Classic Mode

Coin Slot

Issue: 1975 April 008

Page 3 Text:

Coin Slot Magazine - #008 - 1975 - April [International Arcade Museum]
j THE COIN SLOT
APRIL/MAY
1975 |
INTRODUCTION, AND CREDO
This is the first issue of the New, Super, Improved '75 (or any of the
other expletives so often used by the Coin Machine Industry) THE COIN
SLOT. It looks different because it has changed. Not the basic concept,
mind you — but in execution. After a harried year of creating and pro
ducing the first "Fanzine" in a field that had long needed one, Les Druyan
and his strong right hand Edith Druyan, faced the fact that they had to
lfbite the nickel". They had filled an enormous void with the creation of
THE COIN SLOT, but they had also created a monster. Les and Edith
are both very busy people, and soon found that THE COIN SLOT was
creeping into their lives to such a degree that they felt they could not
continue to do justice to a property that had so overwhelmingly been
accepted.
It takes a lot of time and energy — and a lot of your own money — to pub
lish a Fanzine for a field that needs the care and attention of someone who
is really interested in what is published, and wants to be sure that a ser
vice is offered to readers. The Druyan's, rightly, decided that THE COIN
SLOT was a responsibility, and should be dedicated to the coin-operated
machine enthusiast without stint. They knew that they could not continue
to provide this effort, and reluctantly came to the conclusion that they
should transfer the publication to someone who could.
They found me I
My name is John W. Caler, and my business is John W. Caler Publica
tions Corporation, a publisher of technical books and publications, loca
ted in Sun Valley, California. I found Les Druyan the same way most of
you did — by reading one of his advertisements in the antique and trading
publications. I, too, felt as many of the readers of THE COIN SLOT did;
"thank goodness, somebody is at last putting out a publication that exac
tly matches my interests". At that time I had no idea that I might some
day inherit the responsibility of the publication. Now that I have, and am
learning how much effort and dedication the Druyan's brought to the field,
I want to thank them for myself, and"for all coin slot collectors and enthu
siasts, for their pioneering work.
I would like to tell you some of my plans for the new THE COIN SLOT.
Frankly, they're not my plans... • they're yours. The field of coin-opera
ted machines is so broad, and so new (we are just now coming up with the
historians and catalogers needed to identify the disciplines in the field) it
is rash to think that any dictated editorial direction would serve the inter
ests of all the readers of THE COIN SLOT. The areas of coin operated
scales, vending machines, gum ball machines, gaming machines and ar
cade machines are well known to the enthusiast, but we've got to go behind
that shield of classification to get to the meat of the matter. What about
com
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scales ? Literally, they almost
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ing up in American hotels
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What about vending machines ? There are early American patents, and
even working examples, from the 1830's and 1840's in the hands of some
collectors. And when you get up to the cigar, gum, cigarette and dozens
of other things that have been vended over the years you can quickly see
that here too is a fertile field for exploration. Then come the Queens and
© The International Arcade Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/

Page 4 Text:

Coin Slot Magazine - #008 - 1975 - April [International Arcade Museum]
THE COIN SLOT
APRIL/MAY
1975
Kings of the field -- the arcade and gaming machines. One exciting fact
stands out. They are Americanl They are a reflection of our national phil
osophy, and our knack for mechanical things. But here too, only the surface
has been scratched.
The old big floor model DEWEY and OWL machines
are well known to many, as well as the "bandits" — but what about the
counter games, racing games and the consoles and uprights ? How many
diggers were there, and who built them ? In fact, who were the producers
of these wonderful mechanical devices ? Who were the men that created
them ?
I could go on with this, but I would rather ask you to do so. Elsewhere in
this issue is a form so that you can indicate your interests by classifica
tion and by level of interest. Don't let the listing lead you in anyway. If
you have a coin op interest that isn!t listed, list it yourself. THE COIN
SLOT will publish the results, and the data bank will also provide a meas
urement of what should be included in the editorial pages. Additionally, in
order to grow we need reader participation in the form of articles, loans of
suitable photos, etc.
Another idea that I would like to introduce is good pictures 1 With this
issue THE COIN SLOT has gone to offset reproduction that permits fine
line reproduction of artwork, reprint materials and halftones of photogra
phs. We are even getting into limited color reproduction. Since it is very
expensive, expansion and growth will be needed to permit the continued
use. Help us get additional new subscribers 1
Finally, with THE COIN SLOT the only "official mode of communication
between collectors and enthusiasts, it is logical that the publication should
be able to answer the questions of its readers. Therefore, we have set up
a feature section of Questions - and - Answers to provide data on the un
known, as well as a Letters - to the - Editor feature that lets you vent
your ideas and thoughts. Hopefully, this will lead to some controversy and
expanded knowledge. Many of us have a lot to share with others in the field,
and all we have needed is a platform for doing so. THE COIN SLOT opens
its pages to such material. THE COIN SLOT has been offered the help, and
opinions, of many of the major collectors and enthusiasts in the field, and
we can look for interesting and exciting material in this editorial feature.
I am even toying with the idea of a confidential Information Center, where
by readers will be coded by letter and number, with their correspondence
or questions forwarded to the "expert" or collector of their choice for
answer in the same way. In that way, both writers and respondents will
not be besiged by mail or contact ( which most certainly would happen if the
correspondence were on the open pages of THE COIN SLOT) as a result of
.com
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:
u
use long been a coin slot enthusiast
from I -m
Finally, a few words about d myself,
have
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— in fact, of anything
is humanly operated or controlled.
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rcad that
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My enthusiasms w
cover
collecting,
as well as restoring, and I am now, in
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fact, restoring
bf. 109 in my garage. I am also
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a dealer in books,
magazines
and other technical publications covering a
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ht
their search for information. I would like to hear the thoughts of readers
on this subject, too.
broad spectrum of fields for schools and institutions. THE COIN SLOT is
a logical extension of my collecting and interests, and I want to make "our"
publication as enjoyable, as useful and as important as any publication ser
ving a specialized field.
© The International Arcade Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/

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