SEPTEMBER, 193 4
9
The Evolution of An Idea
II
When Game Was Only Plan
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Above are pictured Jim Reed, left, foreman of the plants of the Pacific
Amusement Mfg. Co., going over plans with Bon MacDougall, assistant
- manager of the firm.
Customer: Why do you keep tell-
ing me all these horrible murder
stories?
Barber: Well, you see, ' I find they
help me a lot by making your hair
stand on end.
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"Where'd you get the black eye?"
"I kissed the bride."
"But I thought that was custom-
ary."
"Well-not two months after the
ceremony, it isn't."
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CONGRATULATIONS
-to-
Pacific Amusement Mfg. Co.
ON
MAJOR LEAGUE
•
We are Proud to have
played a part in the con-
struction of this fine game.
•
•
"Sm itty"
• CHROMIUM PLATING
• PLUNGERS
• CAST PARTS FOR
COIN MACHINES OF ALL KINDS
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F
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•
" L et us figure on your requirements"
~ U~ S~
Plating & Foundry
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Company
It was in 1874 that the first patents on pin games were issued. Records
do not exist that prove there was any great interest in marble or pin games
prior to 1929.
During 1929 when the first coin operated modern pin games were pro-
duced, they were received with varying opinions. So called "old timers" in
the coin machine business were loudest in declaring that the pin game was
a fad that would die quickly. No one
in the COin machine business took it
MAJOR LEAGUE could have been
seriously so it remained for new
offered for sale four months ago.
manufacturers with keener foresight
Thousands of them would have been
to give the public what they wanted.
sold, but whether or not the operator
Hundreds of small manufacturers
would h.ave made money would have
sprung up seemingly over night.
been in doubt. Now, after one hun-
Hundreds of pin games of all types
dred games have been tested on lo-
and designs flooded the market.
cation for over ninety days, MAJOR
These first games were, with few ex-
LEAGUE is proven. From both a
ceptions, of a most simple type. It mechanical and profit making stand-
was their simplicity that encouraged
point, MAJOR LEAGUE has with-
the many to become manufacturers.
stood every test. The Los Angeles
Then came );he point of diminishing
factory of Pacific started in July
returns. Inasmuch as most of these
turning out hundreds of MAJOR
games followed the same simple prin-
LEAGUE games. The Chicago fac-
ciple of each other, the market be-
tory started production August 27th.
came flooded.
The inexperienced
Operators know MAJOR LEAGUE
manufacturer finally gave up, and
will make money for them and are
once mor.e the coin machine business
shOwing their contiQence In MAJOR
settled down to regular routine.
LEAGUE by swamping both factor-
All this proved conclusively that
ies with orders.
the proper kind of pin game was not
One large distributor of pin games
a fad but a necessity much in de-
recently
said, "I am becoming more
mand by the public.
The store-
and more convinced that Pacific is
keeper needed the pin game because
it was a new and needed source of . about the only manutacturer that is
conducting their business with the
big income. Where the inexperienc-
good of the operator in mind."
ed manufacturer left off the estab-
And so we have the evolution of
lished coin machine manufacturers
an idea and the creation of an ideil.
carried on. , They brought out new
Mr. McClellan has created a tremen-
games of outstanding quality and
dous business because he has built
precision, and thousands upon thous-
his manufacturing and sales policy
ands of games were sold. The pin
on the theory that if operators made
game is today as much a part of our
money with his products they would
national life as baseball, football,
buy more of them.
golf, bridge, etc. While the g.ames
"I will never make a g.ame just to
of the past were toy-like ' in some
have something to unload upon oper-
of their constructions, the games of
ators," said Mr. McClellan. "Oper-
today follow a new trend of quality,
ators are going broke because the
precision, and the arrangement of the
games they have been obliged to buy
playing fields are designed with a
have been good for only a week or
true knowledge of mass appeal.
so. In many instances the operat'or
No one is more responsible for the
did not get even his investment out
present trend ot game construction
of the game befor,e it was dead. If
than Fred C. McClellan. In his game
I .am to sell games to operators, the
CONTACT, he surprised more expe-
operators must have money to buy
rienced coin machine men by making
them. Therefore, my games must
CONTACT the outstanding game
make money to keep me in business,"
success of the time. In marketing
continued Mr. McClellan.
CONTACT, Mr. McClellan proved
That this policy is sound can best
that he knew what the public want-
be judged by the tremendous growth
ed! CONTACT was not readily ac-
of the Pacific Amusement Manufac-
cepted. Operators and jobbers who
turing Company. Operators know
first looked 'a t it could not realize
that when they operate MAJOR
that CONTACT was a game with in o
LEAGUE they will get back the cost
built player appeal. Mr. McClellan
of the machine in just a few days
knew he was right. He had proven
and that from then on, for months
to himself that CONTACT was a
to come, MAJOR LEAGUE will be
money-maker, and the whole world
.a safe and ' sound continuous :!IOurce
testifies today that his commercial
of income for them.
courage and foresight were justified.
In 1874 pin games were just an
The Pacific Amusement Manufactur-
idea. From that idea evolved Mr.
ing Company's phenomenal success is
Fred C. McClellan, Pacific Amuse-
the talk of the industry today.
ment ManufactUring Company, and
Every game that Fred C. McClel-
MAJOR LEAGUE. Truly a triple
lan has marketed has been a success
threat to any depression!
and a money-maker for its user.
MASTERPIECE, METROPOLITAN
and CONTACT were all games that
returned their first cost quickly and
continued to hold locations against
OUR GAL NELL
everything the market offered. Even
It is safe to say that every opera-
at this late date these games are re-
tor who visits the Los Angeles branch
markable money-makers.
of the Pacific Amusement Distribut-
And now Pacific Amusement Man-
ing Company is completely NUTS
ufacturing Company has brought out about "Smitty."
MAJOR LEAGUE. It is the sensa-
Miss Smith is Mr. Herb McClellan's
tion of the coin machine field! Ab- private secretary, prominent in social,
solutely the king of automatic enter-
amateur theatrical and church events.
tainers.
Fred C. McClellan again
sets a n.ew pace and a new construc-
Gus and Ole, at a northern fish-
tion trend for other manu£~cturers
ing resort, hired a hotel boat and
to follow. Where others have been
found great fishing at a certain spot
satisfied to follow the lines of least
in the nearby lake. So they decided
resistance in bringing out new games,
to mark the place and come back
for more sport after lunch. At the
operators have come to realize that
games produced by Pacific Amuse-
dock Gus said to Ole:
"Ole did you mark the place?"
ment Manufacturing Company are
"Yah," said Ole, "Ay put chalk
offered for national sales only after
mark on side of boat."
they have been proven on location.
"Are you dumb!" exclaimed Gus.
It has been Mr. McClellan's policy
"Maybe ve don't get same boat aft-
to bring out a new game OD'ly when
er lunch!"
there was a need for such .a game.
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1650 Long Beach Ave.
Los Angeles
PRospect 0523
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