I
ST. LOUIS-A camera shop and a mu-
sic machine might seem a long way apart
but a recent request in this city might
well be a tip-off for a lush, new trail to
locations_ A telephone call from Clayton, a
suburb, from the owner of a large camera
store had local operators saying, "Oh,
yeah?" to themselves. The camera man
was requesting a phonograph installation.
One of the boys with a soul for adventure
topping his fear of being a joke victim,
went out with an old machine to invest i-
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
14
Baker's Pacers
FOR
OCTOBER
1941
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The BAKER NOVELTY
CO., INC.
1700 Washington Blvd .• Chicago
MAC MOHR
W est Coast Factory Re presentative
2916 W . Pica St •• Los Angeles, Calif.
OpeJ-tLttl*J
notice
,
gate the request. He discovered that the
camera store had a rental darkroom serv-
ice, meaning that from 10 to 20 persons
were there for hours at a stretch, develop-
ing and printing their work. The tiresome
task became a pleasant one with the monot-
ony broken by music. A phonograph wall
box is getting a heavy play there!
September continued the string of con-
sistently heavy-business months which St.
Louis coin machine operators have been en-
joying. Phonographs, new or used, were
scarce, with almost none available from
local jobbers. Proof of the scarcity of top
flight machines is now appearing in the
fact that numerous old-timers have been
rescued from rural routes and moved back
into the city. Noel Read, former service
man with Martin Balensiefer who went in-
to operating in Southern Mi'ssouri, visited
several friends in SL Louis early in the
month, explaining that his worst problem
was· preventing some of the larger city op-
erators from buying him out altogether.
The Associated Phonograph Owners of
St. Louis' Association met at Hotel Mel-
bourne recently to discuss the new defense
tax on coin operated amusement machines.
John LaBan of AMI Music presided, point-
ing out that this tax is one of the few on
which the operator had no grounds for ar-
gument during the past ten years. Cited as
stellar tax examples were the numerous
city levies and licenses which have come
and gone, and a state tax proposed last
year, which was defeated by good work
on the part of the association's legal coun-
sel, Dewey Godfrey.
Also discussed was the problem of sup-
plying new machines to location owners
who now find that they are getting consid-
erably older equipment. Most such com-
plain bitterly to the operator, who stands
a considerable chance of losing his loca-
tion owner's goodwill. According to Mike
Luzaich a typical small operator, this prob-
lem has been piled atop a dozen others in
keeping the string active. "Best solution to
the location owner who has been used to
having the cream of the country's new ma-
chines in his tavern, restaurant, etc.," Mike
opines, "is to spend a little extra time in
explaining to him why no new phonographs
are available, and why the best we can do
for him is to p;ive him the best machines
we can get hold of and leave it at that."
Mike has read up on the subject thor-
oughly, can tell most of his location own-
ers exactly where essential plastics, elec-
trical wiring, aluminum and other integral
metals have gone.
At the meetin g, th e regular attendance
prize drawing came up with the name of
Dick Westbrook, who was not there. Con-
sequently, secretary Ed Fisher announced,
next month's drawing will be for 30.
A general housewarming was held re-
cently by Vincent Sieve, St. Louis operator
who has completed a new home in North
5t. Louis. Vincent, who will be remem-
btfred for his near-fatal accident enroute
to the Coin Show two years ago, is now
hale and hearty, and buying new equip-
ment as fast as it can be purchased.
McCall Novelty Co., headed by Andy
McCall, has sold its en tire stock of used
machines, including many taken off the
routes when Andy recently renewed equip-
ment as a safeguard against the probabil-
ity of not being able to get more. Andy now
has universally-new equipmen t on most lo-
cations, is enjoying excellent business as
a result. Purchaser of most of his old
equipment was the Olive Novelty Co.,
whose reconditioning shop has enlarged,
according to Al Haneklau and Ben Axelrod
of the company.
Elmer Schewe of Schewe Novelty Co., op-
erating firm which recently moved on Union
Boulevard, has pulled in most of the ma-
chines he has been using for rental pur-
poses, find ing them for the most part more
valuable out on location. Elmer's large
stock of machines are all working at pres-
ent, despite the fact that he at one time
kept a stock of six or more ready for ren-
tal use at home parties, school dances, etc.
Plen ty of new locations open is the reason
for temporary discontinuance of rental
business.
Harry Siegel, prominent phonograph op-
erator who has been hospitalized for sev-
eral weeks with a serious case of stomach
ulcers, has returned to the routes, glad
to see his friends under other than hos-
pital conditions.
Lee Turner Novelty Co., phonograph
firm, surprised every member of the coin
machine fraternity with the gift of lead
pencils two feet long a few days ago.
Ed Fisher, secretary of the Associated
Phonograph Owners, has taken his husky
six-foot-two frame to bed with a cold, first
time he has failed to officiate at the Market
street headquarters of the group for sev-
eral years. Fellow official John Maloney,
of the foghorn voice, is also down, in this
case with pink-eye. "Fine disease for a
grown man," Maloney growls.
Mills Panoram equipment is beginning to
make its appearance on the routes of Fred
Lehmkuhl, who is pioneering it in the St.
Louis area. One installed in Cafferetta's
restaurant, famous mid-town steak house,
is showing good returns, as are several
others spotted in downtown hotels and
night spots. On weekend nights, patrons
have actually lined up to play the new
machines, according to Lehmkuhl.
W. L. Amusement Co. has branched out
into the soundies field for the second time.
Bill mig, phonograph and pintable ope-
rator, has returned from a lengthy vaca-
tion in California sporting about twenty
pounds of additional avoirdupois.
Carl Trippe of Ideal Novelty Co. made
a hurried trip to Miami early in the month
with Jack Rosenberg, route manager, both
remaining long enough to absorb a heavy
sunburn. They also found time to hire a
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