Coin Machine Journal

92
THE
COIN MACHINE JOURNAL
February , 1933
In te r n a tio n a l N e w s S e c tio n
I t ’s
A Small World
Deploring the lack of an asso­
ciation of operators or manufac­
turers of vending machines in
Great Britain, the AU TO M ATIC
W O R L D , British vending ma­
chine publication, devoted con­
siderable space in the December
issue featuring activities of law
and taxing bodies which have se­
riously affected operations in that
country.
England is a good operating
country and despite the troubles
discussed by the editor of the
W O R L D we, in the states, some­
times feel that for generous in­
terpretation of rules and regula­
tions, as well as fairness in the
matter of fees, the officials in that
country seem to give operators a
better break than here.
Taking excerpts from the dis­
cussion we see conditions in Eng­
land vary little from those we en­
dure.
“ When are the manfacturers
and suppliers of Household Cig­
arette Machines going to get to­
gether for a test case in defense
of their rights? The excise au­
thorities brought another success­
ful action against an Oxford
Street company in the South
Western Court early this month,
with the result that the magis­
trate inflicted a fine of £5, whilst
the costs amounted to £15 15s.
There are probably dozens of
firms interested in this kind of
automatic trading already and at
least a score sitting on the fence
trying to make up their minds
whether or not this method of do­
ing business is legal or otherwise.
If all contributed £ 5 or £10 to
a common fund, it should be pos-
After All
sible to have the whole question
fought out in the High Courts in­
stead of leaving the decision in
the hands of local magistrates.
Apparently everyone prefers to
let the other fellow pull the chest­
nuts out of the fire for him.
“ This selfishness and lack of
cohesion, unfortunately, is char­
acteristic of the majority of those
in the automatic industry, and
one of these days everyone con­
cerned is going to pay dearly for
it. It is an alarming fact that al­
though manufacturers, s e 1 1 i n g
agents and users of coin-operated
machines in this country total
hundreds of thousands, there does
not exist an association or society
which can claim to be in any way
representative of even a tithe of
the total. At most we have an as­
sociation with a membership of
probably less than a dozen, which
holds a watching brief for the
manufacturers, but they have no
right to speak for the great body
of machine users, of which there
are probably half a million.
Face H e a v y T a x
“ Somewhat startling news is to
hand this month from Barrow,
which shows the necessity for or­
ganization in the industry. It ap­
pears that the Barrow Council
is carrying out a revaluation of
the whole borough and trades
people have received intimation
that automatic machines outside
shop premises are to be taxed at
the rate of £ 1 per slot. This is a
quite new departure for Barrow
and strikes us as being an un­
warrantable imposition on the
part of the Council at a time when
retailers have all their work cut
Enhanced Scans © The International Arcade ■ Museum-
out in endeavoring to make ends
meet.
“ Presumably we shall soon re­
turn to the wicked old system
when air and daylight were penal­
ized by a tax on house windows.
Certainly a tax oi £ 1 Is. per
annum on letter boxes may quite
confidently be expected. That lo­
cal authorities will jump at this
new method of raising the winds
is certain if Barrow is allowed to
carry through its proposals. W e
are told that the revaluation will
not come into force until April 1„
1934. The date sounds appropri­
ate, but distance lends enchant­
ment only because the interval af­
fords an opportunity to those in
the industry to wake up and da
something.”
Sampson Rings Liberty
Bell
COIN MACHINE JO U RN AL
acknowledges receipt of a mag­
nificent cut-out calendar from the
Sampson Novelty Co., London..
The calendar is made in the shape
of a huge liberty bell, printed on
heavy cardboard. In addition to a
book of daily calendar sheets the
big bell carries the pictures of the
Holloway sales staff.
This is one of the most elabo­
rate calendars to come to our at­
tention and is a fine piece of ad­
vertising for Bell machines.
OPERATORS. . .
. . . DISTRIBUTORS
See You at the Show
Ben Trovato
A. D. P. Coin Machine Mfg. Co.
4700-4702 Fifth Ave.
Chicago, 111.
http://cmj.arcade-museum.com/