Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Issue: 1946 November

Bowling Games Off er Handsome
Returns For Nominal Investment
It was right after the World Series and
the boys at the bar were replaying each
game in minute detail. Managerial stra-
tegy was analyzed, argued over; key plays
were dissected; hits were turned into
double plays, and errors transformed into
put outs.
All the while the liquid kept sliding
across the sheen mahogany and the fuzz
gathered on the grandstand managers' lips.
The conversation slipped into World Series
of the past; comparative merits of per-
formers in the "good old days" came up
for a harsh and heavy word intercourse.
"The Cards would have never won that
series a dozen years ago if the ump had
called that balk on Dizzy Dean," one of the
elbowers interposed.
"Where d'you get that 'balk' stuff?" a
man on the end shot back. "He just had
a deceiving delivery, that's all."
The first speaker, a tall, bony man, got
unsteadily to his feet, stretched to his full
weaving height, and announced majesti-
cally: "I saw that game. I saw that balk.
And I'll show you just how it happened."
Using a system of propulsion which was
a cross between Braille and visual percep-
tion, the tall man planted himself in front
of the bowling game. Inserting a coin, he
picked up one of the balls, and turned to
his audience. "Now watch carefully," he
aaid, "and I'll show you exactly how Dizzy
done it."
He flung his arms wildly, twisting into a
grotesque contortion. He spun about and
released the ball in a lunging heave.
. . . When the bartender had ushered
Dizzy Dean's poor prototype to the nearest
exit and taken inventory of the damage,
he discovered that two fifths of whisky, a
quart of rye, one bottle of scotch and two
of brandy had been smithereened.
The barhop summoned the owner and
A man who has operated 40 bowling
games for the past eight years told us:
•·1 can't remember the last time a ball-
happy customer caused trouble-it happens
so rarely. Of course, there is the matter
of lost balls, but that runs to no more than
two a week for my entire route (cost: 40
to 75 cents each). While tl)ere is liability
the owner roa;~-d his indignation; in a mat-
insurance on the game itselfi none is avail-
ter of seconds he had reached for the phone
able for damages caused to the premises
and was pouring volleys of vituperation
by the balls. But I've been . able to realize
into the ears of the operator.
such a nice return on my investment that
"And get ~ver here ~s fast as you can
an extra occasional expense isn't even felt.
and take your damned game out," he
Rightfully, the customer should pay-and
shouted, "before I throw it into the street!"
in most instances I've heard about, he has
The operator could have argued and
paid."
tried to change the proprietor's mind. Or
It's been a good many years since Paul
he could have hung up and sulkingly taken
Bennett bought Coney Island's 42-foot Skee-
the game away.
Ball for Wurlitzer and trimmed it into a
But this coinman, who had displayed
14-foot coin device.
acumen and salesmanship in convincing the
In 1936 Wurlitzer introduced a small
owner he should install the game origin-
portable model; in '37 weekly high-score
ally, realized that an antagonistic location
prizes stimulated play and caused location
was a liability to the business and would
takes to soar. By 1940, however, play had
reflect unfavorably on all operators of all
dropped to a new low-only to receive a
equipment.
resurrecting arm-shot by the defense pro-
"I'll be right over and remove the game,
gram and war. This antiquated equipment,
l\fr.----," he said courteously, "and if without come-hither eye-appeal and flash,
you'll figure out what the damages are, I'll
out-grossed every other type of amusement
write a check to cover."
device except guns.
By the time he had arrived at the bar,
Will bowling games continue their hold
order had been restored and tempers had
on the public?
cooled. The operator went directly to the
"Operator's take-away receipts have been
owner, pulled out his check book and wrote •
averaging better than ten dollars a week
out the required amount.
on those old jobs," a veteran bowl-gamer
"I'm awfully sorry about this," he said,
said. "Some of them are tottering, decrepit
"and I'll take the game out right away.
models hauled out of basements during
My truck is out front.''
.
the war. Do you think gross is not going
When the operator rose to go, the owner
to rise with new machines? I'll go you one
cleared his throat. "Well-just a minute
further. I say if a location doesn't take in
now. That machine has been in here for
at least $30 a week, the machine should be
months and nothing like this has ever hap-
taken out. There are plenty of locations
pened. It probably won't happen again.
that will do better than that-much bet-
Why don't you leave it here on trial and
ter."
we'll see?"
The operator thanked the owner, checked
To any coin-minded man who wants to
the game to see if it was in proper me-
realize more than $400 a month clear and
chanical order, and departed.
pay off a $5,000 investment in one _year by
operating only ten games, the bowlmg field
is worthy of consideration.
New machines cost around $450 each,
The story related above is a good ex-
f.o.b. shipping point. This means that by
ample of why many operators shy away
the time the operator has paid for freight,
from this highly lucrative coin branch.
sales tax, license fees, and hauling to loca-
"Loose balls and drunks. They just don't
mix," a pin gamer said.
- - - - - - - - - T U R N PAGE
• • •
REFINISHED
MECHANICALLY A-I
RECONDITIONED
BALLY GAMES
GOING STRONGER THAN EVER!
Immediate Delivery
Thorobreds
. $279.50
Longacres
279.50
'41 Derbys
169.50
Club Trophys . . 169.50
Pimlicos . . .
1,95.00
Dark Horses
119.50
Blue Grasses
119.50
Super Bells,
Sc FP and PO
Mills Jumbo,
late FP ..
Mills Jumbo,
Comb.
179.50
Come in Today!
PAUL A. LAYMON
DISTRIBUTOR
GOTTLIEB
Improved Deluxe
CiRIPSCALE
Consistently Best
Since 1928
D. GOTTLIEB & CO.
1140 N. Kostner Ave.
Chicago 51, Illinois
Member CMI
CO IN
MACHINE
REVIEW
13
FOR
NOVEMBER
1946
STATEMENT OF THE OWN ERSHIP MAN-
AGEMENT, CIRCULATION. ETC,,_ RB.
QUIRED BY THE ACTS OF CONuRESS
OF AUGUST 24, 1912, AND MARCH 3,
METAL TYPER DISCS
1933
Of The COIN MAO-UNE REVIEW published
monthly at Los Angeles·, California for October 1,
1946.
'
FOR GROETCHEN TYPERS
STATB OP CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OP
ss.
We Use Finest Aluminum
Standard Thickness • Satin Finish
PRECISION DIES
By
America's Foremost Toolmakers
Money Back Guarantee
$850
Samples On Request
P e rlOOO
One-Third Deposit With O rder
MAX GLASS DISTR!BUTING CO.
914 Dlversey Blvd., Chicago 14, Ill.
COIN
MACH INE
REVIEW
14
FOR
NOVEMBER
1946
tion, the per-game cost is about $500.
In selecting equipment, the novice should
pay heed to the following questions:
I. Is the runway of sufficient length? It
should be at least ten feet-anything less
means the player has no control of the ball,
which jeopardizes the skill element and
discourages repeat play.
2. Is the game fundamentally sound?
3. Do its scoring principles breed in-
feriority? The game should allow the
average player to attain two-thirds of the
total possible score. Anything less and his
ego simply cannot stand the gaff.
Choicest locations are residential bars
and taverns, and recreational zones. The
competitive challenge of the game is one
of its strongest drawing points. This is
especially apparent in neighborhood loca-
tions. Everybody knows everybody else and
everyone is sure he can beat everyone else.
So play is spirited and prolonged. And at
a nominal cost, a good time is had by all-
even the loser.
The skyrocketing popularity of bowling
alleys during the past decade has made it-
self felt in coin-operated games similarly
patterned. Bowling alleys are good loca-
tions because people waiting their crack
at the ten-pins can warm up and generally
entertain themselves during the interim.
Bowling games are ego-feeders. A per-
son who looks foolish on a regulation alley
can perform with aplomb on the miniature
device. Then, too, special shoes are not
needed, less time is required to play a
game, and the work-out is not as strenuous.
Bowling games are primarily mechanical
and not electrical, which means that re-
pairs are at a minimum and "out of order"
signs rarities. As they are skill games, the
operator need not worry that adverse legis-
lature will knock him out of business over-
night.
Jobbers are now offering immediate de-
livery of new equipment.
Following is a monthly balance sheet,
based on an average operation:
Receipts
Ten games @ $30 per week·-················Sl200
Less 50% location commission.·-··· 600
Net Gross ········-·······-·······-···-···S 600
Expenses
Car maintenance ········------S 30
Depreciation (over three years) .. ·-······· 125
Parts, etc. ········-··- - - - - - - - ·· 30
Insurance ( Public Liability)····-······-··· 5
Total Expenses ···- ···-·······--·······-····$190
Net Profit ·······-·····-····- · - - -···$410
• Nine months ago the roll.down type of
game began moving in on runway devices.
But because the basic appeal of the latter
is so much stronger, because it affords more
exercise and tests control and skill to the
utmost, the replacement pendulum swung
back. All indic4tions are that it will con•
tinue to swing as long as the thrill of com•
petitive sports remains an integral part of
the American scene.
Lo.s
ANGBLBS
Before me, a notary public in and for the Stat.e
and county aforesaid, personally appeared Paul W.
Blackford, who, having been duly sworn according
to law, deposes and says that he is the publisher of
the COIN MACHINE REVIEW and that the fot.
lowing is, to the best of his knowledge and belief,
a true statement of the ownership , management (and
if a daily paper, the circulation) , etc., of the afore•
said publication for the date shown in the above
caption, required by the Act of A ugust 24, 1912 ,
as amended by the Act of March 3, 1933, embodied
in section '.537, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed
on the reverse of this form , to wit:
1 . That the names and addresses of the publisher,
editor, managing editor, and business managen are :
Publisher--Paul W . Blackford, 1115 Venice
Blvd ., Los Angeles 15 . Editor-Paul W . Blaclcford ,
1115 Venice Blvd ., Los Angeles 15.
.2 . That the owner is: (If owned by a corpora-
tion, its name and address must be stated and also
immediately thereunder the names and addresses of
stodcholders owning or holding one per cent or more
of total amount of stock. If not owned by a cor•
poration, the names and addresses of the individual
owners must be given. If owned by a firm , company ,
or other unincorporated concern, its name and address,
as well as those of each individual member, m\l.\t be
given.
Paul W . Blackford, 1115 Venice Blvd. , Lo.
Angeles 15 .

3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and
other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent
or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or
other securities are: (If there are none, so state. )
None.
4. That the two paragraphs n ext above, giving the
names of the owners, stockholders , and securiry
holders, if any, contain not only the list of stock•
holders and security holders as they appear upon the
books of the company but also, in cases where the
stockholder or security holder appears upon the books
of the company as truste.e or in any other fiduciary
relation, the name of the person or corporation for
whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the
said two paragraphs contain statements embracing
affiant' s full lcriowledge and belief as to the circum•
stances and conditions under which stockholders and
security holders who do not appear upon the books
of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities
in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner ;
and this affi.ant has no reason to believe that any
other person, association, or corporation h as any
interest direct or indirect in the said stock, or other
securities than as so stated by him.
5 . That the average number of copies of each
issue of this publication sold or d istributed, through
the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the
twelve montlu preceding the date shown above is
...................... H••···················· (This information is re•
quired from publishers of daily, weekly, semi•weekly
and tri•weekly publications only. )
PAUL W . BLACKFORD,
(Signature of editor, publisher,
business manager, or owner. )
Swom to and subscribed ,before me this 25th day
of September, 1946.
.
(SBAt)
JENNER S . WILSON .
Notary Public.
(My commission expires March 22 , 1949.)
Mercury Products Expand
DETROIT- •Mercury Products Co. has
purchased a new plant on the northeastern
suburb of Hamtramck. The new site con-
tains 30,000 square feet of floor space and
is expected to be in operation in less than
a month.
The firm specializes in penny.operated
machines.
OPERATOR'S FRIEND
011.
TH AT REALLY LUBRICATES
READ ALL ABOUT
IT!! .
SEE PAGE 19 ! !
·•.
Con't 9um. Especially for Coln Ma-
c hines. A fe w drops will save many
service coils.
1 OZ. BOTTLE 49c
- S E E-
PAUL A. LAYMON
DI STRIBUTOR

Download Page 13: PDF File | Image

Download Page 14 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.