Kansa~
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
110
FOR
FE8RUARY
,,47
City
Gilmore Debunks "Holier
Th'on Thou" Attitude
Holiday sales in this area were 71 per
CHICAGO-James A. Gilmore, secretary-
cent larger than in 1945, according to the treasurer of CMI, takes issue with those in
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. We the Industry who state that operators of
really all went on a shopping spree. The certain types of coin-operated machines are
dollar volume of retail and wholesale busi- on a higher plane than operators of other
ness during 1946 soared to the highest level types.
in our history. Financial activities last year
"The manufacturers, distributors and
topped our big 1929 volume by more than operators of all types of coin-operated ma-
50 per cent. But despite all this, those in chines are each and every one an integral
the coin machine field for the most part part of the Coin Machine Industry. The
have been tunin g up for their swan song.
problems of one should be the problems of
The greatly increased prices of equipment all. Legislation, taxation and, regulation are
compared to several -years ago, plus a de-
directed against aIr types of machines in the
cided increase in the cost of operation, great majority of instances-seldom against
should call for dime play to equalize the anyone type."
situation. Only the more daring have done
'Gilmore continued: "The operators of
this and only those in the phono field. Years these machines very seldom operate only
ago there were no federal or city taxes. Now one type; quite the contrary, the great
these are an added burden. At present, majority diversify their operations. Experi-
&dverse weather conditions are keeping a ence has taught them that diversified oper-
considerable portion of the public at home ation is more profitable. It is a well known
or at least away from coin machines. Also, fact within the IndustIY that many a vend-
the general cost of living is up about 40 ing machine operator and many a music
per cent. This all adds up to one grand machine operator pays for his vending ma-
headache. Pin ball operators are afraid that chines and his music machines from the
if they are forced to make ' the change- profits of his amusement machines-always
over to dime slots, the take will be so low h;ls been doing it, probably always will be
they will be forced to go back to five-cent
doing it.
play. By the time they do this, the red ink
"The Coin Machine Industry should be
bottle will probably be dry.
.
an all-for-one and one-for-all industry. Na-
The confection venders are in the same turally, there are problems of special inter-
boat, with five-cent bars costing up to 90 est to each type of machine but by and large
cents a box. According to information we the problems of the Industry as a whole are
have received, the Hershey Co. is sending the problems of vending machine manufac-
out notices that their bars are to retail for turers, distributors and operators, just the
six cents each. How are you going to put same as music, amusement and service ma-
six cents in a five-cent slot? Well, it's chine manufacturers, distributors and oper-
argued, do like the cigarette folks: give ators."
back three or four cents and use a dime
slot. The risk is so great and the trouble
writing on· the wall for a mural decoration!
and expense of conversion as well that the
Getting this news column out has used up
candy men simply sit tight and groan.
about triple the usual time spent. The trade
The only remedy that comes to us at this
is upset by problems. It is eagerly looking
time is for the candy manufacturers to
for a way out of its morass of difficulties.
make a smaller bar to retail for five cents
This editorial is my contribution.
for vending. As for the phono situation, it
About a dozen live wires among the
will iron out in time, with the more daring
trade here have signified their desire to
putting in dime chutes at better locations.
come to the first meeting of, a purely social
Individual type music for five cents is here
organization which has no rules or regu-
to stay, perhaps for years. We predict that
lations except one: There shall be no argu-
the trade here or in any city will not come
ments. It is hoped it will be patterned after
to agree on a concerted action to sell music
the manner of the Tobacco Tables which
for a dime, three for 25c. There will have
have grown and prospered all over the
to be adjustments made, individual with
country aft.er many previous attempts at
every firm: perhaps lower salaries, far more
organization failed. ,Even if a man hates a
alert management, most careful watching of , competitor who attends, he puts on his best
loss leaks; better selection of locations and
manners; the tone of the event is social and
a watchful paring of operations cost. The
what little business is discussed is done
Industry has met these terrific problems
informally. No speeches, but all the discus-
before and the commerce of the nation has
sion one likes. Any normal entertainment
forged ahead. The weak will fall by the
that individual groups like when stags get
wayside and the go-getters will get their
together is allowed': Some think it wiIl be
business in plumb with the economic con-
a "miracle" if such an organization can be
ditions of the time by much sweating and
formed and kept going. There may be a
swearing and will finally survive.
surprise in store for those "some." The first
Old-time methods of operation will have
meeting is scheduled about two weeks after
to . be brought up to date and whether we
the coin show. There is no particular person
like it or not, economic pressure will do the
"in back of' the movement. It is suggested
job. The smart operators will do more than
that those who attend appoint their own
sketch the news in their trade journals:
chairman and that a different chairman be
they will use them for text books, and woe
appointed for each succeeding meeting.
is he who is too busy chopping wood to take
These could be every other month if de-
time to sharpen Ms axe!
sired. This correspondent is a member of
However, above the wail of the dirge
the Greater Kansas City Tobacco Table and
heard today is the eager note of optimism
we have seen its difficult struggle and
and interest in the 1947 coin machine show.
growth. Every seat at the table is now filled.
Most of the boys here are enroute to Chi-
It can be done at a Coin Tabl~will you,
cago. They're not giving up yet and they're
Kansas City reader, help?
open to new ideas and the possibilities of
Region VIII, NAMA, encompassing Colo-
profit to be yielded ·by new merchandise.
rado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska,
The narrowing nfargin between consumer
held a meeting here January lO.-,The morn·
earnings and cost of living will continue to
ing session took place at the Muehlebach
exert its influence on conservative buying,
Hotel, with luncheon and afternoon confabs
something which will be felt still more
at the ' Phillips Hotel. The well-known
during the coming year. Boys, the time has
Vendo film sketching- the firm's operations
come when we mu st not mistake the hand-
was shown.
The Music Mart, owned by Nick l"ascl,
is now open and busy at the new location.
A' considerable increase in scope of oper-
ations is now offered, including record,
radio repair, appliance and camera depart:-
ments. Three additional employees have
been added to the ·force and more will
supplement as -the enterprise gets under
way. The subsidiary organization, the Mo-
Kan Amusement Co., which handles the
vending end, is in charge of Pat Moore.
Bill Dunfee, Bill's Amusements, is getting
plenty of Aireons and tables and is having
unusually good luck with Chicago Coin's
Super Scores.
R. E. Gilbert, R. E. Gilbert Amusement
Co., reported the arrival and good place-
ment of Exhibit's Fiesta, WiIliams' Ambers
and Smartys, units of Chicago Coin Co.,
and Bally's Midget Racers.
Harry Silverburg, W-B Music Co., stated
that there would be a showing of the See-
burg line in Wichita January 18, at Spring-
field January 22 and at the grand oj'jening
of the firm's new showroom, on January 25.
He recently made a survey regarding five-
and ten-cent play and the majority of the
operators were in favor of the five-cent
play. Recent visitors were: Howard Ray,
Marshall; 'Harold Oswald, O. K. Sales Co.,
Boonville; J. A. Gregory, J & B Music Co.,
Wichita; C. C.Kemp, Kemp Music Co.,
Warrensburg;. and Henry Schaeffer, United
Music Co., Joplin.
Curtis Driver's Launderette, featuring
Bendix washers, will open about February
15.
Mildred Nelson, United Amusement Co.,
told of J. F. Longaker, Bellomatic Corp.,
Chicago, and K. D. Smith, Coin-O Amuse-
ment Co., St. Joseph, calling at the firm's
offices.
Irwin Weiler, Consolidated Distributing
Co., announced that operators handling the
new Williams' Amber reported a good re-
ception on the part of the public. Also,
Harry Debey, who recently purchased the
West Music Co., Liberal, paid him a profit.
able visit.
Gordon Talmage, Fairway Distributing
Co., has a new service man, Cliff Davis,
who has enjoyed a number of years ex-
perience in the coin machine field. John
Plumb, Topeka Music Co., was a recent
visitor to the firm's headquarters.
L. P. Donohue, Confection Service Co.,
Inc., can buy plenty of ten-cent bar candy
but the demand is weak. Trying to vend
six-cent bars with nickel slots is making it
rough on him. There is a good supply of
unknown bars but making money on them
at a cost of 80c a box, even if they would
move, is lowering Donohue's aspirin supply.
Robert McBee, assistant manager of
Cigarette Service Co., is glad the holidays
are over. Business was bad as usual. And
when the gift cartons of cigarettes are
smoked up, he will be happier.
Bert and Gene Smith have moved the
offices of the Ace Music Co. His Jennings
Teletone studio will still be operated on
Main Street.
•
Marvin Twyman, Broadway Amusement
Co., reported that his boss, F. C. McDowell,
has returned home from the hospital and is
making a good recovery.
Park T. Davis, Dimechine Co., Inc., a
constant reader of 'I:HE REVIEW, telephoned
for tear sheets of, page 61, January issue.
A number of readers commented on the
fact that only in THE REVIEW did they read
a complete account of the news with the
first line of the headline reading: "Govern-
ment Sues."
Telephoned Aireon Mfg. Corp. regarding
the new release that Aireon was in a sea-
sonal shutdown. Excerpt: "Our big shut-
down was November 30," President R. C.