Coin Slot Magazine - #V8N4 - 1982 - December [International Arcade Museum]
^APPY SEZ:
THE FUN FAIR
Observations of 'Pappy'
{Ed. Note: Pappy decided to give us
other nicely restored gumball ma
some views of the Fun Fair this
chines. Before the show opened
there were over30 Master machines
month, but his regular column will
appear again next month. Please
send him any questions that you
might have.)
by Larry Lubliner
The fourth annual Fun Fair,
held at the Pasadena Center
In Pasadena, CA, was over
all a successful one in this reviewer's
and exhibitor's opinion. The two
major changes from last year were
big improvements. The Fun Fair did
away with booths unrelated to vin
tage coin operated machines. Sec
ondly, the awarding of prizes for the
top few booths was eliminated. The
Fun Fair is put on by Loose Change,
R.G. Canning Enterprises, Inc., and
Don Britt, a fine, nationally recognized
auctioneer. The move-in and set up
was smooth and professionally
handled, as was the move out.
We'll move now to some of the
merchandise highlights
MUSIC
Jukeboxes were abundant, mostly
Wurlitzer collectors' models. Bob
Reno from Oklahoma had an empty
booth at the end of the show, with a
large selection of 45 player Wurlit-
zers being wheeled out all during
the show. Glenn Streeter, of Antique
Apparatus, had several nicely re
stored Wurlitzers plus a large array
of parts for restoring jukeboxes
Glenn also offered a replica Wurlit
zer 950 cabinet. Steve and Jeff
Oliphant, of Sherman Oaks, CA, of
fered a nice selection of old phono
graphs, radios, and other radio/
phonograph
collectibles
Dan
Cooney was showing off a flawless
Wurlitzer 1100 jukebox in addition
to some restored antique barber
counted, but by late Sunday there
were very few left. Bud Meyer had a
nice selection of gumballs, vending
machines and other neat stuff. Dave
Bostrom displayed many unusual
pieces, plus a nice wall mounted
restored barber pole. Russ Newman
of Elgin, IL, had a nice selection of
trade stimulators, super looking gum-
ball machines, old phone booths
and a gorgeous claw footed crap
table.
Sharing
his
booth
from
Chicago was Ron Pepsnik who of
fered a huge assortment of locks
for any vintage machine imaginable.
SLOT MACHINES
There was quite a variety of slots
offered for sale, but a far cry from
58
© The International Arcade Museum
Tom Polansk/s booth was filled
with all types of signs imaginable.
Many visitors at the show were
carrying Tom's signs with them with
plans to dress up their homes Bill
Thoenell offered lots of neat adver
tising and the best selection of
early soda fountain pieces at the
show.
SUNDRY
Cash registers seemed to be sel
ling well, as were scales, both re
stored
and unrestored. Vintage
Scales and Cash Registers had a
nice display, and many of their items
bore "sold" signs Barry Herman, of
St. Paul, MN, had some restored
cash registers selling at very rea
sonable prices and a few very un
the 1,000 machines at the show
usual unrestored scales. He also
two years ago. ROL-A-TOPS ranged
in price from about $1,800 to $5,000,
and all models and denominations
were on display. Allan Pall of Chicago
had a nice display of rare machines,
was showing many cute inexpensive
and Becky Brown showed some of
the nicest jewelry at the show, es
pecially the "gambling" jewelry. Up
rights were scarce, but Bob Lanfranco
boasted a sold sign on the upright
in his booth. Dave Kenney, of Rock-
ford, IL, showed a beautiful Mills
CHICAGO surrounded by unusual
cigar vendors, lighters and clippers.
toys, along with antique jewelryand
a beautiful, richly colored set of
stained glass windows. F.U.N., Inc.,
had many neat items for sale, es
pecially a Holcome-Hoke popcorn
machine
superbly
restored.
GAM.ES, of Van Nuys, offered
many unrestored slots, a very attrac
tive oak claw foot blackjack table
and other neat items that were ex
amples of the variety of quality
pieces upon which Joel Gilgoff has
built his reputation.
All the dealers with whom I spoke
A twin peaked wood and glass show
case drew attention to his booth.
seemed to be pleased with the
Antique
show and if dealers are pleased
Apparatus had a nice
DEWEY available for trade. Pete
Hansen exhibited a large selection
of just about any slot you could
imagine nicely pictured in his photo
album. Parts were also abundant
from Tom Krah'l, of Dundee, IL He
was selling just about anything you
would need to get a machine working
com
.
m
:
u
from -muse
d
e
chairs.
e
again. Tom Noel, of Las Vegas, also
load .arcad
n
w
GUMBALLS
had his catalog and a display of
Do //www
:
And Vending
Machines
wholesale
parts for dealers Jim
p
htt
Bradford of South Carolina dis
Joe Raney and Larry Hurley, of
Dallas, TX, showed an impressive
variety of Columbus, Master, and
ADVERTISING
played many oddball parts, castings,
cases and vendors.
that means they are selling mer
chandise. The crowd both days
seemed to be heavy especially the
first three hours after opening, which
indicates good local advertising and
P.R. on the part of the promoters
(To those who were not mentioned,
my apologies; this was not initially
part of my plans for the Fun Fair.)
My final observation was that all
of the dealers displayed a terrific
selection of machines and assorted
items that made the Fun Fair inter
esting as well as enjoyable.
THE COIN SLOT
http://www.arcade-museum.com/