May, 1938
sure that it is a mistake to concen
trate on these machines to the exclu
sion of all other types, particularly
if we are to retain or establish friend
ly relationship with our neighbors
and secure that general public good
will so essential to the future of our
business.
Personally I run a number of all
types in my two arcades and have
long since arrived at the conclusion
that, whilst the modern table games
are an undoubted attraction, the old
er types are a quite good investment
and are becoming more popular every
month. What is more they cost near
ly fifty per cent less and will do their
job for as many years as the table
games do months and at a quarter of
the cost of upkeep. Admittedly their
earnings in some cases are low, but
as there are no prizes to be paid for
and no servicing costs, the profit
works out quite satisfactory.
When I decided to increase my
wall machines I cut down my table
games nearly one-third, by scrapping
the older designs, leaving chiefly quite
new games on the floor.
The run on these monopolised play
periodically, with the result that play
ers drifted to the other types instead
° f allowing their money to “burn
holes in their pockets” so to speak,
and in this way the older types of ma
chines became quite popular.
At the end of three months I was
agreeably surprised to find that I
could afford to dispense with the ser
vices of one assistant-mechanic be
tween two arcades, which represents
a saving of nearly three pounds per
week. Actually the older pin-table
games must have been costing in
maintenance far more than I realized
and should have been scrapped many
months earlier.
That saving means I can afford, if
necessary, to buy two of the latest
machines each month or five weeks
and avail myself of any new types of
wall or stand machines that come
into the market, for it is my inten
tion to increase those types until my
arcades are equipped on a fifty-fifty
basis of table games and the other
types which certainly have the ad
vantage of greater variety and often
lower cost.
I venture to suggest that just as
your Journal has long and success-
ully advocated the necessity for im
proving Arcade construction, lay-out
and decoration in order to secure pub
ic and official appreciation, so the
lrne has not definitely arrived for a
campaign for greater variety on the
equipment side of the business. Many
85
AUTOMATIC AGE
of the larger arcades have already
improved in this direction and it is
hoped that the smaller arcades will
follow suit.
As a regular reader of your Jour
nal I note that in America there is
also a quite definite desire to return
to the old type of Penny Arcades and
to break away from the monotony of
Pin-table Salons with all their heavy
overheads in machine upkeep and
costs of prizes. Is it not nearly time,
Mr. Editor, that our hardworking
A.C.A. seriously considered the im
portance of this question of greater
machine variety?
Faithfully yours,
“North Londoner.”
British Vender for
Ice Cream
A firm in London is preparing to
place a new coin-operated ice cream
vending machine on the market. This
will be a British product exclusively
and will be constructed for indoor or
outdoor operation. This machine is
covered by world patents. The twin
model consists of a double slot, ap
proximately five feet high, four feet
wide and twenty inches deep. It is
adapted for retailing two flavors of
ice cream and its capacity will be
300 cartons.
This vendor will be electrically
operated, permitting synchronized re
frigeration with a thermostat control
to insure adequate storage of the
ice cream. There will be no dry ice
used in this machine so that the usual
objections and risks will be elimin
ated.
France Looking for
“Peppy” Panacea
Paris, France— Since last August
coin machine operators in France
have been desperately seeking amuse
ment games that can be operated at a
profit.
This situation has been
brought on by the action of the French
Government.
While novelty games
are permitted, all other types of
games are outlawed. There is the
ever-present element that has created
formidable opposition to games in any
of the cafes. Along with this vexing
influence ’the trend of the Govern
ment monetary policies seems to be
the most contributing factor, and a
very damaging one in its analysis.
The money exchange of France has
«aused American made machines to be
“upped” at least 50% in cost. A ma
chine selling for about $75.00 in
© International Arcade Museum
America would cost at least $150.00
in France. This variation is due to
the fluctuating exchange of currency,
and has created a sore spot for new
U. S. Machines in the eyes of oper
ators in France.
In France the Government’s take on
a machine is about 10%, with 50%
split to the location owner. In the
final run there is very little left for
the French operators. To protect
their interests the operators must
have at least 30,000* to 35,000 plays
on a machine before it is actually
paid for. With these factors con
fronting them, the French operators
are looking to American manufac
turers for a small, light weight ma
chine that will invite much play.
Returns Home From
South America
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Wood are back
in Chicago after spending a delight
ful two weeks in South America. Mr.
Wood is the Chicago division manager
of National Candy Company. The
vending machine trade knows the
Chicago office as the Pan Confection
Company, manufacturers of small
confections used in bulk vending ma
chines.
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