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One of my favorite happenings in September is the introduction of the
new phonographs for the coming year and this year's unveiling of the
Rowe-AMI and Seeburg 160-selection offerings and Rock-Ola's new
1 OO-selection offering was no exception to the excitement I generaUy feel
thi time of year.
Ofcour e, one of the uneasy aspects of new phonograph anticipation
this year was concern over possible price increases like last year's. It
wa a relief to learn, then, that because there were no major cabinet
changes, retooling costs were kept to a minimum, which in turn kept the
1976 phonograph prices relatively stable.
We have been informed, however, that Rock-Ola's new 160-selection
machine will not be introduced until November and will feature major
cabinet design changes. Because of this, we were told, Rock-Ola's
prices can be expected to increase, but only moderately and not enough
to change the company's status of offering the lowest-priced
American-made phonograph on the market.
From a manufacturing standpoint, then, new phonograph sales
hould not be adversely affected by operators who tend to limit new
purchases in the face of massive price increases. From my observations,
ale should continue steady and perhaps increase in comparison to last
year's models.
Certainly, operators can look forward to having new phonographs that
have been improved on the inside. Because price is not the only
determining factor in selling their phonographs in 1976, the
manufacturers are fiercely competing to offer the most reliable and
trouble-free electro-mechanical "guts" in their machines.
While we aren't able to offer our readers a complete buyer's guide on
the new phonographs this issue, we do think you will enjoy our look at
promotion and its various aspects in relation to manufacturing,
distributing and operating.
We'U see how manufacturers and
distributors get directly involved in promoting huge tournaments which
promote games, specifically pool and table soccer. As an operator, you
will be interested in the important role you play in bringing it aU
together and realizing the resultant benefits of continued profits form
these games.
Finally, September is an exciting month not only because of the new
phonographs, but because everyone is busy preparing for the Music
Operators of America exhibition and convention in Chicago. I would
personally like to encourage you to attend the confab at the Conrad
Hilton Hotel Oct. 17-19. It's your once-a-year chance to meet with
manufacturers and distributors, as well as other operators from all over
the globe. You not only get to see all of the new equipment offerings,
but you get to learn from other operators what makes them happy and
what gets them upset. It's also a good chance to find out what new
trend s are surfacing in this varied and colorful industry. As a.n operator
and reader of Play Meter, you owe it to yourself and to the betterment of
your business to attend. We'll be there, of course, and we expect to see
you.
Sincerely,
Ralph C. Lally n
Editor and Publisher
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Calendar
Sept. 11 · 14:
Florida Amusement Merchandising
Association. annual convention.
Sheraton Towl'rs Hotel. Orlando.
florida _
Sept. 18·20:
West Virginia Music and Vending
Association. annual convention.
Heart O'Town Motor Hotel. Char-
lestion. West Virginia.
Sept. 19·28:
Illinois Coin Machine Operators
Association. annual ('onvention .
Lincolnshire Marriott. N. W. Sub·
urban Chicago. Illinois .
Sept. 27 -28:
North Carolina Coin Operators As-
sociation. annual convention. Holi-
day Inn. Charlotte. North Carolina.
Sept. 27-28
Wisconsin Music Merchants
Association, annual faU conven-
tion. Midway Motor Lodge,
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Oct. 2-4:
Music Operators of \ irginia. annual
convention. Howard Johnson Motor
Lodge. Richmond. Virginia.
Oct. 16· 19:
National Automatic Merchandising
Association. annual national con·
vention and exhibit. The Rivergate.
New Orleans. La .
Oct. 17·19:
Music Operators of America. na-
tional annual convention and exposi·
tion. Conrad Hilton Hotel. Chicago.
Illinois.
April 2-4, 1976
Wisconsin Music Merchants
Association, annual spring con-
vention and exhibition. Scotsland
Resort, Oconomowoc, Wiscon-
sm.