A Marble Game Operator
"States His Case"
FOREWORD
The following talk was given by one of
our leading members of the Associated Op-
erators of Los Angeles County, Inc. , before
a group of business men who had requested
the attendance of the operator before pass-
ing upon the question of pin-ball machines
in their community.
It is interesting to learn that due solely
to our member's knowledge of this industry
gained through bulletins issued by our Public
Relations Bureau, in addition to his sincerity
in presenting these facts, he gained the un-
qualified approval of his fellow business men
in that community. So much favorable com-
ment has resulted from his talk that we are
submitting it to our associates in the coin
machine industry.
Associated Operators of Los
Angeles County, Inc.
CURLEY ROBINSON,
Managing Director.
In order to clarify the mass of conflicting
statements regarding the marble machine
and its operators, I, as one of many scores
of fellow operators in Los Angeles County,
present the other side, the operator's view-
point. I am not unlike my fellow worker,
the average operator, who is married, a
father of two or more children, living
happily in a modest home, and enjoying
the respect of his neighbors. My children
go to chool with the neighbors' children,
to Sunday School with the neighbors' chil-
dren, aJl of us enjoying the pleasant home
life of the average American citizen. Yet,
as a marble machine operator, I sometimes
wonder why I am ostracized by certain
groups.
Because of the lack of familiarity with
my work, with the industry I represent, and
perhaps in an attemp t to present the other
side, my side of the controversy, the fol-
lowing facts are of interest, especially so
to my critics. I wonder sometimes if we
realize that this is a new and modern di-
vision of America's great amusement in-
dustry, that millions of people have placed
their stamp of approval upon it so fervently
that it cannot be demoralizing to their be-
liefs and sen timents.
In the past four years we have joined
to getller as one man, forming an associa-
tion for the all important purpose of elim-
inating any attendant ills in an industry
that first appeared commercially some nine
year ago but has made a quick and tre-
mendous grow th and has taken its rightful
place in contributing amusement and re-
laxation to the p.ublic in general.
We have been forced to rise through a
mass of adverse and useless laws, just as
laws were once passed to prevent trains
running through certain states, to ban mo-
tion pictures, to regulate the conduct of
the general public in varied instances. We
have made headway through this criticism
and have fortunately removed the ham-
pering infl uences countenanced by outworn
laws and specific criticising groups. This
has been made possible through the con-
duct of the operators and their associa-
tion, based upon rigid by-laws exemplifyin g
the high principles of its officers and
directors.
It is interesting to note that the mech-
anized game of marbles is but a modernized
adult conception of a game that is so old
that even in the early Stone Age the in -
habitants or cave-dwellers, according to
noted historians, used the small rounded
pellets for diversion and relaxation. On
through the years it has been an honored
form of amusement. I can remember as a
boy nearly fifty years ago, the joy that
came to me on Christmas morning when I
discovered Santa Claus had brought me a
marble game, then called bagatelle, and
how my Dad and Mother and I spen t many
pleasant evenings together playing this en-
joyable game. Even today every depart-
ment and toy store, not only in America
but in every corner of the civi lized world:
sells marble games.
The first and original commercial game
was an exact duplicate of the toy variety
except on a larger scale_ Later, of course,
its popularity grew to such tremendous
proportions and the mechanical improve-
ments became so intricate in character,
that only a skilled mechanic can solve their
intricacies. Incidentally, more than three
hundred trades enter into thei r manufac-
ture, giving employment to hundreds of
thousands of people.
I have often been asked, and take this
opportunity to reply, "What does a ma-
~hine cost?", "How long do they last?",
What value are they to the store-keeper?",
and most important of all, "How do you
combat the minor problem?" In answer
to th e first question, the operator carries
the en tire initial investment of more than
one hundred dollars for each machine he
must service and bear the full cost; of
mechanical upkeep and it may be interest-
ing to learn that th e life of th e average
machine is not more than four months, due
solely to th e fact th at the public tires
quickly of a machine, new machines appear
upon th e market every few weeks. In order
to satisfy this demand, the operator must
of necessity replace hi s equipment as new
ones appear.
The third question is answered simply.
The proceeds of each machine are equally
divided between th e operator and the store-
keeper and any merchant or storekeeper
will readily tell you that the presence of
these machines in his store has meant much
toward his maintaining a business level due
to the fact that the machines attract busi-
ness to the store, thereby enhancing his
daily receipts_ In summin g up my view-
point from the average operator's factual
knowledge, the marbl e machine has defin-
itely found its place as a trade and busi-
ness stimulant, a fact that will be readily
attested to by any merchant, who by some
useless and adverse law has been forced
to relinquish his machine.
Many people have not realized how much
coin operated machines really mean to th e
small retail establishments and how neces-
sary they are to these places of business.
People should stop to consider the follow-
ing facts: Big national advertisers have
their contests, radio has its prize awards,
big newspapers have th eir puzzles, chain
stores have their loss leaaers and big-
buying power. Small retail establishments
need coin-operated amusement machines in
order to get a fair break in the American
system.
The last question is tremendously impor-
tant to all of us, the subject of minors:~and
may I say that this is the most important
phase of our Association's work, because
it is the one continual cri ticism, that al-
though unfair and· unjust, continually con-
fronts us, especially from our biased crit-
ics. I would like to read to you an excerpt
from our by-laws together with the resolu-
tion passed by our Board of Directors. I
quote:
"Any member of this Association
who knowingly allows any location
upon which any amusement device
sanctioned by this Association is oper-
ated to cater to the patronage of mi-
nors SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY EX-
PELLED FROM FURTHER MEM-
BERSHIP IN THIS ASSOCIATION.
Merchants must be emphatically
warned of thi s rule and machines must
be removed from all locations where
merchants refuse to comply therewith.
" Gambling in any manner must not
be permitted on or with our machines.
No violation of any city or county or-
dinance or any state law shall be per-
mitted to occur upon or in connection
with our machines, or upon the prem-
ises where said machines are located_
Any member whose machines are used
for the purpose of violating statute or
law of the State or ordinance of any
County or other political subdivision
thereof, shall immediately remove such
machines from th e location and failing
to do so shall be liable to expulsion
from the Association."
It is unfortunate th at, like all great in-
dustries who have fought their way through
much legal and reform opposition, the mar-
ble machine industry, through its individ-
ual operators and its Association, is forced
to a defense that s hould be unn ecessary
when the true facts are known. On the
other hand, it is indeed fortunate that we
have faith in Our business and are striving
to overcome th e difficulties that arise from
unjust criticism, which is gradually being
overshadowed in the general sentiment of
the public who have been quick to ac-
knowledge and appreciate our endeavors
~o raise ~lUr industry to higher levels, gain-
mg for It the proper respect and appreci-
ation that is its rightful heritage.
In conclusion, I would like to add one
word about our Association of which, need-
less to say, I am very proud to be a mem-
ber. It is composed of approximately 130
members in Los Angeles County who have
incorporated under the laws of the State
of California into a NON-PROFIT organi-
zation. It was formed by the operators
themselves to promote, advance and main-
tain goodwill and harmonious action be-
tween the individual mem bers; to establish
higher standards of business operation; to
create and maintain ethical business prac-
tices among the members and to cooperate
with any and all organizations toward the
betterment of not only the industry but to
mankind as well.
All rules, regulations and offices are sanc-
tion ed by a majority vote, and each oper-
ator regardless, has but one vote. A Board
of Directors consisting of four members is
elected by the members on a majority vote
and they, in turn, elect a managing direc-
tor who selects the office personnel. We
have subscribed to one of the strictest
trade codes ever adopted by any business
group.
May I leave you gentlemen with this
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COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
9
FOR
SEn.
1941