offers a good even game, is priced far too low at 25
cents per game. A coin-operated pool table offers a
terrific ten -minute bargain for the entertainment of
the customer. And this in itself is justification
enough for any price increase an operator might
make. Now, even if the operator goes to fifty cent
play, he's still going to find himself playing catch -up
just to keep pace with inflation .
PLA Y METER: What else can an operator do to
secure his locations?
MARCET: I think promotions such as tournaments
and league play can certainly help here. An
operator can probably do better if he formed
leagues in his locations. But, actually, leagues and
promotions of this sort are designed to make more
money for the locations because they can be held on
the location's slowest night and help the bar owner
increase his business. Now, from this standpoint,
the operator gains in two ways-he makes a little
more money off his pool table because the players
will play more and practice more on his tables . But,
more importantly, it shows the location owner how
the operator can help him out. Of course, it's
already been proved that when an operator is able
to get the players on a location involved, he gets
their commitment. They'll play the games more
often. But the most important thing is that his
chances of losing the location-of the location
actually going out and buying its own table-is
practically nil. So, from that standpoint alone,
promotions such as league play are a definite plus
for the operator. It was for this reason that Valley
was involved in the BCA league championships last
year and why we're going to be supporters again
this year. We feel everyone who took part in the
event benefitted from the promotion.
\
Our competitors ( .
suggest
a longer mast;
we think
there's
a better
Call us.
C. A. Robinson & Co.
2301 W. PICO BLVD .• LOS ANGELES, CA 90006
Tel: (213) 380-1160
REPRESENTING:
ALCA • ALLIED . AMERICOIN . ATARI-KEE • BALLY
BALL Y GROUP GAMES · CINEMATRONICS/ VECTORBEAM
EXIDY • FRANTZ • GAME PLAN • GREMLIN . MIDWAY
NAMCO • POLAROID • SONIC • STERN
TOURNAMENT SOCCER . TAITO . VALLEY . U.S. Sll.LlARDS
FOOSBALL EXPERTS
PLA Y METER: What is the most popular table on
location today?
MARCET: Well, speaking just for ourselves, it
would be the 93-inch table followed closely by the
101-inch table.
PLA Y METER: What kind of space does an
operator need to accommodate the varying sizes of
pool tables?
MARCET: Well, for a seven-foot table, an operator
probably needs an area about 12 feet by 15 feet, and
for an eight-foot table he probably needs a space
about 14 by 17 feet. You can't really get much less
than that. Of course, the deciding factor is space. I
might add, that some operators think there's an
agrument to go for an even smaller table-like a
six-foot model-even if the space calls for a larger
table, because the games would go faster. It would
appear better because, if the table is smaller, the
players would have a shorter span to shoot. And it
follows that the shots would be easier and the game
would be over quicker. But there's an argument
against this reasoning, and what it is, is that the
smaller table just doesn't seem to attract as well as
the larger tables do.
PLAY METER: Obviously, from the manufactur-
er's viewpoint, you must feel an operator holds on
PLAY METER, October, 1979
DISTRIBUTOR FOR
TOURNAMENT SOCCER
• W E STOCK ALL PARTS-
LOW PRICES ON:
LOCATION READY USED TABLES
TOTALLY REBUILT TABLES
(BROWN TOPS)
REPAIR AND REBUILDING WORK
-TOURNAMENTSOCCER-
U .S. BILLIARDS - ARDAC CHANGERS
M & M DISTRIBUTING
2322 Hampton Ave .
St. Louis, MO 63139
(314) 781 -7138
" SINCE 1975"
9