slightly and the labor situation is spotty
ing with the idea of opening a shuffleboard
parlor.
and unpredictable.
-George Keith
Beverage venders report receipts slightly
off, but normal for the kind of weather,
with business better because of Lent, as
fasting does not include abstinence from
Business in general has been about aver-
soft drinks. Industrial lay-offs had their ef-
fect on the picture, too.
age, with the nicer weather bringing out
more of the hibernators who are not seen
Quarter figures, while not highly encour-
aging, still compare favorably with the from the time winter sets in until spring
arrives again. From all appearances, it looks
General coin machine business passed the
same period last year, and stand up well in
first quarter of the year at a stand-still.
comparison with the general business posi- like it should be a good year for travel,
as many of the new '49 cars are making
Receipts have been fairly good generally for
tion.
their debut among local motorists. The
the first three months, but not up to ex-
The unemployment figures were cush-
price is far from low, too, so there still is
pectations in many cases. As March ended, - ioned somewhat for milk venders by an-
some money around. This should be good
the effects of Lent tended to keep things
other price decline of one cent a quart,
news to arcade operators as the summer
about on an even keel with the month
with further drops imminent. This tended
wears on toward fall.
before.
to make . the quarter comparably good.
Throughout the Buckeye State, legisla-
One authority estimated that automatic
Candy was inclined to level off, so that
tion on coin-operated devic s has been ex-
phonograph receipts were about equal to
business was only as good as last month.
ceptionally heavy during recent weeks. The
last month. For the quarter he believes
Lent made its influence felt here, too. The
business was off approximately 25 per cent.
quarter was a little better than last year ' Industry appears to be bearing the brunt
of many narrow·minded and mercenary cru-
He blames this mostly on economic condi-
because of more favorable prices and sup-
saders' attacks. This has taken place in
tions generally.
plies, but the volume was off for the three
several Ohio cities.
A well-qualified distributor takes this po-
months.
An ordinance providing for taxing of coin-
sition: "We have had our recession. We
Cigarette sales increased slightly from
operated amusement devices was passed by
are better off now than most industries.
last month, the upswing being gradual, as
Cuyahoga Falls council. This ordinance also
There is nothing alarming in the situation.
expected, until it reaches the full swing of
provides for taxing music devices, such as
It will get better, or at least, not worse
the open-air months. The quarter was not
"juke boxes, and individual layouts for
from here out." He also stated he thinks
quite as good as last year, but in relation
operators are mostly expecting too much,
public amusement, such as shuffleboard."
to the general economic picture it was very
Operators of these devices must pay a $25
and thinks they should forget the lush war
satisfactory. No decided drop in smoking
annual fee for each device. Violators of the
days, and view things with lowered sights.
is looked for here. Raleighs continued to
make strong gains because of the coupons, ordinance may be fined not less than' $10
The six-for-two-bits machines are doing
nor more than $49 for each separate of-
but not at the expense of the leaders. The
wonderfully well, it is reported. The con.
quarter finds the line up thus: Lucky Strike, fense, according to terms of the new bill.
sensus is that the threatened legislation of
Camels and Chesterfields, with Philip Mor-
a $75 tax on every box will not pass, though
Akron's phonograph and pin ball opera-
ris in close pursuit, particularly in the last
there is nothing concrete on which to base
tors called in vain on Mayor Slusser of that
quarter.
ci ty to veto an ordinance Council passed to
this hope.
Pop corn did only as good as last month.
collect a 3 per cent amusement tax on their
Games are believed to be in better shape
The failure to gain is possibly due to drop
machines. The Mayor refused to sign the
than music, being only around 15 per cent
in theater attendance and to Lent. The
ordinance, saying that "it would be hard to
off on the quarter, with a slight gain this
quarter was good, but affected by unseason-
enforce it and little help to city finances."
month over last. Greater Cincinnati in-
ably warm weather and money conditions: He said he wouldn't veto the ordinance,
stalled 2061 new video sets in the past
Chewing gum reports a steady quarter,
"because, if it's Council's attempt to get
month, for a total of 17,079 for the area.
with hardly any perceptible change from
more money, it's all right with me but I
About 10 per cent of these are in public
month to month. The same must- be said of want it understood that it's council's plan
places, and it is still anybody's guess how
nuts of all kinds.
and not mine."
much the coin machine business is affected
by the pictures.
Ilis statement came as owners of the coin-
Popular records are reported in a slump,
and for the first time in many months, folk
operated devices started a full-scale cam-
Shuffleboards have made amazing gains
paign for repeal 'of the ordinance taxing
and race tunes failed to show expected in-
in the past quarter. It is. estimated, un-
creases. The quarter business was nothing
their gross take.
officially, that there are now between 2000
like it should have been, It is reported, with
and 3000 boards in operation in the area.
The operators would rather have a flat
the pops running third in demand.
They continue to do increasingly heavy
rate licensing measure, as long as the ma-
business, and installations are going on
chines are to be a source of revenue to
Scale business for the month and for the
apace. It must be reported, however, that
Akron. Joe Elfant, president of the Summit
quarter was firm, and just about met antici-
only a small percentage of these games are
COUlity Music Operators, Inc., said the asso-
pations.
coin-operated. At least one operator ~s toy-
ciation is preparing a new ordinance and
Unemployment figures are reported down
by increased actIVI ty in making merchan-
disers to sell the product.
Bulk vendor reports agree with reports
from many other centers, that the pickup
has been less than normal. Operators are
not expanding routes under present condi-
tions.
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COIN MACHINE REVIEW