Marketplace

Issue: 1974 May 15

MARKETPLACE
VOL. XIII, NO. 9
MAY 15, 1974
Great sadness for so many thruout the industry worldwide with the passing of one of
the last pioneer manufacturers, David Gottlieb of D. Gottlieb & Co., Chicago, Ill., on
April 16, 1974 after a long illness. Many call Dave Gottlieb, "The father of the pinball
industry." He came to Chicago from Texas over 45 years ago and instantly gained national
prominence with the introduction of his now famed, "Grip Tester". He followed this with
the very first pinball, "Baffle Ball". From thenceforth to this present day, D. Gottlieb
& Co. continued its progressive march thru two factories up to its present huge plant
in Northlake,Ill. Never, in all those years, did this noted firm veer off from its
chosen course of producing pinballs.
Dave Gottlieb enjoyed a most tremendous success with his "flipper" unit. To the point
where, to this day, many label pinball games, "flipper games". As president for many
years of the manufacturers' national organization, CMI (Coin Machine Industries,Inc.) he
was instrumental in bringing the industry its greatest conventions. His many charitable
efforts were culminated in the creation and construction of the Gottlieb Hospital, in
memory of his father and mother, and which stands as a great and shining beacon in the
memory of this grand pioneer of this industry, David Gottlieb. May he rest in peace.
Sing out "HappY Birthday" to: Dick Parks, St.Augustine,Fla.; Dale Rymer, St.Louis,Mo ;
Dave Higgins, Lyons,N.Y.; Verle Van Nattan, Los Angeles,Cal.; Carol Stevens, Grafton,Y .Va.
Fred Walter, Phila.,Pa.; Herb Oettinger, Chicago; Jack Gabriel, Colo.Sprgs.,Colo.; ~
Burris, Mineral Wells,Tex.; Nick Alexander, Youngstovn,O.; Manning Whitbeck, Scotia,N.Y.
Francis Miller, Irvine,Ky.; Fred Conrad, Medford,Ore.; Otis Wood, Andalusia,Ala.; Walt
Rozanski, Riverside,Cal.; Charley Brenon,Jr.,Brownville,N.Y.; Don Streeter, Vallejo,Cal.
Nancy Salzman, Wausau,Wis.; Lester Mink, Cincinnati,O.; Paul Jacobs, Brookfield, Wis.;
Frank Mandia,Asbury Pk.,N.J.; Victor Haim, Nev York City; Jack Zuckerman, Hillside,N.J.
Mike Moore, Ft.Worth,Tex.; Emory Gregory, Madison,Wis.; John Flynn, Diamond Bar, Calif.
Bobby Moor,Jr.,Chesapeake City,Md.; Francis Jay, Solvay,N.Y.; Olin Spikes, Auburn, Ala.
"$50,000 Int'l Championship (Poosball) Soccer Tournament" will take place in Denver,
Colo., May 25 to 27, advises Jet Black of Mountain West, Seattle,Yash. Competition be-
tween singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles and womens' doubles. $32,000 for 32
places in open doubles. $12,000 for 32 places in open singles. $4,000 each for 16 places
in mixed and womens' doubles. More than 2,000 contestants are expected from all over the
world. For more details phone: 206/763-9750 • ••• News from New York City that straight
add-a-ball games have been okayed by this city's administration and that this is being
considered one great victory for Nev York's ope~ators •••• The following would like to
see "A History Of The Coin Machine Industry" come into being: Samuel Riley, Tulsa,Okla.,
Chuck Esch Colorado Springs,Colo., Willie Blatt, Miami,Fla., Pat Ka.rns, Los Gatos,Cal.,
Perry Shockley, Winchester,Tenn., Bob Rosenberger, Chicago,Ill. (Want to sincerely
thank each one of these gentlemen but, must admit, so far the demand for such a tremen-
dous effort has not been overwhelming.)
"Detroit Free Press" (4/10/74) headlined article, "Automated Agents", referring to
the first 50¢ Michigan Lottery ticket venders put into operation. Clipping vas sent to
us by Don Miller and Art Hebert of Miller-Newmark. Can just hear Don and Art crying,
"How we'd like to operate a couple hundred of these babies." (Art's been calling for
50¢ machines for sometime.)
COPYRIGHTED 197.C . NO REPRODUCTION PLEASE IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION .
Over the past 5 years operators have endured the following cost increases. Pr.ice of
nev equip't, over-all average, up over 82.5%. General overhead expenses up ove r 79.4%.
Depreciation raised up an additional 65%. Cost of labor up over 57.3%. Interest costs,
loans, time payments, up over 11Z'. (With these figures before him how can any tho'tful
operator continue on the antique, outworn and rediculous 50/50 commission basis?) •••
Jules Olshein of Greco Bros.,Albany,N.Y., mailed us clipping of article that originally
appeared in "Washington Post" headlined, "Gee,Dad! It's no longer a Wurlitzer." This vas
reprinted in "Albany Times Union". Jules comments on statemenJ:-s of Wurlitzer execs in
that article, "Sour grapes." ••• Bob Fitzke of 'Wausau,Wis., telling hov, ten years ago,
he started helping his landlord to run a route and for free. Then vent to work for the
man full time. Nov owns the route. Both Bob and his wife look ahead to a great future
in this business where they've already met "a lot of terrific.friends".
2
It's been a fev years since we've had the opportunity to talk with the extremely busy
David c. Rockola, one of the very few pioneers still active in the industry. Jt was,
therefore, a very pleasant surprise, indeed, to pick up our ringing phone the other day
and find ourselves talking with Dave Rockola. What vas most welcome, was the fact Dave
phoned to compliment us on certain items that had appeared in "Marketplace" • • •• Happy
to hear so many distribs agree "Service Schools" more important than ever. This sure is
the time for operators and their mechanics to learn the speediest and most ef1'ici ent way
to repair to keep equip't in operation at all times under any and all conditions . (One
top service mgr who should be out there teaching operators and mechanics is Norm Dompke
of Seeburg's Miami office. He's covered all types of equip't over many years. ) ••• Sure
would like to see the following wearing "2000 Club" lapel pins: Carol Stevens , Don Bill'is,
Dave Higgins, Jack Gabriel, Charley Brenon, Nancy Salzman, Don Streeter, E!:.!!!.~~,
Frank Mandia, and other members of the prestigious "2000 Club".
Here's what Bill DeSelm vri tea about "Flipper Games": "Flipper Games have ~ap·tured
the fancy of the Public, the World Over, as Players accept the Challenge of t~o 'Plashing
Lites, Pop Bumpers, Chimes, Wild Ball Action and Play Again Appeal built into this great-
est of all pastimes that soothes the nerves and makes everyone oblivious to World Prob-
lems as they battle the game, vatch the tilt and use the greatest dexterity a~d skill to
make the features, collect the extra ball and, above all, have a grand time playing a
harmless game that defies their every move but responds "to the winning hand and, finally,
indicates success - a Winning Score." (Did you like this description of a "Flipper Game"?
Tell it to: Bill DeSelm, 3401 N. California, Chicago 60618 or phone him at: 312/267-2240)
Don't know how young man like yourself, N. Feldman, Chicago, came across this. So very
few recall this old vending unit. We were very close to the people who handled it in Nev
York City some 40 years ago. It was National Vendors, under their late founder, B.L.F!y,
who introduced this most complete bank of all white venders called the, "Automatic Groc-
ery". Also featured one of the very first coffee vend.era ever seen, a tall, all black
cylinder, trimmed in chrome. Complete display was at the General Motors Building in Nev
York City vith late John P. Moran in charge. (John had been president of Savage Arms.
Later vent to work for Robert z. (Bobby) Greene of Rove Mfg. Co.) Tho the "Automatic
Grocery" got reams and reams of publicity all over the world, written up in Eome of the
most outstanding business publications, it just wasn't able to get off the ground. It
did bring the idea of "banks of vend.era" to the vending machine business.
These are THE GREATEST 11
sLEADERs
s GANGBUSTERS s
See them at your MIDWAY distributor

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