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AUTOMATIC AC, 10. $1.00 per year. Published monthly by Automatic Age. Inc.. 4416-18 Elston Ave.. Chicago. Entered as
second class matter August 1 <».
at the Post Oflice :it ('hicapro. 111., under the Act of March :i. 1871'. Printed in r.S.A.
VENDOR OPERATOR
W O N 'T BE LICKED
It may look as though the
world we have known up to now
is all going to pot. However,
many operators— the old-timers
— are not going to give up. Not
as long as there are people with
loose change who need and want
candy, gum, peanuts, and other
confections.
Talking with an old-time oper
ator of some 300 machines, he
said:
“I ’ve seen this business grow
and grow, and we’ve had some
pretty tough knocks. There’s
plenty to think about what’s
happening and what might hap
pen to this business, but when
you hear some operator say,
‘This business is going on the
blink,’ you can be sure that
fellow never was an operator—
but one who had a few machines
as one of many side-lines. The
first squall turns over his boat,
and he gets panicky.
“If you know your business,
and look around, you’ll be all
right. Sure enough, we can’t sell
some of the items we used to,
but there’ll be available mer
chandise which can be sold.
“Have operators considered
how much cash in commissions
they’ve been needlessly giving
away? They should try cutting
down this expense, and they’ll
be amazed at how much they can
accomplish.
“Cut-throat competition is
fast being eliminated. That’s an
advantage of considerable value
to the operator who sticks. And,
as you know, this business is the
most responsive and the quickest
to adjust itself.”
*
RECORDS ON PRIORITY;
TURN IN OLD FOR NEW
Shellac, a necessary material
for the production of phono
graph records, has been put on
the critical list of materials by
the WPB. An order restricting
its use, and the freezing of
stocks in possession of the record
makers, is expected any day.
From the phonograph opera
tor’s standpoint, this develop
ment will mean: (1) A smaller
list of new records to select
from; (2) Records purchased
will stay in machines longer;
(3) Old records must be turned
in when purchasing new ones.
+
RULE PRIZE BALL
GUM VENDOR TAXABLE
Carter H. Harrison, Collector
of Internal Revenue, Treasury
Department, Chicago, sent a
letter on March 26, confirming
the recent ruling making prize
ball gum vendors taxable under
the definition of “gaming de
vice.” Excerpts from his letter
follow:
© International Arcade Museum
“The device in question is a
coin-operated vending machine
having a glass bowl containing
balls of chewing gum. A number
of the balls are of a certain color.
By inserting a cent in the chute
the machine delivers a ball of
gum to the customer. If the ball
is of a certain color, the custo
mer is entitled to receive a small
prize from the shopkeeper.
“Since the customer who in
serts the coin may receive a ball
of gum of a certain color enti
tling him to a small prize, it is
clear that the element of chance
is involved in the operation of
the machine. The fact that there
is no legend or message on the
machine to indicate the prize is
immaterial. It is also immate
rial that only a cent is required
to operate the machine and that
the prize is small.”
+
Q U A L ITY BALL GUM
IS A POPULAR ITEM
What are you going to do
about your ball gum route? Qual
ity ball gum can help you to re
adjust your business on a satis
factory basis. The success and
experience of the oldest manu
facturer of quality ball gum —
who has steadfastly adhered to
its policy of making a deliciously
flavored, chewy product — pre
sents all the evidence you need
that a quality ball gum is a popu
lar item.
http://www.arcade-museum.com/