Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Issue: 1947 September

l

drink vendors. Philadelphia music
operators are trying for a good pub-
licity story in Life.
RECORDS. 'The authoritative Printers'
Ink said recently that the public is
beginning to complain about poor quality
of records, discs warping easily, high
prices of albums, etc. Recently, record
SEPTEMBER TURNING. Habit has fixed
it so that we all expect a turning,
retailers in New Jersey appealed to
preferably a business pick-up, after
manufacturers to limit retail outlets
in future since state already has too
Labor Day. This is the normal course in
normal years, and this year it will be
many dealers. After declines in April
just another proof that times are get-
and May, probable record output for
ting back to normal. A general lookout
1947 was revised downward from 400,000
for business signs has been kept this
to 300,000. The best guess at what 1947
year throughout the country. All seem
output may be still stood at 300,000 in
to agree that general business and em-
mid-summer. Entny of Rudolph Wurlitzer
ployment are at high levels and, if
into record manufacturing for their
there is danger, it is inflation danger. retail stores attracted attention among
phono operators.
High cost of living will be a big cam-
paign issue next year, if it continues
COIN WASHERS. Coin-operated washing
at high level.
machines seemed to get more publicity
recently than other machines; some of
BACK TO NORMAL. The Coin Machine
the washer publicity was unfavorable
Industry seemed to be getting back to
but this seems to be passing over. The
normal, perhaps faster than the country
washers also got some excellent pub-
itself. Trade news was generally very
licity, especially in the financial
quiet during the summer and manufac-
papers. The move of the "opposition"
turers and distributors used the word,
against washers on sanitary grounds may
"Slow," in describing business, just -
. cause trouble at intervals, as part of
l 'i ke in the old days. Trade reports
a planned program. Operators of the
from various cities read more like the
coin laundries will need to give spe-
normal days before the war; some ma-
chines have dropped in play while others cial heed to sanitary regulations.
NEW MACHINES. Theoretically, new
have shown increases. Missing in all
machine announcements would slow down
the reports are the old complaints of
cut-throat competition. Times won't be
fully normal till that all comes back.
The Industry is a lot bigger now than
before the war and that is something
new to consider in analyzing trade
reports.
CUP VENDORS. The type of machine
that seemed to take the lead in prog-
ress made during the summer was the cup
type of soft drink dispenser. Bottle
types are standard and were being
placed over the country as fast as the
f!7k~;....;:;;.:::;.
factories could produce them. Cup ma-
chines are newer and their progress was
speeded up this summer by announcement
of new machines by important manufac-
(' ~ Plastic Head!
turers. The new machines add much to
the outlook for this type of machine,
Streamlined Design!
and by next summer production should
('
New Appeal!
be high enough to see them placed
widely over the country. The march of
the cup vendors was aided by machines
for dispensing coffee and juices, also
using paper cups.
PUBLICITY. Summer quietness also
seemed to settle on the publicity given
to the trade in the press. Radio men-
California
tions kept up a good ratio·, but press
California Operators:
mentions seemed to drop off or else I
Distributors:
Get Your
missed them. Radio News, August issue,
CHALLENGER now!
page 56, had an interesting article on
coin radios. Hotels ; tourist cabins and
The NICKABOB COMPANY
hospitals said to bA best locations of
2525 West Pico Boulevard
some 60,000 coin sets in use. National
Bottlers Gazette reportedly will soon
Los Angeles 6 !Phone: FAirfax 1107). Calif.
issue a group of five articles on soft
BUl[Sm#t~
CHALLENG
r
@ . .
COIH
MACHIHE
REVIEW
13
FOR
SEPTEMBER
7947
during the summer. But there was appar-
ent activity in the games field to get
some new ones into the field, ready for
the expected fall pick-up in September.
During a ~our-week period right in mid-
summer there were a half dozen new pin-
ball names before the trade. This is
good news for it means the amusement
games field is not stagnating. The
engineering departments of manufactur-
ing plants are very busy; if eventsfol-
low their usual course, there will be a
lot of new machine announcements dur-
ing September and October. Although
some important new vendors were an-
nounced during the summer, some others
are still delayed due to. difficulties
in getting materials.
LOCATIONS. Official reports began to
show traffic declines in some of the
most popular .types. of locations early in
the summer. The locations listed in the
decline early in the summer were restau-
r ant s , taverns, drug stores and cigar
stores. Government reports are practi-
cally two months late, so current infor-
mation is not available. Some Sources
indicated tourist travel boosted traffic
in the above locations considerably dur-
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
14
ing the summer. The rate at which the
establishments are being opened up has
declined this year also, so that the
total number of possible locations for
coin machines may now become pretty well
fixed. A total increase of 25 per · cent
had been anticipated in retail estab-
lishments in two or three years after
the war's end.
SMALLER TOWNS. Two trends now current
are said to assure a higher business
level in the smaller cities and towns in
the future. For the smaller cities in
farm areas, everybody is well aware that
farm income is at top and seems likely
to stay high for another year or so. Big
business has taken note ,·of this and says
the place to go is inti~'l he smaller
cities for trade. Mayb-ethe coin machine
trade can follow this tiend. Also, the
New York Journal of Commerce says sur-
veys have shown conclusively that big
industries are a lrea dy decentralizing
and will seek the sma l l e r centers in
the future.
OUTLOOK. Experts agree that the out-
look for business during the rest of the
year is very favorable. The Coin Machine
Industry has the same bright outlook
for the balanc e of 1947.
Count on
FOR
SEPTEMBER
BALLY
'947
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PAUL'
A.
LAYMON~
Inc.
Dist.ri b utors for Bally · in Southern Ca lifo rnia , Southern Nevada , A rizona a nd Hawaiia n Island s
1429.31 and 1503 West Pic:o Blvd.
PRospec:t7351
Los Angeles 15. California

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