•
boxes for the former phonograph, and re-
locating the box itself in the kitchen-out
of the way in the limited interior dining
space.
The June meeting of the Associated
Phonograph Own-
ers' of St. Louis was
held in a new store
recently by Martin
Balensiefer, Wurlit-
zer distributor fo St.
Louis. On tap at the
June 21 meeting
were plans for the
much-discussed sum-
mer picnic and
dance for next
month, an important
announcement con-
cerning IBEW rela-
Roberf Latimer
tionships, and a
summary of m~ic
improvements during summer of 1940. Ed
Fisher was named business representative
of the Associated Owners recently, and will
be responsible for checking calls and mak-
ing all group arrangements hereafter. Re-
freshments were served by host Balensiefer
at the meeting, which broke up near the
midnight mark.
Several music men are questing for game
in the southern parts of the state. Fred
Pollard was first to return, after two weeks
duck hunting in Kentucky, and Martin Bal-
ensiefer spent part of June on a combined
hunting and fishing trip in southern Mis-
souri. Most vacations will come late in the
music field this year, because of the fact
that business allows little time off at
present.
Bill Marks, St. Louis' baby veteran in the
·phonograph business, has added a new
group of Wurlitzers, now totaling 65 of the
city's best locations. Back on his routes in
100% shape is Vincent Sieve, who is
firmly convinced that the Association fa his
l(ood Samaritan since his accident early
this year which rendered him hors de com-
bat for over two months.
One of the landmarks of the St. Louis
phonograph trade, Automatic Phonograph
Company, was changed suddenly when Jack
Beckman old-time operator and dealer, re-
signed hfa partnership suddenly in late
June. He will continue to operate as Jack
Beckman, Inc. No reason for the break was
given.
Frank Steffens, IAAEPO president, was
an honored visitor in the trade this month,
calling on 37 operators, and attending the
June phonograph men's meeting. The St.
Louis Assocation, says Steffens, presents a
uniquely-efficient front in conduct of busi-
ness smoothly, and has grown in less than
two years to one of the best in the country.
Cited were such instances as reduction of
the insurance rates per machine, help ex-
tended to straitened operators, and steady
absorption of new developments. Wilbur
Bye, Wurlitzer representative, headquart-
ering in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was another visi-
tor, sporting one of the slack suits which
has made him famous over the midwest as
a fugitive from Hollywood films .
Hardy Schneider of East St. Louis, re-
elected president of the Illinois phonograph
operators' association, reports business equ-
ally good on the east side of the river, a
terri tory much opened up by expansion of
the southern Illinois oil boom, which
brought new thousands of workers into the
area all during the spring months.
In the pinball field, lots of action char-
acterized almost every front , as hot weather
proved a boon, rather than a drawback, to
every operator. Most important activity of
the month was the June meeting of the
Missouri Amusement Machine Operators'
Association, held at Hotel Melbourne dur-
citywide meet. The boys couldn't find the
ing the middle of the month to decide final
pins, Leo believes-and Ideal is resting on
plans for the summer outing and picnic of
its "laurels" until next winter. On the other
the group. This is to be held in July on the
hand, the Wurlitzer softball team in the
palatfal summer estate of Dewey Godfrey,
Eastern league is in first place, and may be
legal counsel for the Missouri group, where
St. Louis' representative in the state play-
plenty pf room for dancing, games, barbe-
cue and' outdoor bar-flying is available. At
,
offs.
Leading the pinball field at the halfway
last year's summer picnic over 300 ops from
both St. Louis and the surrounding Illinois
summer mark is Bally Pylon and "Lead-
territory were on hand, and this summer's
off", both action models which are showing
signs of longer life than some of the recent
contingent- is likely to be even larger.
tables. A new step-down process invented
Operators of every kind of device are
by Mark Howard, county operator, has been
welcoming back to Ideal Novelty Company
the means of giving every table four months
Leo Wichlan, amiable office manager, who
of top-billing popularity, after which they
has returned from a month's tussle with
are started over again. Many operators are
malaria in a St. Louis hospital. Leo's ability
studying this plan, which means that each
to make any visitor immediately feel at
new pintable works one month in heavy-
home in Ideal's bustling offices was sorely
play locations, moves to second-best, and
missed, and the boys are pleased his illness
thereon until it reaches the dead point.
lasted only a month. Irl Humphries, Ideal
Jack Rose, Ideal route manager, is plan-
chief mechanic, has been ill with ptomafoe
ning a trip to Hot Springs Arkansas soon,
poisoning which took him to a local hospital
• for relief of sinus trouble. Doubling for
e.a rly in June.
him will be Emma Jackson, Ideal's person-
Ideal is free-wheeling into bigger busi-
able blond secretary, who is already becom-
ness fields during the summer, with new
ing a fixture with the company after one
territories soaking up more of Carl Trippe's
month's service on the telephone switch-
boundless enthusiasm. Five roller rings, all
board.
with penn)( ~rca.des and summer beaches,
Jimmy Carmody, phonograph operator, is
are booming this summer, located at all
in the hospital with a serfous stroke, which
amusement parks and summer beaches in
caught him at work. Fellow opera tors are
the city and suburbs. Arcades are enjoying
awaiting his recovery anxiously- for the
a rebirth of popularity, according to Trippe,
second time in two years.
who has several rotary merchandisers on
An important change in southern Illinois
location at each spot, with good results.
phonograph operation, which has grown
Most of the firm's older penny machines
sharply as the oil boom brings in thousands
have been dusted off and placed in service
of workers and investors, has come to light
for 1940.
with the dissolving of a partnership between
Proudest father in St. Louis is Bill Row- Harry and William Schooley of Madison,
land, formerly of Advance Phonograph
Illinois, who operated music and pin table
Company, who announced a new baby in
routes through four major counties in south-
June and was immediately cleaned out of
ern Illinois "little Egypt" territory. William
cigars by congratulatory operator friends.
Schooley has moved to Fairfield, Illinois,
Presents coming in include almost every
and will open up new headquarters and his
type of premium made for the business, Bill
own firm there, while brother Harry con-
grins, pointing out that the youngster will
tinues in Madison,
know the premium end of coin machine
Partial repeal of the city's two-cent tax
operation early.
on cigarettes has been promised members
Olive Novelty Company, located on Olive
of Abe Jeffers' Missouri Cigarette Mer-
Boulevard for many years, was moved to
chandizers' Association by legal counsel at
Lucas Street recently by Al Haneklau,
the state supreme court, where a 35,000
president. "Coin Machine Row" on Olive
name petition circulated by wholesale tobac-
Street, is continually growing larger, and • conists, druggist and grocers' association~
may sometime supplant the downtown block
has forced the city council to presen t it for
on Market street where most of the larger
ultimate decision. Meanwhile, new machines
houses are now located.
are being spotted with increased confidence
Leo Wichlan, Bob Mees and other mem-
by operators, who found the new tax a sure
bers of Ideal's bowling team, which demon - means of stepping up business by 200%,
strated itself so well balanced that it was
but a commensurate amount of grief. " We
fovited to enter the city tournament, is
were doing better with a percentage of ten-
ruefully passing off references to tin cups
cent cigarette business mixed in" Abe says.
and pencils, after coming out fifth in the
♦
47
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
JULY 1940
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