distributors have refused, realizing they
are "on the spot." LeRoy Johnson, of Can-
teen Sales, says the tax is discriminatory
and it is likely its constitutionality will be
challenged_ Already a number of manufac-
turers have threatened to move and few
are moving from Twin Ci ties due to un-
favorable taxation picture.
After the convention, sales took a notice-
able spurt in this territory, particularly
from outstate operators covering tbe resort
areas. Interest is perking up on arcade
equipment, with many resort adding this
equipment and building arcades around
shuffleboard and tournaments.
Shuffleboard is leveling off here, with
around 600 boards located in area so far,
getting average $25-$50 weekly grosses, a
few spots as high as $100. More than 50
operators are handling the board now,
after a slow start six months ago. Many
are just discovering the game, indicating
there's still a selling job to be done by
some manufacturers and distributors.
Delivery difficulties are easing up now,
with better flow from manufacturer, job-
bers report. Shuffleboard parlor craze as
yet has not taken firm hold here. Only one
has started in Minneapolis, and it ha
ping pong and pin balls to support boards.
The city is planning to install a number
of the boards in its park pavilions, in
which case the game will get a big boost
locally.
Twin City arcades are now spotlighting
the boards over other equipment. Rifle
Sport, Playland and Capitol Tavern, to
name a few spots. One operator in Minne-
apolis has 45 boards out and another 12
in St. Paul. Best spots seem to be the beer
taverns.
Very little promotion as yet here on the
game. No large scale tournaments spotted.
One St. Paul location advertised the games
when it opened, but that's extent of public
print publicity. Seems Minnesota publica-
tions shy away from anything coin operated
due to the Governor's anti-gambling pro-
gram which has affected allied games.
Shuffleboards got a $5 license fee slapped
on them in St. Paul June 1, if other equip-
ment in location. If boards are first coin
equipment, th en spot pays $50 initial fee
and $5 each additional board.
It was reported that in Minneapolis the
town fathers dug up an ordinance passed
in 1893 which showed the city had licensed
a shuffleboard of some type 56 years ago.
So perhaps the city isn't so far behind
after all. License in Minneapolis is $34
per board. So much for shuffleboard.
Interest is slowly increasing on coin TV,
with Jack Karter's Midwest Coin pushing
Trans-Vue units and reporting them going
well in St. Paul area. Arcade guns are
moving now and other similar equipment
picked up by end of May.
Tom Crosby, president of Minnesota
Amusement Games Assn., Faribault, has
been heading a drive in his town to build
a new high school. Demonstrating what
good industry "grass roots" public rela tions
can do. Crosby has been aiding Catholic
sisters in raising $250,000 for the 650-
student building. He formed a community
citizens committee which raised 126,000
in two weeks.
Mercury Records Distributors here 10 t
60,000 records, a blow to operators, in a
40,000 fire in May. American Sales Ser-
vice, juke distributors in same building,
lost seven machines in the blaze. Henry
Sabes operated the record firm.
In Duluth, a district judge ordered po-
lice not to intervene in operations of Holly-
cranes after Mike Atol, Zenith Sales, asked
for an injunction to prevent interference
by police with the devices. Atol said the
prizes were legal and had been declared so
by the State's Attorney-General. Police dif-
fered, said they viola ted state gambling
laws.
N. F. Wood
Washington, D. C.
Business conditions in Washington have
been holding up well. For the first fiye
months of the year, general retail business
wa up about 3 per cent from the same
period last year. Budget cuts are in store
for most of the Federal agencies, however,
and a lot of workers are going to get the
ax. Coun terbalancing this, however, work-
ers from the D. C. Government are goin/!:
to get a 330 wage boost as a result of
the passage of the sales tax, which will
put the city budget in the black for the
first time in years. Reports on unemploy-
ment rises put out by Federal statisticians
have pointed out that local employment
conditions are excellent compared to many
sections of the country.
Hot weather is finally moving in after
an unusually cool spring, and beverage
vendors are profiting. Multiple drink ma-
chines are springing up all around town,
and several cafeterias have installed them.
Most candy operators have swi tched away
from sticky candies and stocked their ma-
chines with harder varieties. A number have
changed over to cookies and cakes. The
outdoor season is not yet in full swing,
but venders have already installed machines
in such locations as golf cour es, amuse-
ment parks, archery ranges, and the like.
Pin ball games are not doing as well as
hoped for, but nobody seems to be losing
money on them. With the exception of
pistol ranges, other amusement games are
doing poorly. Pop corn sales are holding
up as well as can be expected, with neigh-
borhood movies not yet having generally
turned on their air-cooling. Phono grosses
are about as usual, but Hirsh de La Viez,
president of the Washington Music Guild,
is cooking up a big public relations stunt
for the fall, which should spur the flow of
nickels.
Roy S. Ramsey
Pepsi Stockholders Hear
About Declining Business
WILMINGTON, Del.-Sidelight on soft
drink brand sales was shown at the annual
stockhold ers' meeting of Pepsi-Cola Co.
here recently. Walter S. Mack, who has
been making speeches to the bottling trade
in many states on vendors, as president told
stockholders that the firm's sales in the
U. S. were down about 15 per cent while
foreign sales have increased.
He explained that 8-ounce bottle of Pep-
si, to sell for five cents, is still experimental
and that home sales are chiefly on the old
12-ounce size. Stockholders raised ques-
tions about the hiring this year of an ex-
Coca-Cola sales manager at 85,000 a year.
ALL THE
PROI'IT
rliCTS
POINT
to the
Height
45"
Base
23" x 12"
FACT NO.1
Operators are earning 100 % to
600 % Profit.
FACT NO.2
With our liberal financing terms
and small down payment, you
can pay for the Aristocrat out
of earnings]
FACT NO.3
The Ideal Aristocrat is the only
small scale with jump-proof
mechanism-a patented device
preventing free weights.
FACT NO.4
Aristocrat is constructed of
sturdy cast iron - finished in
acid-proof porcelain.
FACT NO.5
Every Aristocrat carries a five-
year guarantee and approval
of the Dept. of Weights and
Measures.
Get Full Details Today!
Ideal Weighing
Machine Co.
1012 W. 43rd St.
Los Angeles 37. Calif.
JULY, 1949
33