371 2 W. SCENIC AVE., MEQUON, WISCONSIN 53092
Phone: (262) 242-313 1 OR E-mail : Bedvibr8or@aol.com
In this Issue:
July is already here and that means hunting and fishing season is nearly
half over. I am, of course, referring to hunting and fis hing for coin-op.
This is the time of year to scout local flea markets, garage sales, yard
sales, antique malls, and auctions for new treasures. Though I don't fi nd
nearly as much as I did several years ago, I still manage occasionally to
bag a good catch! Once in a while I even get a shot at a rare bird that I've
never seen before. One fellow coin-op enthusiast I know seems to find
much more than the rest of us. I asked him about his secret to success, and
though he asked to remain anonymous, here is what he had to share:
"I am continuously hunting and fishing. Hunting is fairly easy; I just
have to be in the right place at the right time and bring cash. I keep my
eyes open and have a positive mental attitude that I am going to find great
stuff. But whenever I hunt, I fish. Fishing requires me to do a lot more
than just look. I ask all the flea market dealers, yard sellers and auction-
eers if they have any coin-op for sale. I bring a stack of 'coin-op wanted'
business cards and hand them out to everyone I can. I offer a generous
finder's fee for leads that result in a purchase. I ask dealers for their card,
and then call them once in a while just to let them know I am still interest-
ed. I place small classified ads in local newspapers and shoppers. Fishing
requires me to keep putting out bait in order to make a prize catch. It also
requires lots of patience. Sooner or later it leads me to some great finds."
I talk to many fellow COCA members and one of their first questions
is always "Are you finding anything?" My reply is usually "A little, but
not like I used to." I wonder how many of us are still hunting and fishing
with the same enthusiasm we had when we first started collecting? There
is still great stuff out there to be found, we just have to work at it a little
harder. It is up to all of us to give those lost and orphaned old machines a
good home. When you do make a great find take a photo or two and
send it along with a few words to Jack Freund at jbgum@msn.com for
publication in "Tales of the Hunt." You can also share your finds and col-
lecting tips on the new COCA discussion forum (Coinopclub.org).
July also means that it is time for our annual convention. If you are a
new member or haven't heard, we are headed to Phoenix July 27-29. We
will have three days of collection tours, room-to-room trading, an auction,
two banquets and a special surprise mystery event at the Wrigley mansion.
Call Dave Cook (623-780-2665) if you need more information. I look for-
ward to seeing all of you there. Happy hunting and don't forget the bait!
• Venus
by Frank Zygmunt
(cover story) .... .4
• The Fey Pistol Range Machine
by Bi ll Howard .......................... 5
• Two Great Mysteries Surface
by Preston Evans ....................... 6
• COCA Returns to Jasper's
by Bill Petrochuk ...................... 10
• Pickwick Poltergeist
by John Peterson ....................... 12
• Tales of the Hunt
Hosted by Jack Freund ............ 16
Sti ll to Come .... by Herb Weinfield
• Fey-Caille Beam Scale
by Jim and Merlyn Collings .... 20
• Papa - Creating a New Market?
by Sandy Lech tick ................... 22
• The Gumball Queen
by Barbara Larks-Tucker ........ 24
• A Little Something Extra
by Roger Smith ....................... 26
• Mills Whatheheckisit? Answer .. .
by Bill Butterfield ................... 30
• Opportunities Auction Ad
by Preston Evans ..................... 31
DEADLINE FOR
NEXT ISSUE:
AUGUST 10,
2007
Bill Petrochuk, COCA President
3