14
April, 1941
AUTOMATIC AGE
Introduce Federal Law On Use Of Slugs
Good Publicity For Industry
Congressman Peterson, from Florida, recent
ly introduced a bill in Washington, which will
make it a Federal offense for any person to use
slugs instead of honest coins in vending ma
chines, games, telephones, and other coin-oper
ated devices. The legislation has been drafted
by experts from the Treasury Department.
“Teeth” in the law, if passed, provide maxi
mum imprisonment of five years, a $1,000 fine,
or both, for offenders convicted under this law.
The tenor of the bill is sounded by this pro
vision: “It shall be unlawful to make or use
any coin, token, slug, disk, or device in metal
or other substance for the purpose of fraudu
lently procuring anything of value from any
vending machine, coin box, telephone, etc.”
# # #
Human-interest is the essence of all news.
So when a good newspaper man recently saw
human-interest in action, he wrote a nice piece
about it. Here’s what Howard Vincent O’Brien
said recently in his popular and widely read
daily column “All Things Considered” appear
ing in the Chicago Daily News:
“What a country this is! It was after dark
as we drove into Evansville, Ind., and the route
was winding, but overhead was a huge neon
sign: ‘McCurdy Hotel— Straight Ahead.’ And
every hundred yards or so thereafter, there
was a sign with an arrow to tell us where to go.
“The hotel was full— not a convention: just
businessmen, busy on defense.
Wandering
through the crowded lobby, I overheard scraps
of talk— ‘cost plus basis’ . . . ‘the colonel said’
. . . ‘million dollars’ . . . ‘problem of transpor
tation’ . . . etc., etc.
“The air, blue with cigar smoke, fairly
seethed with the vibrations of minds intent on
getting theirs while the getting is good.
“One side of the lobby was packed with
electric-lighted variants on the pin-ball game—
in my youth called ‘bagatelle.’ All the ma
chines were going with a crowd of spectators
around each one.
“These machines offer some sort of commen
tary on the times. In this case, at least, they
are not gambling devices, since all one can win
is one or more free replays. Wherein, then, is
their fascination? I do not know. All I know
is that even in the drug store— a small estab
lishment at best— there were no less than five
of these machines— all going full blast.”
# * #
“Talk Shop” and Swap Ideas
Quite a number of operators have written
me asking if they can write an article for pub
lication. The answer is always “yes.” There
would be nothing better for the general good
than to “talk shop” and swap ideas, hints, and
suggestions which you believe will be helpful
to operators. Every-day operating routine has
its problems. Things go along smoothly for a
long time, and then suddenly something will
happen to change the course of events and call
for revised systems of operation. You have
had that kind of experience, haven’t you?
Write out something from your observations
and experience. Pick your own subject, and
write as little or as much as you wish. Don’t
worry about literary style. W hat you say is
the important thing.
Automatic Age has been and is for operators.
Your comments and suggestions on any indus
try subject will be welcome. Write now while
you are thinking about it. It can be about
some condition in your territory that you think
could be improved, or about some out-of-the-
ordinary activity in your business. We hear
so much about doing things to help the oper
ators. Actually, the best help operators can
get is by talking to each other and exchanging
ideas. You can do that in the comfort of your
home, and read the latest in Automatic Age.
* * #
A young man after his first semester at college
was asked: “ Well, Junior, do you leai'n anything
in school?”
Junior: “No, mother, but I learn a lot over the
week-ends.”
A Thought About Tolerance
There are stout-hearted folks who take no
little pride in the attitude of their fellowmen
that they possess great intestinal fortitude to
follow a career in the coin machine industry.
Others are meek; they shudder at the caustic
or derisive press notices.
For the bold and the meek there is solace in
the thoughts handed down by the men of wis
dom, our forefathers, like this one: “There are
no circumstances, however unfortunate or for
tunate, that certain people cannot turn to their
own prejudice.”
Abraham Lincoln said the same thing in four
words: “With malice towards none.”
* * #
Mr. Doe: Jeeves! Listen, Jeeves, where can I
get hold of Mrs. Doe?
Jeeves: Really sir, I don’t knoiv; she’s awfully
Employment manager: Are you manned?
Rastus: No, suh, boss, I ’se earns my oiun livin\ ticklish.
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