uniTED STILIES
~
,
Philadelphia
~
Coin machine operators in Philadelphia
are still cheerful despite all kinds of legis-
lative headaches being brewed for them at
the state capital, Harrisburg_ They are
still smiling although many claim business
is not what it has been.
They could easily be downcast, for they
have had these legislative ,blows to weather:
a two-cent tax increase on cigarettes; a
one-cent tax increase on bottled soft drinks;
a proposed bill taxing coin machines $10
each; a proposed bill with stiff penalties
for gambling machine operations, with
gambling given an extremely broad defi-
nition.
Already in effect are the taxes on cig-
arettes and soft drinks, It is yet too
early to talk about soft drinks, but the
cigarette machine operators are keeping
their chins up. They report business is hold-
ing up, It is a tribute to the Industry that
its members can take it and keep right
on servicing the public.
Despite pressing Industry problems, local
members have been able to think of the
other· fellow. They have brought favorable
publicity to the entire Industry by their
exceptional response to the charity drive
of the United Jewish AppeaL The industry
became the first to reach its 19Jt7 goal
in the fund-raising campaign, a fine achieve-
ment when it is remembered that last year
it was last to reach its quota.
Credit for this achievement should go
to: Sam Stern, head of Scott-Crosse, who
heads UJA's Coin Machines Division; I.
H. Rothstein, honorary chairman of the
division; Joseph Silverman, business mana-
ger for the Amusement Machines Assn. of
Philadelphia; Jack Sheppard, Joseph Med-
vene, Martin Savar and Michael Glickqlan.
Sam Mickelberg, one of the owners of
Exhibit Sales Co., reports his business of
selling novelties, prizes, sales boards and
the like is doing all right.
Maurice Finkel, who reports some de-
cline in play for music machines on loca-
tions, has gotten a new dividend that
more than makes up for any profit de-
creases. It's a grandson, Freddie, 7-pounds,
born to his daughter Corrinne Medway.
Finkel says he'll be ready to move over
as head of High Point Music Co. to give
his first grandson a place in the business
when the time comes.
Ned Yaffe, secretary-treasurer of Y & Y
Popcorn Supply Co., went on a five-day
fishing trip at Del Marva Peninsula. Loyal
to his business, he took with him popcorn
to eat and use as bait. "If it's good enough
for me, it's good enough for the fish," he
said.
Jackie Fields, who has just taken over
active management of the new Smith and
Fields Distributing Co. here, expects to
do a big public relations job for the music
machine industry. Fields, former world
welterweight champ, has agreed to speak
before the High School Fellowship youth
group, which has in recent years been
addressed by such celebrities as Frank
Sinatra and Kate Smith.
Scott-Crosse reports Strikes 'N' Spares
bowling game about ready for delivery.
They are receiving them by air from
California. Also new at Scott-Crosse are
Mike Chainik, assigned to phonograph
sales in the eastern Pennsylvania area, and
Bob Kline; to sell U-Need-A cigarette ven-
dors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Dela-
ware and Maryland.
Members of the Industry are looking
forward to the next "click tune of the
month" party at Click night club, sponsored
by Music Machine Owners' Assn. of east-
ern Pennsylvania. First one held 'proved
to be a great success, with members of all
phases of the Coin Machine Industry
attending, rubbing elbows and getting bet-
ter acquainted. Jim O'Brien, MMOAEP
manager, William L. King, association
president, and Frank Palumbo, Click owner,
did a fine job on arrangements.
Herman Brandschain
Pittsbur gh
Official opening date in this area for
lI'esort and amusement centers was Me-
morial Day and members of the coin ma-
chine trade said early signs have been
encouraging. Weather interfered with sum-
mer business in resort places here as it
has in other states.
Operators comment on the fact that banks
offer vacation loans on very favorable
terms and they expect this and other facts
to encourage more travel during the sum-
. mer. Official frowns on gaming devices
,will cut the summer business boom for
this type of machine and has also increas-
ed the demand among operators for pin
ball and arcade types of games. Distrib-
utors say they just can't get enough games
. to meet the demand from operators who
want to take advantage of summer loca-
tions.
Louis G. Popkins and his brother, Myel'
F. Popkins, owners of Pittsburgh Coin
Machine Exchange, have been enthusi;1stic
about the demand for games and Louis
recentfy made a trip to Chicago to get
more stock. They recently have started
Jess Morley, an ex-Marine from Somerset
County, into the amusement games busi-
ness.
Business along Coin Machine Row is
beginning to pick up, according to Irwin
A. Silverman, inside man for the Acme
Novelty Co. Silverman has the reputation
of knowing more coinmen than most any-
body else hereabouts, and keeps close tab
on conditions in his line.
One way to counteract the warm weath-
er, which often plays havoc , with the
contents of vending machines that dispense
candy, according to Silverman, is to keep
servicing in smaller quantities and at
more frequent intervals. "While this meth-
od may mean more work for the service
man, it certainly gives more satisfaction
to the customer, who appreciates getting
his candy fresh," he says.
• Acme's Sam Horvitz usually spends the
greater part of his time on the road, and
now that the trend is leaning more than
ever to pin games in this territory, the
firm is leaning over with it. Acme finds
activities in basket and football games are
on the increase, along with music machines.
Plans are progressing toward razing the
old Wabash Terminal, which was ruined
by fire in March, 1946, and business in-
terests along Ferry St. are looking for new
quarters. Joe Ferraro, manager of the Tri-
State Autoniatic Candy Corp., discloses
that he, along with others, may be forced
ON DISPr,JI"ll'!
··"'e~
..
"
Cc/ trtY'
.
e~
,
, /dfJ r
'11
'r
Bowling Come
THE MOS'T SENSATIONAL PROFIT·
MAKER ON THE MAiRKET TO'DA Y.
COME IN FOR A DEMONSTRATION.
SEE IT·! PLAY IT!
Incorporates all the features
of actual bowling, a nd is
scaled down to exact re p-
lica of regulation alley. Two
I O-ce nt coin chutes, one for
first five frames, another
for last five fra mes, making
it possible to get 20 cents
per game.
NEI.S NEI.SON
2329 W. PICO BLVD.
Fitzroy 0545
LOS ANGELES 6, CALIF.
COIN
M ACH IN E
REVI EW
101
FO R
JU LY
1947