Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Issue: 1946 February

tributors who are busily remodeling and
conducting general housecleaning-not for
spring, but for samples of new models
said to be just over the horizon. Among
those so active are Frank Navarro at the
Navarro Distributing Co.; Ray Powers at
Mape Music and Nels Nelson.
~'alter McDow, serviceman at Laymon's,
had an artery in his arm severed in an un-
usual accident which put him home for a

few days.
Art Weiss, IQcal operator, just out of
the navy, is in the hospital with gall
stones.
quarters at the Clark Distributing Com-
pany's premises.
The next exciting event is scheduled
for the 21st of January when Jack R.
Moore Co. will hold its Seeburg showing
at their showrooms. Expected to arrive
for the occasion are: Jack R. Moore, head
of Jack R. Moore Co.; Dan J. Donohue,
District Sales Manager for Seeburg; J.
Kamys, Seeburg Sales Engineer, and Don
Hugenin, Sales Director of Jack R. Moore
Co.
Johnny Ruggiero, manager, recently re-
turned from the Seeburg distributors meet-
ing, spoke with the utmost enthusiasm
about the new Seeburg phonographs. Ac-
cording to Johnny the new Seeburg is
"phenomenal-nothing short of phenom-
enal!" The postwar Seeburg is not a
compilation of old ideas in a new cabinet
but something really new. Seeburg dis-
tributors, under factory instructions, made
a national survey of operators to determine
what they want and what they don't want
in postwar phonographs. The new See-
burg was then built according to these
specifications.
Johnny was also very favorably impressed
by the new Seeburg policy which was
presented at the distributors' meeting-
namely that distributors will have to re-
strict themselves to "sell music on a sound
distribution basis and not engage also
in the operating field. Distributors must
not set up competition to operators."
Jack R. Moore Co. has taken over the
entire second floor of the building in
addition to the first floor and basement
now occupied. The second floor will be
strictly a shop where some new Seeburg
factory designed and built test panels will
be installed in the near future. According
to Johnny, with these new test panels
it will be possible to service every equip-
ment Seeburg ever built and there is
additional space for testing equipment See-
burg might build in the future.
While Associates has not set a definite
date for a Rock-ala showing, the recently
acquired additional space is getting read-
ied for one of the finest display rooms.
The walls are all Celotex, entirely sound
proof, and the windows are covered with
gorgeous burgundy velvet drapes. The
showroom further boasts of a permanent
bar.
George R. Murdock, head of the far
flung Associate interests, said: "Our plan
is to hold an operators' meeting when
we can back up the showing of Rock-ala
automatic phonographs with deliveries, but
not before."
Associates' San Francisco staff was re-
cently augmented by Fred S. Neumann and
George Szakall, just out of the Navy.
George Schnabel, from Puget Sound
San Francisco
January promises to be a month of teem-
ing activities. The Coin Machine Industry
is beginning to hit its stride after years
of compulsory inertia. Postwar equipment
is starting to make its debut and various
long postponed expansion plans are being
rapidly converted into actualities. Another
proof of the new vigor pervading the in-
dustry is the large number of newcomers
who wish to become integrated into the
coin machine business either as jobbers
or operators. All in all things really are
humming.
The first important event of the month
was Clark Distributing Company's Wur-
litzer showing on January 6 and 7. The
firm kept open house during the two days,
and according to Kenneth W. Popkey,
manager, about two hundred Northern Cali-
~'N
MACHINE fornia operators came to inspect and ad-
mire the brand new Wurlitzer model.
UflEW
Popkey stressed the fac t that this was not
a hand made sample but one actually off
the production line.
Mike Hammergren, vice president of
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., and director of
fIOR
sales of the North Tonawanda Division,
FEBRUARY
arrived here for the Sunday opening, and
together with Don Clark, owner of Clark
Distributing Co., explained the new Wur-
litzer policy to operators.
Wednesday noon Clark Distributing Co.
entertained franchised Wurlitzer operators
from throughout Northern California at a
luncheon meeting at the Palace Hotel.
Featured speaker at the meeting was Ham-
mergren who further explained the new
Wurlitzer policy. W. H. Schetter, Clark
Distributing Company's Los Angeles man-
ager, was among the guests. E. L. Horiskey,
Seattle branch manager, was unable to
attend due to transportation difficulties.
During the week John Schwartz arrived
here. Schwartz had been connected with
the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. for 26 years.
H~ will manage the San Francisco branch
of American Phonograph Cooperative, Ltd.
Until he finds a satisfactory independent
location, Schwartz will have his head-
74
'''6
PRIZE WINNERS CUTOUTS
5c Play
Special Thin
Takes in. 1200 Holes @ 5c .................................................... $60.00
Pays out 8 Gray. Finished Metal. High Grade Cigarette
Lighters. Total Value ...................................................... 24.00
Cutouts. 5 @ SOc. 36 @ 25c. Total...................................... 35.50
Definite Profit ............................................................... 24.50
w.

B. LEUENBAGEN &. CO.
1813 W. PICO BLVD.
EXposition 7162
LOS ANGELES 6. CALIFORNIA
Novelty Co., Seattle, one of the Associates,
was a visitor here recently.
A glamorous touch has been added to
the Associates premises. A small room
bas been entirely given over to a beau-
tiful collection of oh! so arty pictures.
There is little lacking there to feast the
eyes on female pulchritude. George R.
Murdock explained: "We received all
these beautiful calendars-we couldn't
slight anyone, so we decided to display
them all. Result: this art gallery."
Over the holidays Mr. and Mrs. Murdock,
accompanied by their daughter Sharline,
drove to Los Angeles, where for the first
time in years, there was a grand reunion
of the immediate Murdock clan repre-
sented by four generations and comprised
of 26 members. Richard G. "Dick" Mur-
dock, Combat Captain of the Infantry,
flew from Chicago with his wife, Sherle
to be present at the occasion. Captain
Murdock is just out of the Army, and
during his service years was awarded the
Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Purple Heart
twice, the Croix de Guerre, British Mili-
tary Medal, 9 Campaign Stars, and a
Presidential Citation, awarded to his Com-
pany. Murdock's younger son, George R.
Murdock, Jr., who served in Naval Avia-
tion, was released December 29, and with
his wife, Lucille, and son Michael (a/!:ed
2) participated in the family gathering
thus completing the picture.
Al Armos, owner of Golden Gate Novelty
Co., prominent jobbing and distributing
firm, handles any and all types of coin
operated equipment. There is also a very
fine service department equipped with pre-
cision instruments and staffed with expert
mechanics. Armos commented on the tre-
mendous new interest shown in the coin
machine business. He said: "Every day
new people come in who wish to enter
the coin machine business. We are be-
sieged with inquiries how best to go
about it. We use great discretion in advis-
ing them. While there is plenty of room
for new blood, we only encoura/!:e those
who can be a credit to the industry and
to themselves." Another interesting de-
velopment is that old operators are becom-
ing increasingly aware of the necessity of
keeping up-to-date. To quote Al Armos:
"We have become a veritable disseminat-
ing center for new information about im-
proved methods of operating. It is a very
healthy sign for the business as a whole."
Armos plans to leave for the East early
in February to look over the situation,
and get a clearer idea what the prospects
are for the future.
A very busy spot is Viking Specialty
Co., distributor of Northwestern bulk vell-
dors and of the Groetchen Rotary Cooker.
Samples of the new Northwestern De Luxe,
and model 33 are now on display at Viking
Specialty Co.'s headquarters at 530 Golden
Gate Ave. E. M. Dutton, head of Viking
Specialty Co., said: "Things are moving
awfully fast, conditions are chan/!:ing rap-
idly. and we are very, very, busy."
Dick Parina, prominent operator of cig-
aret vending machines, left on the 20th
to attend the NAMA directors meeting
in New York on the 22nd.
Cigarets, of course, have become plentiful
and that phase of the business has ceased
to be a headache. Now the main effort
is to keep old equipment in the best pos-
sible shape so it will give adefluate service .
But the top news at the R. A. Parinas'
is the advent of Richard Francis Parina,
who arrived on the 14th of December. Mr.
and Mrs. Parina have now two daughters
and a son.
Hank Maser and his wife Mary plan
to drive East sometime after the 15th.
Hank hopes to have some real news upon
bis I'eturn.
H. A. Matheny of Peerless Amusement
'Service, Oakland, had an interesting story
to tell. Matheny had been in the business
for many years, but when his son Glenn L.
Matheny was drafted, and his son·in·law
George M. Livingston had to go into de-
fense work, and his own health failed, he
sold his route. But after peace was re-
stored, he bought the late Lew Menke's
route from the widow, and just recently
he acquired Peter Norman's route. One
month ago his son Glenn L. Matheny was
released from the Army Air Corps, and
now the three of them-father, son and
son-in-law have formed a partnership un-
der the name of Peerless Amusement Ser-
vice.
S_ F. Operating Co., owned by Jack
Kirby and Bill Duffin, have moved from
their previous location on Turk Street
to much more modern and spacious quar-
ters on Polk St.
Gisela Ney
Portland
Music operators throughout the country
helped to celebrate "Wurlitzer Days" Jan.
6th and 7th, when the new Model 1015
Wurlitzer phonograph and accessories were
previewed. The event was sponsored locally
by the newly organized Oregon Branch of
the Clark Distributing Co., West Coast dis-
tributors of Wurlitzer equipment.
From all sections of the state, as well as
from Idaho and Northern California, music
ops and their families trekked to the Ma-
rine Room of Portland's Multnomah Hotel
to view the first production model auto-
matic phonograph seen here in nearly four
years, to renew acquaintance with fellow
operators, and to have themselves a time,
and that they did. (Some brands of re-
freshments also not seen here in nearly
four years miraculously made their appear-
ance.)
Many new features of the phonograph
and auxiliary equipment were demonstrated
by Keith Payne, branch manager for Clark
in this area, and Johnny Kage, who came
down from Seattle to lend a hand and see
his mllny operator friends here. Chief in-
terest was centered around such improve-
ments as the new "cleared-for-action" serv-
ice feature, which permits easy accessibil-
ity to all the mechanism from the front,
new lighting arrangements and design, plus
noticeably improved tone quality. It is
claimed that some 33 major changes have
'been made in this model.
Operators were told of Wurlitzer's plan
to inaugurate an extensive national adver-
tising campaign using magazine and bill-
board advertising on a large scale to stimu-
late interest in automatic phonographs as
a source of diversion.
The Clark Company's new Portland of.
'flce is now open after many alterations at
1005 N. W. 16th Ave., and will include
complete shop facilities and parts depart-
ment for the Wurlitzer operator.
Helen Cusson of Jack R. Moore's head-
quarters announces that the initial showing
of the new Seeburg Model 146 phonograph
'will be held in Portland on Jan. 25th.
Dan J. Donohue, Regfonal District Mana-
ger for Seeburg is expected to be present
at this event as is Clyde G. Port, Sales En-
gineer in charge of Field Service, and Jos-
eph E. Kamys. George Gale, now out of the
service, is back in the Moore organization,
James Canon is the new accountant, and
Wendel Bays is the new stock clerk. Helen
and Ed Cusson~-s BOll Arthur is now at
Guinan on the Isle of Samar in tbe Philip-
pines on patrol boat duty.
Roland Allen, General Manager of Schoen
Enterprises, reports that Chuck T--"~on is
We Have Available For
I~mediale
FREE PLAYS
A.B.C ....................... $ 62.50
Air Circ:us .............. 119.50
Band Wagon ............ 45.00
Big Parade .............. 129.50
Bolaway .................. 77.50
Cadillac: .................. 30.00
.. Plastic: B........ 37.50
Defense .................... 95.00
Dixie ........................ 37.50
Double Ftr. .............. 32.50
5-10-20 .................... 109.50
Formation ................ 35.00
4 Diamonds .............. $
Glamour ..................
Gold Star ................
Gun Club ................
Jungle ......................
Limelight ..................
Masc:ot ....................
On Dec:k ..................
Paradise ..................
Playball ..................
Power House ..........
Punc:h ......................
65.00
50.00
37.50
79.50
72.50
34.50
30.00
25.00
45.00
47.50
30.00
22.50
Delivery
Sea Hawk _ .. _ .......... $
Seven Up ................
Polo ..........................
Slugger ....................
Snappy....................
Spot Pool................
Stars ........................
Super Six ................
Target Sk. ..............
Vic:tory ......................
Wildfire ....................
Zig Zag ....................
52.00
42.50
30.00
64.50
64.50
64.50
67.50
32.50
37.50
92.50
47.50
64.50
CONSOLES
Mills Jumbo Parade HH. P.0 ........... $159.50
Mills Jumbo Parade F.P ..................... 119.50
High Hand, Comb ................................ 195.00
MUSIC
ARCADE
Bally Rapid Fire .................................... $150.00
Bally Convoy ...................................... 175.00
Bally Shoot-The-Bull ............................ 50.00
Chic:ken Sam ........................................ 75.00
Wurliher 41 Counter ........................ $165.00
Wurlitzer 61 Counter .......................... 149.50
Wurliher Twin 16, Steel Cab •• Roc:k-
Ola Glamour Tone Column with 7
Buc:kley 32 Rec:ord Boxes, c:omplete 675.00
Give Second and Third Choice. 1/3 Deposit. Balance C.O.D.
NOBRO NOVELTY CO.
(FORMERLY OPERATORS EXCHANGE)
369 Ellis Street
San Francisco 2. Calif.
now out of the Navy and in charge of their
night service department in Vancouver,
Wash. Roland left on the 21st for Los An-
geles vacationing until the end of the
month.
Over at Western Distributors, Budge
Wright announces that his service depart-
ment will be leaving shortly for Kansas
City to attend Aireon's school for service
men, which leads us to believe that some-
thing will be cooking with Aireon before
long.
Lou Dunis of Portland Amusement ex-
pects to be seeing Fred Fields of Seattle
within a few days. Fred is the newly ap-
pointed representative for Oregon and
Washington for the Packard Manufacturing
Co.
There has been a heluvan epidemic of flu
in the city of Portland in the last few
months, and the guy writing this is doing
so in bed, hovering between life and death,
which somewhat accounts for the uninter-
esting character of this letter.
FritilS Hall
Seattle
The Row is perkin' like an overheated
coffee pot. While the order· takers have lit-
tle to show except display models, the
promise of solid shipments·to·come wafts
showrooms like the scent of lilac on a
spring day. Everybody knows they're com-
ing but no one's waiting until Delivery Day
to prepare. The solid beat of hammers, play.
ing sweet accompaniment to the whirring
whine of drills, shelf reinforcements and
floor-wall invasions proclaim better than
mere words the halcyon days to come.
In rapid·fire order, here's what's cookin':
Every third word spoken in Western Dis-
tributors is "Aireon" and every saw·stroke
brings inches closer the floor space required
for housing and maintenance.
Plans are blue-printed and ready; $25,000
nestles in his check book as Frank Count-
ner awaits work startage on his super new
building which will house extensive shop
rooms, phonograph records, and a modern
appliance department.
Ken Shyvers' $15,000 studio has been
completed in Bremerton. Equipment for the
phono master's eye·opening invention is
rapidly being installed. In Inid-January Ken
will have unmasked his brain buster.
Carpenters are still beating the boards at
COIN
Seattle Coin Machine Company in prepara- MACHIN.
tion for an enlarged shop.
REVIEW
Ten whirlwind days of remodeling un-
veiled a lavish display room at Clark Dis-
tributing; a lease has been clamped on the
entire building; in several months 9,000
feet of flooring will clear for action the
FOR
phono with the "cleared for action" fea- FEBRUARY
ture.
'94'
Is it possible to double warehouse and
counter space without requiring additional
footage? The sleight-oI-hand artists at Sun-
set Electric, Columbia Record distributors,
not only turned the trick but tossed in a
streamlined, production·pronto job as well.
. With the aid of wheeled carts, orders are
rolled in, billed, packed, shipped and re-
ceived by the customer soon after the ink
of his order· pen has dried.
Those who haven't begun tearing down
to build are hungrily eyeing every inch of
available area, tugging at boxes, and wish-
ing for a Mandrake.
The hot potato of last month is now cool,
comfortable, and resting nicely, thank you.
If you perused these lines in January's
REVIEW, you are aware of the city council's
proposed ordinance limiting pin game lic-
enses to 2,000 and how opposition of tavern
and restaurant owners torpedoed the pro-
posal into indefinite postponement. Presi-
dent of the Council, James Scavatto, who
fathered the bill, departed on an out·of-
town trip; when he returned, he discovered
an alternate measure had been passed into
a city ordinance. A careful reading of the
new law convinced Scavatto that it was
salutary for the operators; careful question-
ing of Scavatto by the REVIEW'S Seattle
representative confirms that opinion.
First, there is no limit to the number of
licenses that may be issued. Second, every
operator aoolying for renewal or for a new
license will appear before the city council
and list his locations. Third, the council
will either approve or disapprove; if turned
down, the operator has no further recourse
because under the municipal licensing code,
the council is vested with police powerS
which ring the bell of finality. Says Council
Prexy Scavatto: "Under the old regulation,
an operator could walk into the County.
City Building and buy 100 licenses, then
75

Download Page 74: PDF File | Image

Download Page 75 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.