Marketplace

MARKETPLACE
NEWSLETTER
PAGE 44, DECEMBER 30, 1973
...,. ;g #1111t1P
Beautiful letter from a very proud father who writes "Just wanted you to know
Bill, how much I appreciate your mentioning my sons in :What's News?'. Made both'
boys very ~roud to have yo~ mention them, especially in view of the fact they've
been learning al~ about this industry by reading 'Marketplace' from cover to cover.
Even tho both ma.Jored in economics and business administration, they tell me they've
le~rned more reading your articles than they learned at the university. Here's one
t'Wl.st that should give you a real kick, both their wives read your 'Marketplace' just
as thoroly as they do. Wish you could be present to listen to the family discussions
about your articles. I may not be around when it happens, Bill, but one of these days
I expect both my daughters-in-law to step right into the business and boom our routes
along the lines you so wisely propose. The young ladies are for you 100 percent.'·(He
adds the following "P.S." - "Find my check enclosed for a personal subscription to
come to my home. My copy disappears the moment it arrives.")
Not only will new equip't cost more in '74, prices driven up to new high peaks by
cost of components, raw materials, labor, transportation, etc., but credit crunch fast
developing at leading banks will drive up finance charges. Used machines already up in
price - will go higher. Become scarcer. Dem.and for late model used and/or reconditioned
equip't of all kinds at highest point in history. Greater majority of diatribe' show-
rooms empty. Leading operators holding onto machines regardless of fact can get almost
as much as they originally paid for bingos, uprights, good flippers. Plus energy prob-
lem this is an entirely new kind of ballgame.
"DST" most imtortant to all the industry. Because DST, Dayling Saving Time, brings
the industry tha extra hour of daylight, the extra hour of play and vending action,
especially during the winter months, that can mean the difference between profit and
loss in many and many a location. As soon as the bill passes Congress, DST will come
into effect until October, 1975. That extra hour when workers can stop off for a beer
or two at their favorite tavern before dashing home is bound to have a very grand
affect on over-all income . In fact, that extra hour of DST can offset income loss the
energy shortage would bring about. (This is one time when all the industry can most
heartily applaud the action of politicos.)
One of the very greatest benefactions ever to come about in this industry are the
field engineers who help thousands of operators and their mechanics annually with
"service seminars". Music ops and their mechanics today eagerly look forward to "ser-
vice seminars". In the games field there is one outstanding team of engineers who con-
duct "service seminars" nationwide all year long. Tom Hata of Bally and Andy Ducay of
Midway are this team. Both Tom and Andy have not only won great acclaim but, today,
have a tremendous following among operators and mechanics who eagerly look forward to
their great teamwork "service seminars".
Long Thanksgiving weekend enjoyed by employees of many distrib firms from Wed eve,
11/21 to Mon morn 11/26. Set precedent for same long Xmas weekend from Fri eve, 12/21
to Wed morn 12/26. (Certainly makes employees happy.) •.• Tom Greco of Glasco, N.Y.,
advises how pleased he is to be back as Rock-Ola distrib. Informs that Greco Bros.,in
Glasco as well as Albany,N.Y. going all out to make this a record Rock-Ola sales year •
••. W.C.(Bill)Power of Las Vegas,Nev., enters his 46th year in the industry. What in-
teresting stories Bill can tell about Las Vegas' growth .••. Wagner Van Vlack, former
pres., has been elected chairman and chief exec officer of Inter state United Corp .
Peter A. Tullio, former exec vice-pres., was elected president of this well known vend-
ing firm ••.. Along with so many, many others we, too, offer our most sincere wishes
for continued good health and great happiness to Mr and Mrs Hymie Zorins1cy of Omaha,Neb.
who just celebrated their Golden 50th Wedding Anniversary •.•• Hear from more and more
operators they are getting $10 "service charge" under way to buck forthcoming recession.