found this level and will not over-produce
in the future_
In the last three years much has been
said about the break-even point for busi-
ness, but that is quite different from the
leveling off point which the coin machine
trade probably has found . The levelin g off
point means a level of business that can
be carried on under present conditions at
a profit. The break-even point would put
business at such a low level that profits
might disappear at any tim e.
.
Distr ibutors still seem to be hardest hit
in tryin g to fi nd the leveling off point, but
distributor lines now seem to be holding
better " than a t any time since the end of
the war and territorial arrangements are
bein g observed with a remarkable degree
of fairness. Curtailm ent of credit has re-
duced sales for distributors probably more
than any other sin gle fa ctor and any im-
provement in this fi eld seems to be a matter
of slow impr ovement in business conditions
as a whole.
The big majority of operators, in all
branches, seem to have a djusted themselves
well to th e new times which, in most cases
has meant cuttin g expenses on every corner
and also doing as much of their route work
as possible themselves. Many reports show
that operators are improving their credit
standin g and also giving more systemati c
attention to purchase of new machin es.
Reports on the vending machine trade prob-
ably show that operators in this fi eld are
buying a smaller ratio of new machines
than in other fi elds.
Better profit margins on cigarettes are
helping in this type of vendor but other
typ es of vendors have been caught in a
general sales decline that has hit soft
drinks, ice cream and even candy. Some
candy operators report they have been able
to increase candy bar sales by machine,
even though, the candy industry has been
showing declines as a whole. Some manu-
fac turers report that sales of bulk vendors
a re off, with the probability that bulk op-
Th ese len old ladies. who look like they' re no t strong eno u gh to pi ck up a sh umeboard
weight, are th e s e nsation 01 Ken M urr a y's Blackouts , a Hollyw ood h it for seven yea rs.
Th e Elderlovelies go in lor s hume boar d i n a b i g w a y- not a s a n " o ld ladie s sport" bu t as
a means 01 relax ation tr om a ji v e ro u tin e on th e stage which woul d m ake many a y o un g er
group gasp fro m sh e er e xe rtion.
The E1derlovelie s. age d 65 to 75. a re comprised 01: Mabel Bu tte r w orth. Perle Kinkaid. Tu li a
~:li4-~br;;t~:t~,oon e . Rose D e Haven. Sally H ale. l van e tte G a rdner. Ethel Getty . Su e Kelton .
This picture w a s snapped a t th e Hollywood Knickerbocker H o tel wher e th e Eld e rlovelies
were sh uming on the del ux e Olympic board .
era tors are adjusting themselves to changes
in the business picture in the second half
of 1948.
Operators count on the months of th e
second quarter as a period in which almost
every line shows gains best ascribed to the
stimul ation of a spring revival. Signs of
slow improvement appeared in March and
hence is expected to continue through the
second quarter. Operators describe the gains
as slower than usual but definitely under
way. But operators see signs of a decline in
many lines of business and so they pl{ln
on cutting costs with more vi gor.
In the amusement games busin ess much
still depends on territory. One manufac-
turer of pin ball reports that sales for some
months have been little more than half the
HONE BETTER!
rate of th e firs t half of 1948. But games
manufacturers are not downhearted and all
say it is a matter of territory, a thin g that
might turn favorably at any time.
Shuffieboard still continues to make good
gains and to add a new optimism to the
amusement sections of the trad e. Even mu·
sic operators are finding shuffieboard more
to their favor and they gain by its spread.
Shuffieboard is also giving the trade some-
thing to promote, and th at pays good reo
turn s for good promotional wor k.
Manufacturers say the one thing needed
now, at the leveling off point, is something
that can be promoted with zeal and that
will pay off for such effort.
Heinle loins Advance
SAN FRANCI SCO- Ed Heinle, who has
had 15 years of experience in the trade, has
joined Advance Automatic Sales Co.
In makin g the announcement, Lou Wol-
cher, owner of the company, said : "I am
h appy to h ave Ed H einJe join the. team,
comprised of J. D. Cox, Fred Neumann and
Jimmi e Craven , to make it the West's fin-
est distribu ting organization."
Mr. Employer:
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• "Slick" Shuffleboard Powdered Wax
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• "Slick" Liquid Shuffleboard Polishing -Wax ' &
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\ ~~~~
__ liiii"'--;: Territories
• Open! Write for Price
THE
"Slick" Shuffleboard Weights
SLICK
SHINE
List.
CO.
Established 1901
215 ASTOR STREET
8,
NEWARK 5 , N . J .
Why do you not give your em-
ployees the consideration they de-
ser ve, since it costs you nothing?
The 1 % State Unemployment deduction
that you take from their .. Iaries and
lend to t he State does not buy them
as much unemp loyment D isability Bene-
6t as you can obtain by purchasi.,. a
regular insurllllce plan with a Private
IllSurance Carrier.
This is not sales talk, but a fact-since
the law p rovides that no private in.ur·
ance company plan complies with the
law un less it gives belt",. {wotectio .. than
the state III the .lIme cost.
The Association and Group IllSurance
Bureau will gladly assist YOU to make
the cha .. ge over without charge by tele-
p honing them or dropping them a note
at
. ZEIGLER INS. AGENCY, Inc.
541 South Spring Street
Los An9e1. s, CaIH.
MIchIgan 0961
ALL INSURANCE and BOND LINES
COIN MACHINE REVIEW