
hibit us from operating payout games
here, so naturally I am strong for
skill games.
Even novelty vending
machines have been stopped from op
erating. Those that were using toys
and charms were removed by the au
thorities. It was due to some oper
ators placing coins and prize tickets
in the vending machines.
“ In an effort to overcome these diffi
culties, I have undertaken an educa
tional campaign in this city. Most o f
the troubles confronting the coin ma
chine operator are caused by a few
people who like to stir up trouble.
They make their complaints to the
local authorities who are always wil
ling to lend a ready ear to them, and
take action against us. It gives them
publicity.
They never consider our
side and do not listen to our com
plaints.
“ I am trying to reach the general
public through placing paid advertis
ing in the local papers and giving in
telligent instruction to whatever per
son I may have the opportunity o f
addressing. My purpose is to give
the public the true facts about the
coin machine industry, in an effort to
making them coin machine customers.
“ Dut to the racketeering methods of
one operator in this state, it appears
as though all operators are eternally
damned, and looked upon askance.”
Beausenjour of Michigan Uses
Sliding Commission Scale
“ There are several operators o f
vending machines in my city. Each
ons is running about 100 machines at
the present time. New types o f ven
ders will stimulate the people to pat
ronize them more and more. That is
quite noticeable when I check the in
come from my older venders as com
pared to my latest venders.
“ Some o f the new machines which I
receive from the factory are not in
condition to be placed upon location
when I receive them. That is always
an inconvenience and wastes much of
my time, which I should be spending
at work.
All machines should be
thoroughly tested before leaving the
factory, to make certain that they
will be received by the operator in
workable condition.
“ I only operate peanut machines,
but judging from my experience, I
would say that the general public is
patronizing coin operated machines
more and more each year. In addi
tion to operating about 100 machines,
I also make up packages o f nut meats,
which I sell for 5c a bag, in my reg
ular spots.
•
“ My machines are usually placed in
taverns. I place one in each booth o f
a tavern. The arrangements I make
with the location owner for a commis
sion is on a sliding scale. When I
say sliding scale, I mean just that.
I give 20% commission on all ma
chines taking in $5.00 or less per
month, and 25% on all machines tak
ing in over $5.00 per month. That
gives the location owner a bigger in
© International A rcade M useum
centive for looking after my machine.
He takes more o f an interest in it and
encourages the patrons to play them.
It has been a big help with me in my
business.”
Mathews of Nebraska Operates
Merchandise Machines
“ New designs o f the same type of
machine may stimulate play, but not
enough to warrant an operator to pay
too great an increase in price.
“ I believe that the American public
will patronize coin machines more in
the future. The parking meter is a
great coin machine educator. It has
taught the people to place coins in a
coin chute.
“ Old machines are my greatest diffi
culty at the present time. They are
continually breaking down causing a
loss to me, until I can’t repair them.
“ In order to overcome this difficulty,
I buy new and better machines ~as
finances permit. I am doing this at
the present time. I try to keep my
machines up to date, realizing that
the latest equipment earns the best
profits.
“ There is possibly 3000 penny ven
ders here, possibly 500 cigarette ma
chines, 500 five c e n t candy bar
machines and a few, possibly 200
amusement machines. I have had ex
perience only with penny merchandis
ers.
The city officials frown upon
most amusement machines and pro
hibit gambling machines of all kinds.”
Gilbert of Maryland Beset By
System of Graft
“ New designs o f the same type o f
machine may stimulate play for a few
weeks— then the people get tired and
forget them. Slot machines are the
only one’s that will remain steady.
They fail when the police want a few
extra dollars g ra ft and make a raid
on someone who won’t pay the price.
We have a very lousy and crooked
situation here.
“ The American public will patron
ize coin machines more in the future,
if pressure can be put on legislators
to stop the graft and allow them to
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