\'
Automatic Coin-Changer: The Most
Important Post-War Development
This is Fifth in a Series of Studies
on Coh,-Operated Service ,Devices •
. In much the same manner as slug re-
jectors unhinged the portals leading to
"Big Business" for this Industry, so will
automatic coin-changers write a chapter of
far-reaching magn~tude in Coindom's his-
tory.
The increase in sales volume attainable
through this new device, as indi«ated by test
locations, is little short of phenomenaL Cor-
ley M. Phelps, president of the firm manu-
facturing Coin-O-Matic in Renton, Wash.,
reports that play on pin baIl locations has
, jumped up to 40 per cent since instaIlations
were made.
Coin-changers buIl's-eye one of the softest
spots in customers' sales resisting armor:
quicker, more convenient service; and in
doing so, make coin equipment as easily
accessible and as familiar a by-word as the
telephone and automobile.
Loss of machine sales merely because the
'customer hasn't the right change in his
pocket and doesn't have the time, patience
or inclination to procure it, aggregates
thousands of doIlars daily.
A typical example, repeating itself time
and again in various manifestations, is the
·man who approaches a machine--Iet's say
a cigarette vendor-and after delving in
his purse, comes up with a quarter, dime,
nickel, and pennies. The vendor requires
two dimes or a combination of dimes and
nickels equivalent to 20 cents,
The customer grumbles under his breath
and then looks around for the proprietor,
who is either busy with a prospective
purchaser or occupied with some other
task. The customer growls, "Ah, the heIl
with it," and walks next door to a drug
store where he consummates an over-the-
counter transaction.
_
A national survey of coin-changer ' manu-
facturers reveals the following types of
devices-aIl of them containing slug re-
jectors--on the market.
There are three machines which can
either be . mounted on the waIl or plaqed
on a stand_ These are independent units
dispensing nickels only and no merchan-
dise.
Three firms are turning out built-in de-
vices which dispense merchandise and
change simultaneously.
A newspaper vending and change-making
machine has been invented and patented
by a newspaper agent in Arkansas.
One device, now on the planning boards,
is destined to rcvolu~ionize stamp vending
and is the only one which takes a half
dollar and gives change in all denomina-
tions.
It has been estimated that more than two
billion doIlars a year is exchanged through
trade channels via the nickel route. By
supplying nickels quickly, the independent
unit provides the missing link in the chain
of merchandising and customer service. Its
prime purpose is to build added sales and
greater goodwill. Because there is no
charge' for making change and therefore no
direct revenue from the machin~, the most
practicable method of operation is to lease
or rent to the location at a fixed fee.
One of the independent units now being
marketed is the electrically operated Beacon
Coin Changer, manufactured ·by BeIl
Products Co. of Chicago. It is 12 x 24 x 8
inches, weighs 50 pounds, and has one slot
for dimes and another for quarters. Capac-
ity is $40 in nickels.
Coin·O-Matic, manufactured in Renton,
Wash., is made of heavy cast aluminum
and also has dime and quarter chutes.
The Vendo Co. of Kansas City has had
their Vendo Coin , Changer on the market
for approximately eight months; distribu-
tors in a number of key cities have been
appointed.
"Some models of this unit were on test
location at the North American Bomber
Plant in Kansas City during the war,"
states Alex Izzard, Vendo's director of
advertising, "and it was at this time that
we: realized the value of the coin changer
as a means of stimulating vending machine
Both dime and quarter chutes of the
Beacon Coin Changer are receiving a work-
out from customers of the Merchandise
Mart, Chicago.
sales. Because this unit has been developed
over a period of some six years, virtuaIly
no difficulty has been encountered since
their placement for use by the public."
Vendo's product contains a single coin
slot which accepts both dimes and quarters
and dispenses 400 nickels without requiring
a refill. It is 15Y2 inches taIl·and 11 ~ wide.
Locations where individual type coin-
changers have been instaIled include de-
partment stores, drug stores, filling stations,
hotels, theatres, bowling aIleys, restaurants,
taverns, cigar stands, offices, factories, hos-
pitals, and golf courses.
The "Big Three" in built-in changers
are: Johnson Fare Box Co., Chicago;
A.B.T. Mfg. Corp., Chicago; National Slug
Rejectors, Inc., St. LOuis.
AIl three changers are compact, simple
in design, easily instaIled, dispense change
and me!chandise in one operation, load
automatIcally, and embody anti-jackpotting
fea lUres which guarantees correct change
and
overpayment.
Box started their
OPERATOR'S FRIEND
011.
THAT REALLY LUBRICATES
Can't 9um. Especially for Coin Ma.
chines. A few drops will save many
service calls.
1 OZ. BOTTLE 49c
This photograph, taken during'the Demo-
cratic National Convention at the Chicago
Stadium, July 19, 1944, shows Jim Farley,
former Postmaster General, inserting a coin
in a beverage dispenser equipped with a
built-in Harris Automatic Coin Changer.
-SEE-
PAUL A. LAYMON
DISTRIBUTOR
1503 West Plco
OPE RAT
0 R S! Since we insure hundreds of your present and prospective loca-
tions as Insurance Supervisors for the Southern California Tavern Associati n, is it not
"
fjood business for you to insure with us?
Ask the Operators Who Df? So!
Zeigler Insurance Agency I ·Inc.
54J S. Spring St., MIchigan 096'
Spec:1allsts--Co/n Machine Industry
Los Angeles U, CalH.
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
15
Foa
JANUARY
1947