T HE C O I N M A C H I N E J O U R N A L
70
April, ip 33
EDITORIAL COMMENT
F e lic ita tio n s
• The British Automatic World and Amusement Caterer,
distinctive and influential coin machine journal published
in London, celebrated its fifth birthday last issue.
C oin M achine J ournal extends its hearty congratu
lations and wishes for this worthy contemporary many
happy returns.
A N e w S e rv ic e
• Beginning with this issue T he C oin M achine J ournal
will list all of the associations, their officers, headquarters
and time of meeting each month in a special department
called “The Association Calendar.”
In this number, we have listed a great many associa
tions, some of which may not be active at the moment.
This is done because we get so many requests from factors
in the trade asking for this, that or the other association
contact.
In the future all one has to do to get a line on these
activities is to refer to this calendar. As far as we are
able news and information concerning associations will
be carried in this section.
Secretaries of the various associations are invited to
contribute news and other information regarding their
organizations to this department. ’
T he C oin M achine J ournal has always been a strong
supporter of organization work. We feel that this new
department will be of great value in forwarding develop
ment of various organizations. Comments and suggestions
as to how we may improve this department will be ap
preciated.
L e t’s A ll G o A lo n g !
• More progress has been made in organization matters
among the manufacturers during the past eighteen months
than in all the years before.
While credit is due to a number of manufacturers who
have supported the organization these important figures
are unanimous in their praise of the efforts given by their
secretary, Joe O. Huber, in handling the affairs of Coin
Machine Manufacturers’ Association.
Forceful of character, dynamic in personality, but with
all, exceedingly modest in his conduct Mr. Huber has
inaugurated some policies that not only were revolution
ary in this industry but will have a far reaching influence
on future development. Who would have thought two
years ago that the manufacturers would unite in a common
cause andlaunch a credit bureau? Such a clearing house
for trade information has been needed for many years,
and despite the fact that the coin machine industry, as a
whole, is probably the cleanest ethically of all the indus
tries that we are familiar with, there are enough irre-
sponsible factors in the trade to embarrass the industry
from time to time.
Secretary Huber and his associates propose to wipe out
fly-by-nights, check artists, deposit dead beats and chizel-
ers. With the cooperation of all the manufacturers it will
only be a short time until it will be impossible for anyone
to put it over on a manufacturer in this industry.
The objection that was raised in some quarters that this
information might be made the property of a click within
the organization is not worthy of consideration, The asso-
ciation is a democratic body and certainly no group could
run away with the affairs of the organization because they
would automatically lose their support.
The thing to do is for everybody to put their shoulder
to the wheel and push. The industry is entering upon a
new era of activity and expansion. There never was a bet-
ter time to demonstrate what cooperation will do.
W h a t Is C o m in g ?
• While operators, to be sure, take advantage of low
prices and will drive a bargain, there has been a feeling
among operators for some time that machines are too low
priced. These low prices encourage too many new opera
tors some feel, and leave manufacturers without a margin
of profit worthy of the investment and organization re
quired to produce and sell their products.
The old heads in the business all say that conditions
were more favorable to make money when machines cost
more.
A condition has come about in the trade that points to
the return of prosperity and a new deal in manufacturing
and merchandising. One manufacturer recently entered
the highly competitive game field with a machine whose
list price is ten times more than that of the average game.
There are some who cannot understand how it is possible
to produce and sell with a profit merchandise that is higher
in price than the trade is accustomed to paying. It is per
fectly obvious that it is far better for a manufacturer to
make 5,000 machines with a $10.00 profit than to make
25,000 machines at a $2.00 profit.
By the same token it is better for the operator to pay
a higher price for a better constructed machine because
this higher price represents a margin that will enable a
manufacturer to give service indefinitely. This price also
has a tendency to protect the operator from too many
newcomers.
The best known scale in the industry is a high priced
item and always has been. The manufacturer does not
care whether every Tom, Dick and Harry buys his scale
or not. He is in the scale manufacturing business to make
money, just as the operator is in the business for the same
purpose. His scales are being bought today, and will be
years hence.
Enhanced
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