Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #060 - 1980 - February [International Arcade Museum]
A value for each token
maximum of $5.00.
more
desirable
recently.
is also given, up to a
farm of gambling.) the Minnesota state legislature
Prices for many of the rarer,
passed a law that the machines could not pay off
amusement
As a
result,
tokens
have
soared
in money.
A widespread use of tokens resulted."
the listed values are of
limited benefit; however, they can be used for
Due to author Ken Smith's in-depth knowledge,
comparative purposes.
the Minnesota pinball token section is outstanding.
In addition to the obvious slot machine manu
section alone.
Many collectors will purchase the book for this
facturer and operator listings (Mills, Caille, Watling,
Fey, etc.), many early small companies also issued
tokens.
Alas, all is not perfect with this book. At $24.95,
San Francisco and Chicago are especially
replete with such companies.
it is over-priced.
Examples include:
This is, unfortunately, a disser
vice to both current and potential future amuse
ment token collectors.
Amusement token collec
CHICAGO
ting is still in an early, fragile stage. Token prices
Automatic Machine & Tool Co.
are still rather low.
Burnham Gum Machine Works
page paper-covered book printed on low-quality
To charge $24.95 for a 136
Cowper Mfg. Co.
stock is simply wrong.
Eagle Mfg. Co.
the book is invaluable its physical condition does
Even if the contents of
Illinois Machine Co.
not make it worth the money.
J. H. McDerment
the publisher.
The fault lies with
Novelty Machine Works
Ogden & Co.
It is not possible to become rich printing and selling
Paupa & Hochriem
books for token collectors.
D. N. Schall &Co.
demand is elastic:
In economic terms,
collectors will simply not buy
A. Schiller & Co.
if the price is excessive.
Victor Novelty Works
suffers.
As a result, everyone
The collectors won't buy a book that is
THE definitive work on amusement tokens.
The
SAN FRANCISCO
publisher does not generate hoped-for revenues.
"AHA" Novelty Co.
Everyone loses - no one wins.
Bertham Slot Machines
W. A. Bradford
"Amusement Tokens of the
Coast Novelty Co.
United States and
Canada" is outstanding!
Detroit Machine Co.
magnificent job. However, everything has its price.
The authors have done a
George Hansen
Let's hope the publisher realizes all this and reduces
Klumpke, Light & Wilson
the price to a level where the book will be pur
Novelty Machine Works
chased and enjoyed by many more current and
Royal Novelty Co.
prospective amusement token collectors.
Star Novelty Machine Co.
"Amusement Tokens of the
Thalia Amusement Co.
United States and
Canada" can be purchased for $24.95 postpaid
"Amusement Tokens of the
United States and
(California
residents
add
6%
sales
tax)
from:
Canada" also has a large section devoted to pinball
tokens.
Stephen P. Alpert
"The pinball craze first hit Minnesota in
the 1930's. At first winners were paid with money
dispensed from the machines.
(To eliminate this
P.O. Box 66331
om
m.c Los Angeles, CA 90066
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