Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Issue: 1949 July

NOW! Enlarged Bulk
Vending Dept.
To Better Serve Vending Operators
Featuring
l1cI'tAl41eJtel'''
FINEST QUALITY CONF,E CTIONS
AT LOWEST PRICES
Pr ompt AH ent lon to All Mall Orders
Minimum Order Shlpped-25 pounds
Almonds (Teeny ) Vae uum Pac:ked-5 lb . Tins, 600 ct ............... 80c lb .
Almonds, Vacuum Packecl--5 lb. Tins , 400 ct ........................... 65c lb .
. .
:::'t!~·t.;;:~~::,an';(B:~:j.~ ~~~ ~~~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~: :~:
Parch.d Corn (Cornnuts)-Delicious ............................................
Pistachio Nuh-Red ........................................................ 65c and
Rainbow Mix (Candy coated Peanuts ) ........................................
5panlslt--New crop, salted-GOOD ..............................................
Gum-Regular Ball Gum , 125 count ..............................................
Gum-Bubbl. Base, 125 count ........................................................
..
23c
88c
25c
24c
35c
27c
lb .
lb.
lb .
lb .
lb .
lb .
~c:.~mn~~~~~ ~~~.~!~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~~ :~:
Pine Nuts (Pinions) .......................................................................... 43c lb.
Also Complete Selection Charms-Parts and Supplies
BADGER SALES co.!!
their own. With less people patronizIng
bars, taverns and restaurants, and with less
spending money and reduced industrial
employment, how can the coin machines in
these locations receive more than below·
normal play?
Music has been unsteady. One week
gross goes up; the next week it comes
down. But the smart music operator who
selects and merchandises his records care-
fully, keeps service costs down, and isn't
afraid to pull equipment out of spots losing
money, is still very much in the black.
While exceptional shuffleboard locations
are still grossing $70 and $80 per week,
the average is running around $30, which
still leaves margin for a profitable opera-
tion.
Cigarettes, candy, popcorn and beverage
machines are getting only fair play, and
while scales are below last year's figure on
a comparative basis, they are doing well
when present business trends are consid-
ered.
San Francisco
Bright rays of light in the Bay Area's
business picture are being beamed by bulk
machines, ice cream, scales, and shuffle-
board. While the latter has dropped to
an average $20 weekly net, this is con-
sidered excellent in view of the sparsely
populated bars and taverns.
The televising of all Coast League ball
games has made itself felt in music take,
which has not recovered from the low
point reached in May. Labor unrest, in-
dustrial layoffs, and generally poor busi-
ness conditions have hurt cigarette, candy
bar, coffee and soft drink machines.
Sf. Z.ouis
Shuffleboard sales continued to shine as
the bright new star on the coin machine
horizon in the St. Louis area, and many
operators, who are fortunate enough to
have locations alongside shuffleboard tables,
report a sharp pickup in collections. Typi-
cal operators have found that pin games,
phonographs and even vendors are profit-
ing sharply throullh drawing the attention
of shuffleboard devotees waiting their turn
at the boards.
The Missouri Amusement Machine Assn.
held a "quiet meeting" during the month,
during which little new business was
JULY, J949
Model "49"
With
Tr ansfer Refill Feature
Now You Can Cut Vendor Servicing
Time and Costs in HALF-Boost Profits
to New Highs!
$17.55 Sample
Write for Quantity Discount
Other Popular Northwestern Vendors
$10.35 and up
In~.
2251 W. 'ICO BLVD.
LOS ANGELES 6, CALI F.
brought up. The reduction in new equip-
ment prices has been encouraging, and a
letter of thanks to agents helpful in bring-
ing down new machine costs has been sent
out. Plans for the annual summer outing
are in the making, according to veteran
executive Abe Jeffers.
Vending route operators report the usual
hot weather slump in candy sales, a bit
more serious for 1949 due to the exces-
sively early hot weather in May. Most
operators are removing machines not in
air conditioned spots, although a large
percentage report they will leave vending
equipment in place with candy bars suited
to the season.
Tobacco vendors report cigarette sales
holding their own, despite a price war
among chain stores in the suburban dis-
tricts which has brought cigarettes down
to 14 cents per pack in most instances.
There is a general trend toward use of
electrically operated equipment, and many
location owners are insisting upon them.
Another gratifying influence which is
stilling the plaints of operators over low
collections is the rise of packaged air con-
ditioning through St. Louis. Taverns, con-
fectioneries, smoke shops, billiard parlors,
retail stores, etc., are busily installing five
and ten ton cooling systems, to maintain
play or sales volume during the "dog days."
New pin games are being tested over
the routes, with Williams' products notice-
*
able in many locations. While shuffleboard
has caused a slight setback in most terri-
tories, the trend toward economy in en-
tertainment is causing many workers to
amuse themselves with pin ball time, rather
than expensive movies or an evening at the
tavern.
The St. Louis Shuffleboard Assn., com-
posed of distributors and operators, will
soon announce plans for tournaments, and
"student" promotion, designed to acquaint
more people with the sport. All plans are
in a formative phase, however, according
to Tom Collins, of Universal Distributing
Co.
Operators report that cola and orange
drink dispensing machines are showing ex-
cellent results. It was pointed out that a
machine, which would give the public
their choice of flavors, would be an ex-
cellent innovation in the field. The cola
drinks, as well as the orange drink, sell
at 5c per paper cupful.
The Table Shuffleboard Assn. held its
first conference in St. Louis the latter part
of June. In addition to setting up a stand-
ard set of rules, forming of men and women
teams, both singles and doubles, the pro-
motion of the sport as a national recrea-
tion, and other subjects was taken up at
the national conference meeting. Operators,
distributors, manufacturers and location
owners attended the meeting.
Robert A. Latimer
Only
~ till' BALL GUM
*
has the exclusive "SEEL-TITE" polish which seals in lite
color, flavor, and chew against heat, cold and dampness
longer than any ball gum ever made!
Get on our mailing list for free bulletins.
U. S. CHEWING GUM MFG. CO.
365 Fifth Street
1. H. Strickler
Oakland 7, Calif.
31
:1'1.11" 1'1 SliFE!
Why je opard ize your bulk vend ing sales with over-size, inferior almonds?
INSIST ON STANDARD'S VEND·SIZE ALMONDS •• _
VACUUM PACKED IN THE ALMOND BOWL OF AMERICA!
STANDARD ALMONDS, Fre nch-fri ed in pure cocoanut oil, and processed according
to ve nding machine specifications, are clog-proof, a s we ll a s be ing th e fin est
qua lity almond on the market today.
PRICED FOR OPERATOR'S PROFIT
65 ¢
lb. F. O. B. Oakland in 5·lb. Tins
Free Samples on Request
STANDARD SPECIALTY CO.
3021 • 38th AVE.
ANdover 1·9037
Spokane
Business in this great Inland Empire
seems in general to be normal for this
time of year. Tourist trade will undoubtedly
add up a greater score this year on ac-
count of more stable weather conditions.
Last year's business suffered tremendously
due to the nation-wide publicity given the
floods that plagued the Northwest.
Pin balls will apparently remain in the
city until voted out at some future election.
Judge W. Lon Johnson, of Colville, ruled
the injunction restraining the ci ty from
ousting pin balls should remain in effect
until an election is held on the referendum
on the ordinance of March 29, 1949, ban-
ning the machines.
The fireworks all started when the City
('ouncil decided to put the question as to
whether slots should mn in clubs and pin
baIls in other public places, to a vote in
the last municipal election, a lthough it
was too late to certify it legally. T he out-
come was that the slots won and pin balls
lost. Pin ball interests immediately fell
back on the city charter which granted
them a legal right to pro test the ordinance
which was drawn up against them foIlow-
ing the advisory election re ults.
Sufficient names were obtained on a
referendum petition to stop the ordinance
f rom becoming law, it was thought_ But,
owing to pressure put on the council by
reform groups, the council ordered them to
be out by May 22, which forced pin ball
operators to take it to court, with the
outcome stated above. A new Commissioner
took office immediately following the court
decision, but no new Aare-up is antici-
pa ted.
The judge who tried the case was brought
in from one of the northern counties. After
OAKLAND 19, CALIF.
hearing the judge denounce almost all
parties concerned for their slip-shod meth-
ods used in the case all the way through,
it is generally believed tha t no further
action will be tried and that the whole
matter will be presented at the next munici-
pal election to be held in 1951, provided
no special election is caIled on some other
issue.
Music operators report normal business,
with an increase expected as the summer
fades into fall.
A few amusement games make th eir
showing in taverns alon gside th e old money-
making stand-by, the pin-table.
Shuffleboards are going like mad, due
to the extra attention given them during
the pin ball fight. Many operators, as well
as business owners, had turned to shuffle-
board as a possible alternative, thereby
giving the game a firm foundation which
will carry it a long way in the fu ture.
One parlor has been opened and others
will probably crop up very soon. Small
neighborhood tournaments are being or-
ganized and large posters used to adv~ rtise
the presence of the game.
Many new beverage vendors are Leinl!;
placed in this territory and a much warmer
season is anticipated which will justify
their presence.
Cigarette vendor operators are still in
the dark as to the legality of the bonus
law which would boost the price of to-
bacco ten per cent. A test action in su-
perior court re ulted in a decision against
its constitutionality. Further action wilJ
take it to the State Supreme Court.
W . L. Ferrall
Twin Cities
By now summer is well under way and
a record to uri t sea~on is indicated for
Minnesota and the Dakotas, wi th operators
continuing op timism for J uly and August.
June got off to a fas t start, following
Memorial day holidays, with thousands of
fishermen packing most resort areas and
providing a record business. Meanwhile,
business in the cities, naturally tapered off
a bit.
Resort operators have increased their
coin machines tremendously over a year
ago a nd many spots are adding new pi n
balls and sh uffleboards rapidly. Ma ny oper-
a tors are just getting on the board band-
wagon after discovering the merits of the
craze.
Sales of used music equipmen t seem
to be indicating a trend towards fair
equipment at less cost, and maybe a straw
in the wind, with many operators balking
at new equipment which offers no radical
improvements. Hy Greenstein, of Hy-G
Music, reports business i leveling off here,
although one-balls get good play and th e
fishing season brings in heavy takes.
Biggest problem facing venders is the
recent hike in cigarette taxes which has
them in a squeeze play. The boost from
3 to 4 cents finds many operators passing
tax on to consumer, while some are attemp t-
ing to absorb it. Retail price is now 21
cents but many machines are still vending
them at 20 cents, as a number of distribu-
tors refuse to penny-pack, deeming it too
expensive an operation.
Many locations are balking as operators
cut out profits to location. A number are
discontinuing the machines. Locations are
swamping distributors, seekinl!; to make
independent purchases, but so far most
"GREATEST ADVANCEMENT
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COIN CHUTES -
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TOTALIZERS
AUTOMATIC ELEC. MFC. CO.
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Timing Meters - Program Timers
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Specialists in Electrical Timing
314 Omar Ave., Los Angeles 13 • MUtual 9135
WlRE,PHONE Ot WtlTf
FOt COMPLETE
DETAILS
IN SAN FRANCISCO: THE BALLARD CO.
407 Sansome St., SUtter 1·1988
THE NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
' H (ASf
32
A • .,STROMG
ST

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COIN MACHINE REVIEW

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