Automatic World

Issue: 1930-April

Ten
THE BALLY-HO
Question an Answer
DepartInent
Edited By
JOHN GOOD BODY
Well boys, what do you think of our NEW BABY?
Isn't this the best looking job you have seen in a long
time in the way of an operators' magazine? And not
only this, but you will note that we have some good
writers, some of the best in the country, for the othe1'
departments. Combining the entire amusement field into
one handy compact like the Bally-Ho and Automatic
World has done, is an outstanding act within itself and
one that deserves the highest respect.
Everyone of you know me or should by this time.
I have been in the game longer than most of you, and
can give you tips that may help you. What is it you d~­
sire to know? Why are you not making money? What
machines are you running? How are they run. Are they
kept clean? Would you buy merchandise from them and
eat it yourself? Are the machines freshly painted, or
have you had them two or three years and everyone has
been using them to scratch matches on, defacing them
and killing their attractiveness? Wouldn't you welcome
a department that you can call you very own? Wouldn't
you like for someone to help you over the rough spots?
To all of which I can almost hear you answering "Yes."
Then, this is going to be your department, this is to be
your magazine. Ask anything you desire to ask about the
business and it will be answered in a straightforward
manner in this department. I said straightforward man-
ner, and I mean just that. I may hurt your tender feel-
ings, but if I do, it will be for your own good.
Let me give you a little illustration of just what
I mean. Here's a young man I personally advised to get
into the game, he acted upon my advice and purchased
some machines, placed them and waited for the results.
They did not come up to expectations, he came back to
me and asked, "Why." I said, "There must be a 'why' in
your case. Let's find out the 'why'." So out we went,
April, 1930.
and the 'why' soon turned up. This same young man
who had placed the machines was telling the owner of
the store that business was bad; that he was not making
any money, and that h e was disgusted. He never stopped
to think that every word we utter in this world is a
boomerang, and will come back to us in on e. style .)1'
another. What really happened in this particular case?
All right, watch-A customer comes into the store where
one of the young fellow's machines are displayed; he
sees the new device and says to the storekeeper, "What's
this something new?" The storekeeper answers, "Yes,
it's new, but the fellow that owns it says it's not going
over very well." What happens? The customer loses all
interest in the machine, walks away satisfied that the
thing is a "flop." If the storekeeper had been sold on
the machine when the operator placed it and made his
regular visits to same, he would have said to the cus-
tomer, "Yes, that's a mighty fine machine, and it's going
over big. Try it." The resu lt would have been another
coin dropped into the · machine right there, because the
storekeeper would have unconsciously made a new cus-
tomer for the machine. And so it goes.
The mere fact that a manufacturer can live and
make the same machines year after year and continue to
sell them in large quantities, should be ample proof that
there must be merit to the machine, and that the machine
is a successful one. If you can't make it pay, there is
a reason for it, and you've got to find out the 'why.'
That's one of the purposes of this section. Weare
anxious to help you find the 'why.' Sit right down and
write me a letter tell me all about it, just as you used
to come and tell father all about it, and let's see if we
can't help some.
so
we
all
so
I expect to receive a bunch of replies to this article,
if we don't catch the May issue with your answer,
no doubt will later. Watch for your answer, they will
be answered in time. Better send in your subscription
you will not miss a single issue.-J ohn Goodbody.
Mail that subscription
now. Send $1 for one
year, or better still,
send $2 for THREE
years. Do this now!
Don't miss an issue of
the Bally-Ho and Au-
tomatic World. Weare
going to have a lot of
good things in the May
number. Mail your sub-
scription NOW to The
Bally-Ho, 1345 Ea!:.t
Richmond Ave., Fort
Worth, Texas. We will take check, money order or
stamps.
AND AUTOMATIC WORLD
April, 1930.
THE BALLY -HO AND AUTOMATIC
WORLD
Office, 1.145 Eas t Ui chmond A venue
Fort Worth, Texas
An indepe ndent, nati onall y c ircula ted journal published monthly in the
inte res t of the Coin Controlled Device industry, Agents, Salesmen,
/)emol1s tralors, Carni va ls, P ark s and Concessionaires of A.11lerica.
Tum i\!UIT.ly
...... Editor and Manager
Change of advertising- copy and engravi ngs mu st reach our oHice on
or before the t wenty·fifth of th e preceding month.
Class ified advertisi ng, 3ec pe r lin e, e.ig ht words to the line. Cash with
copy. IVlinimulll ad accepted, $1.20. Display advertising rates furnished
o n request.
Sub c1-jption pri ce
..... .. ... . . $1.00 the yea r, THREE years, $2.00
THE EDITOR SPEAKS
Well, here we are,
not so large and over··
grown, but full of ex-
pansive e nth usiasm
and a determination t o
give the scope we serve
a real, f!l·St class !JapE!l:
that will bp. appreci·
'1.ted by ~.Il.
P'2n,,;: us to say
i!l tllP v,' ry beginning.
t hat The Bally-Ho
stands for clean sales-
manship of goods with
merit. and for honest
business methods be-
tween buyer and selI-
eI'. It is, and will be at
all times, against di s-
honest statements of
se llers and misleading
promises of buyers.
W Ie! covet the pleasure
Tom Murray
of seeing all proposi-
tions made at all tim es in absolute good faith.
We will appreciate the a ction of any person calling
our attention to any dishonest tactics displayed by any
advertiser whose ad appears or might appear in the
Bally-Ho. Any advertiser that uses untrue methods to
gain business from readers of this journal can not adver-
tise in its columns. Our strict rule along this line will
protect buyer and at the same time establish an un-
shakable confidence in our advertisers. We desire to pro-
tect our readers and honest advertisers. If all trade
journals would make it their strict business to expose
"fakes," the honest advertiser would be encouraged and
protected. We stand for honesty and truth.
The Bally-Ho is strictly an independent journal. We
serve no clique or clan with special favors but desire
to serve ALL alike. Our motto will be: "One for All and
All for One." Our columns are open to every person
and firm that comes within the bounds of the field we
claim to cover. We are and will continue to be in strict
harmony with the principles of the various association~,
so long as their activities remain honest and reasonable.
Our columns are open to every association.
Of course, we aspire to distinction in the field we
have selected, but the distinction must be based upon
Eleven
confidence. This confidence we hope to gain from OUI
readers and advertisers.
Weare against any kind of price cutting, under-
mining and prejudice. We believe in the open-and-above·
board at all times.
Now, then, it is useless for us to say we need
your help, for we do. We need the assistance and en-
couragement of every manufacturer, jobber and operator,
and we are going to expect it. We desire to increase
the paper to at least 32 pages in May. Therefore, we
need subscribers and advertisers on our list. Come on,
flood the mail, and give u s a real surprise, for deep down
in our hearts we have a desire to be an asset to the in-
dustry. Send in your news items. We welcome articles
from every firm and operator. Send them in and we
will see that everyone finds its way into our columns.
Now, then, we are off. The race is on and what-
ever you do, DON'T miss the May number, as it will be
full of good things. With these remarks, we extend
to everyone connected in any way with the field we are
to serve, our very best wishes.
TOM MURRAY, Editor.
ASS OCIATION S
Regarding associations, we beg to state that we are
for organization. We believe that anything worth while
must be accomplished through association, for in
association there is strength.
Weare like the
old stage coach drivel' who was displaying his "whip"
marksmanship by clipping flowers and leaves with his
whip for the amusement of his passengers. When a fel-
low passenger asked him why he didn't crack a certain
hornet's nest hanging from a limb, he remarked: "Why,
you see , mister, that's an organization up there." Yes
we are for the association, we want to see more state
associations that will function, we are ready to help along
any upbuilding line. We will gladly give ample space
for all association news and events. Send them in.
A RE W E RI GHT?
If anything published in this magazine looks wron~,
or is wrong, we would have our readers take for granted
that we shall set it right as soon as it comes to our knowl-
edge. We will be satisfied only when our readers are
satisfied. Our columns are open to every operator, job-
ber, manufacturer and association and we want every-
one to feel free to use them.
Mr. Advertiser! You spend money for advertising
where you get results and where a profit from such
advertising is forthcoming, don't you? Well, how do you
know that it is not worthwhile to place advertising with
the Automatic World. You've never tried it. and you'll
never know until you try our publication. Don't be cock-
sure of yourself until you test our ability to get result;;
for your business. Try an issue or two, see for yourself
if it's not a profitable medium through which to spend
a portion of your money allotted for advertising. If no
results come in , kill your ad. A few months' tryout won't
break you. This is just good, sound, plain logic.
We don't want your good money unless we can
hand you back in return for same, profitable results.
Send in your copy now for the big May number.

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