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Marketplace,
185 N. Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, Ill. 60601
Dear Sir:
I am an avid reader of Marketplace and have been for sometime. I've been in the coin
machine business since I was introduced to it on a small route owned by my father 18
years ago. Ever since then I've decided to become the best possible mechanic that my
abilities will allow.
In my earlier years as a mechanic, I obtained jobs in various parts of the country to
gain a variety of knowledge found only in different operations. Some people may label
a mechanic a "drifter" if he obtains his knowledge in this fashion. I feel this gives
a man a good solid background knowledge unobtainable by any other means.
I would like to bring to your attention the fact that altho many mechanics read your
Marketplace, there is much glamor and prestige given to operators, distributors, man-
ufacturers. But how about a "pat-on-the-back" for the guy who is sitting on the floor
behind the jukebox, elbow deep in what appears to the average citizen as a complicated
bowl of worms. It's the soiled hands of the mechanic that keeps operators operting, the
distributors distributing and the manufacturers manufacturing and the general public
playing music and games.
In many issues you have stated there is an acute shortage of mechanics. Has anyone
stopped to realize that being a coin machine mechanic is not the most attractive
occupation there is? More times than not on smaller routes, which are the backbone of
the industry, a mechanic is required to move equip't, install, day service and also
take nite calls, like as not 6 days or more a week, plus route checking, public rela-
tions and shop work. This amounts to much longer than 40 hours a week.
Altho the pay seems to be average for labor, I have met few who could qualify as to
"average" for a job that encompasses so much more responsibility than an assembly
line worker, for example. I consider coin machine mechanics to be professional people
but, often times, they are treated as second class citizens. An apprenticeship for
carpenters or plumbers is served by a man and he becomes a "tradesman". As much time or
more is required to produce a good coin machine mechanic but, after this is done, no
one, including operators, consider him a trained "tradesman".
Would it be possible to estimate the cost of training a coin machine mechanic capable
of repairing all makes of music and games, allowing for mistakes, destruction of many
parts, incorrect installations, etc., etc.? This could give an operator an idea of the
value of a trained and experienced mechanic.
Would it be possible for your magazine or some organization to initiate a plan for
issuing mechanics ID cards showing their capabilities? In this way if a mechanic
decided to relocate he wouldn't have to start at the bottom again. Possibly further
data could also be kept on file and, for a small fee, this information could be fur-
nished to any operator, distrib, etc. Data such as marital status, dependability,
integrity, could be of great value to employers.
s':JK~
F. H. Lange
Mechanic, Klamath Amusement
806 North Second, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601