Th& Defense Program and the Coin
Machine Indus,try
A
Survey
"What's Ahead and How Shall I Plan
My Future Operations?" is a question that
has stumped coin machine operators since
our Government launched its extensive De-
fense Program.
The solemn warning has been sent out
from Washington that manufacturers must
subs titute non-metallic materials for met-
als wherever possible. Although this coun-
try is not yet engaged in a shooting war, it
is well started on the first crucial cam-
paign of a War of Metals. Intentionally the
phrase has a harsh clang.
A shortage of metal, such as the defense
program is now developing, can affect the
course of all industry and the lives of the
American consuming public more within a
few short months than the War of the
Roses altered the civil life of England dur-
ing the thirty years of fighting. Today's war
is a war of metals, in the same sense as
the first World War was a war of chem-
icals.
In the Coin Machine Industry, where
metals are such an important part of pro-
duction, changeovers to substitutions are
now under way, but such changes are ex-
pensive and require considerable time for
the new dies and castings. Manufacturers
are confronted with an engineering prob-
lem, sometimes simple and easily accom-
plished, but in other instances involving
complete new designs for parts and re-
tooling of shops.
It is a trite understatement to declare
that the possibilities of plastics have not
been fully explored" but exploration may
consume time and money. Some changes
will not require the services of a labora-
tory full of chemists; perhaps a resort to
a primitive piece of old-fashioned lumber,
or the more modern alternative of plastic
plywood, may do the job.
The materials which are most frequently
and successfully substituted for metals ap-
pearing on the Priorities Critical List are:
plastics, lead, glass, porcelain enamel on
steel, rubber coating in steel. Molybdenum
is to some extent substituting for nickel
and tungsten. Low grades of steel will
probably remain available for a longer
period than specialized steels, but the
pinch is likely to reach them.
During June the COIN MACHINE REVIEW
conducted a survey amongst key plants in
the Industry and the following excerpts
from reports received will show the vari-
ous opinions held and what is being done
to keep up deliveries:
"In every war sacrifices must be made
and hardships endured by everyone," stated
A. E. Gebert of Advance Machine Co. " It
is not alone the soldier who bears the bur-
den of the battle. Modern warfare demands
that the soldier be backed up by the citizen
and non-combatants. Along this line is a
condition we are meeting with in our in-
dustry, namely, the difficulty of getting
materials and, in some instances, suitable
labor, due to the fact that the Defense
Program requires that its purposes be
served both in material and man power.
"Many operators become impatient at
delays in making up and shipping goods.
Operators should try to anticipate their
future demands and place their orders so
that they can be worked upon before con-
ditions get still worse than they are at
present. By doing this they will stand a
better chance of getting their ' require-
ments.
"One point that should be made clear
is that the manufacturer may have to sub-
stitute some materials and he should be
given a leeway in this regard; otherwise
it may be impossible in some instances to
fill orders."
Another fIlanufacturer of vending ma-
chines and amusemen t devices writes:
"Practically all essential metals are not
available to small businesses. It is my per-
sonal opinion that an small businesses will
be forced out if we are any further in-
volved. Especially so if the administration
becomes panicky.
"Priorities are now in force on plating,
aluminum, steel, cork, brass, copper, etc.
Not much left except paper, wood and
glass to work with.
"Political pull, bootlegging and a cer-
tain amount of chiseling, using part of
material secured on government orders, will
give a few a longer period to stay in.
Public opinion and the inefficient short-
sighted administration will eventually put
them out if involved in ' war."
The uncertainty of the future is ex-
pressed in another typical report, this time
from George L. Lewis of the A. B. T.
Manufacturing Co.: "Various materials
have been reduced on our schedules and
we, of course, are quick to ascertain if
suitable substitutes can be obtained. In
many instances, we take magnet steel for
an illuminating example, materials cannot
be substituted, causing a distinct curtail.
ment of orders.
"We are shipping a good percent of our
orders such as machines on schedule, but
in the chute department we are approxi-
mately two to three weeks behind at the
present time. Whether this condition will
improve or gradually reach the point where
it is impossible to get any materials we, of
course, do not know, and we can only hope
for the best in such cases,"
This report naturally strikes deep to the
operator for a goodly percentage of the
machines in this industry are equipped
with ' ABT chutes.
A Western manufacturer, M. Brodie Co.,
reported as follows: "Our radio depart-
ment is practically at a standstill due to
YOUR BACK ORDER
"Keep your temper, gentle sir,"
Writes the manufacturer,
"Though your goods are overdue,
For a week or maybe two.
We can 't help it, please don 't swear.
Labor's scarce and metal's rare.
Can't get steel, can't get dies,
These are facts, we tell no lies.
Harry's drafted, so is Bi ll;
All our work is now uphill.
So your order, we're afraid;
May be still a bit delayed;
Still you'll get it, don't be vexed,
Maybe this week, maybe next.
Keep on hoping, don't say die,
We'll fill your order by and by."
our inability to obtain radio parts. Coupled
with this, we are having considerable diffi-
culty in obtaining die cast metals for our
mechanisms. Our last order required over
90 days to be filled as compared to nor-
mally 7 days.
. '1
"In our merchandjse machine Ij,pe we
are being crippled because of our inability
to obtain aluminum C!lStings. We have had
parts ordered on back order for over 60
days-normally these parts are shipped to
us on the date the supplier receives the
order.
"We made quite an extensive research in
the use of plastic for vending machine
manufacture but we do not believe the
shock strength of plastics has been devel-
oped to permit their use in machine manu-
facture. There is little doubt but that with
the extensive development work being done
in this field, such a plastic will be avail-
able within the next 12 months. It is prac-
tically impossible to do any new develop-
ment work in the manufacture and design
of coin-operated machines due to the labor
situation because tool and die makers are
not available."
Some will question the sta tement of the
sho ck strength of plastics and point out
that planes have been successfully made
with plastic bodies. Along the same line of
reasoning we pres.ent another statement on
plastics from the report of another Western
manufacturer, Metermovies, Inc., manufac-
turers of a coin-operated motion picture
device:
"Of all the materials going into the con-
struction of Metermovies, only one-alumi-
num-has been visibly affected by defense
requirements. Our grea test use of alumi-
num was for rollers and these are now
being made from plastic, which is more
economical and is equally suitable for the
purpose, and from the machining stand-
point even better. We have not had and do
not anticipate any other shortages. Our
deliveries have not been retarded and the
defense program has not restricted us to
date in any way."
Back to the metal situation, here is an
interesting report from W. W. Wilcox Mfg.
Co. which suppli es the industry with count-
less products:
"We manufacture hundreds of items in
metal of course, and we cannot obtain
aluminum or nickel silver, due to the De-
fense Program, We are able to obtain brass
and fibre on delayed delivery dates and we
have enough material on hand to take care
of our requirements for approximately the
next three months. In some of the items
wc manufacture we are considering plas-
tics,
"Our present delivery schedule on orders
is approximately three weeks. What the
situation will be in ninety days from now,
one cannot predict."
These few reports, selected from more
than 50 received, give a fair cross-section
of opinion and conditions in the Industry
at the present time. From these reports it
would seem wise for the shrewd operator
to place orders immediately for his antici-
pated requirements as far in advance as
possible and as his capital permits.
As we move toward more intensive de-
fense effort, the Priorities System will in-
evitably pinch at more points. Most of us
seem resolved to accept and make the best
of the underlying shorta ges. The public
expects business to carry forward in the
same spirit by vigorous effort to conserve
metals, and by avoiding industrial hoard-
ing. Perhaps the old adage should be cor-
rupted to declare that we cannot have our
liberty later-or be sure of it-unless we
are willing to forego some of it now.
•
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
9
FOR
JULY
J94J