From the Editor
In our last issue , we stressed the importance of
keeping accurate , timely records of the most important
aspects of your business . With a good record keeping
system , an operator can easily evaluate his successes and
shortcomings in many different areas of his operation .
Through a careful analysis of a good record system, an
operator can take immediate steps to improve the overall
profitability of his route .
With respect to basic business indicators , an entire
industry is no different from a single route operation . An
industry needs its own set of economic indicators . Until
PLAY METER came along , there was no such animal.
There was no way for this industry to tell just how good or
bad business was in general. Since that time, we have
been making every effort to lick that particular problem .
Though our various reader surveys , we have been able to
co nstruct an accurate account of just how the industry is
faring . We can now actually gauge the performance of
the industry , reporting where it 's been and where it's
headed .
PLAY METER's annual subscriber poll provides the
industry with a wealth of statistical data . With this
information . we can accurately gauge the growth of this
industry . The results show the increase in the number of
locations all across the country , the amount of new
equipment purchased , the total number of machines on
location . as well as how much the various types earn , and
a great many other items of economic importance .
Our monthly equipment poll aids the industry in
determining the success of particular pieces of equipment
throughout the year . By being able to determine the top
earning games, manufacturers can gauge the success of
their own engineering and design efforts , and operators
can see how well they did in evaluating and purchasing
new games .
Our surveys indeed serve a very useful purpose , and it
is a pleasure to produce them for our readers . But the
important thing to remember is that without the input of
our dedicated readers , none of this would be possible . So
at this time I would like to thank the hundreds of opera-
tors all across the country who participate in our polls .
Because of you , we can provide accurate information
that is essential to the future growth of the entire industry .
In order for us to continue this important service to the
industry and produce th e most accurate results , we
would like to encou rage those of you who have not
participated in th e past to begin doing so .
To participate in our monthly equipment polls , all one
has to do is turn to page 30, fill out the coupon at the
bottvm of the page , and mail it back to us . Each month
you will receive a postage paid card . It just takes five
minutes to fill it out and drop it in a mailbox . That's all
there is to it. It costs you nothing but a few minutes , but
it 's worth a lot to the en tire industry .
Our annual Subscriber Survey will be in the mail to you
this month . Because it is an annual poll , this survey is
much more detailed and takes a little longer to fill out.
But the tir:ne it takes is also well spent. As always , all
replies are kept strictly confidential ; so there 's nothing to
worry about there . All we ask is a few minutes of your
time . It may see m like a small contribution, but in actual
fa ct your participation is extremely important in
determining th e actual growth of this industry . So please
help .
We at PLAY METER - and the industry as a whole -
appreciate your assistance in the matter .
~~----
Ralph C . Lally II
Editor and Publisher
Five years ago in Play Meter's pages ...
S eptember, 1975
Coinman of the Month was Len Schneller , director of
sales for U.S . Billiards . He had helped initiate billiards
tournaments after joining that manufacturer in 1966 , and
the promotion had helped bring new life into the then -
sagging pool industry . " We began making more pool
players and they were spending more money ," said
Schneller .
In that month five years ago , Rock-Ola was celebrating
its 40th anniversary in business . PLAY METER spot-
lighted the manufacturer and its historic jukeboxes in the
September issue .
In the news pages: Michigan operators were fighting to
legalize free play on flipper games .... Rowe International's
unveiling of the new 1976 phonographs was covered by
PLAY METER , and coverage was afforded the
6
$113 ,000 Nation al Table Soccer championship Tourna-
ment hosted by To urnament Soccer in Denver . Time and
Sports lllustrated magazines also gave news play to the
coin -op tournament. . . . Cash Controls was expanding its
markets and changed its name to International Totalizing
Systems Inc .... Shane Breaks , well known in the British
amusement machine trade , was moving to the U .S.
shores to join Rowe International.
N ew products were fast coming out of the chute .
U .B .l. introduced a new roll -down game , Sportabout ,
with 100 percent solid state scoring and eight-foot length ;
and th e manufacturer debuted its Siluer Fox pool table
with adjustable price - S to 75 cents .... Rock-Ola's newest
compant console was Mode/461 with furniture styling ... .
Atari offered a new cocktail table version of its Tank video
game . . .. and Chicago Coin unwrapped a target gun
game , Hunt Club .
PLAY METER, September, 1980