Automatic World

Issue: 1932-November

AUTOMATIC
November, 1932
Possibilities
. In
WORLD
the Candy Vending
Machine Industry
By L L. Lane
President
C:,icky
MFg ~ Co.
A most important factor in the au-
tomatic vending of candy bars, is
the type of machine used. As we
all should be aware, co nditions in the
automatic merchandising Qf candy
bars has changed so rapidly in the
. last few years that many operators
have lost sight of the fact that they
are endeavoring to do business with
obsolete equipment. In order to keep
pace with the rapidly changing con-
ditions, it is necessary for an oper-
ator to consider this fact in ord·e r to
have a successful operation. We are
living in a modern age and every op-
erator should realize this fact and
fortify himself with the most modern
type of equipment that is both at-
tractive and efficient.
It is also very essential that the
merchandise used must be of t he
very highest quality. It is a known
fact that nothing that can be built
for a price, or bought for a price,
wilI meet with the requirements
necessary for a successful operation.
The line of high quality me rchandise
must be extensive enough for the va-
rious tastes of the different custom-
ers in a given locality. We all know
from experience that certain types of
candy bars that are liked and very
popular in a certain location may not
be the proper ones for use in a loca-
tion across the str·eet.
The same
principle applies to the tastes of cus-
tomers in various cities and various
sections of the country. Operators
should not lose sight of these facts
and should make every assurance that
the line of merchandise they are
u sing will meet with these require-
ments.
Fair ethics in conducting each
business must be applied. This is
very essential, as every succ·e ssful
business man, is well aware of. We
all know that any succ :!ssful business
man today has met with this success
only through the application of fair
business ethics. This is very essen-
tial for the operator who is desirous
of not only developing a very suc-
cessful business, but in order to con-
tinue .in maintaining the same. There
is no occasion of any operator fear-
ing competition provided he has the
right kind of proposition, applied
with the right methods.
In conclusion, will- say that I feel
we have gone through the worst 0'£
the depression and sincerely feel that
conditions are showing a consider-
able improvement. The year 19 33
holds a much brighter future, and
greater possibilities. I ' have greater
confidence than ever in the futme
possibilities of this business, as well
as the return ·o f prosperity as a
whole.

Depression Increases
Theft and Use of
Slugs in Los
Angeles
By J. EDW. TUFT
The year 1932, due to the increas-
ed force of the financial depression,
has increased theft fully 33 1-3 per
cent in the Los Angeles area and
has increased the u se of slugs fully
twenty-five per cent, according to
E. R. Fuller, secretary and treasurer
of the Accurate Vendi~g Corpora-
tion, 2542 San Fernando Road, Los
Angeles.
(HOT ) " COMIC
Fifteen
This firm is not only a manufac-
turing firm but within the Los An-
geles area operates its Own cigarette
vending machines. It has hundreds of
these On location s, chiefly in cafes,
lunch rooms, gasoline filling stations
and in apartment houses.
"There has been, I am sure, a
more marked increase in thefts of
merchandise this last year than in
any year since we have been in busi-
ness", says Mr. Fuller, "a fact which
makes me think that a coin vending
machine is a fairly good indicator
of the trend of business co nditions
in general. The increase of the use
of slugs tells the same kind of a
story.
"The problem is, however, not
merely to discover that a greater
number of people are driven to theft
but how to protect one's self against
theft. During the last year we have
practically withdrawn all machines
from apartment houses save where a
night clerk is on duty all night. This
has cut down our losses to an ap-
preciable extent. We have withdrawn
them also from all filling stations
not operating twenty-four hours per
day but have increased the number
in filling stations keeping open day
and night. We have likewise centered
on the better class of lunch counters
and cafes.
"We hav·e increased the number of
machines in locked in compartments
in apartment houses and have se-
cured greater vigilance, I think, on
the part of the people on location s.
"Not only have we lost a greater
amount of mer~handise through theft
but we have lost a great many more
machines than in former years, We
feel, however, that by the greater
care We are exercising we are now
reducing this loss."

ANNOUNCEMENT
We have received the following
announc·e ment from the Globe Vend-
ing Co.:
The Globe Vending Co. wishes to
announce their affiliation with D.
Robbins & Co., and the removal of
their offices and showroom to larger
quarters at 1125 Broad street, New-
ark, N. J.
XMAS
CARDS
All new a nd different. Bes t yet. Fast se llers at Cigar Stands, B ook Stores, Drug ~,'tores
a nd Merchants. Act quick. Order from this ad and clean up. $1.00 per hundred, assort-
ed; $7 .00 per th ousand, assorted.
EDWELLS TRICK & NOVELTY CO.
320 SEtOND STREET
MACON, GEORGIA
Sixteen
AUTOMATIC
Automatic World
120 St. Louis Avenue
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
AUTOMA TIC WORLD PUBLISHING CO.
An indepe,n dent, nationally circulated journal published
monthly in the interest of the Vending Machine and Coin
Operated Device Industry of America.
AARON SMITH
O. J. BRANCH
TOM MURRAY
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
Editor
Subscription Price:
One Year . . .. .... ... . . .. ... . ... . •....•..••• $1.00
THREE years . .. ... . . . .................•.•• $2.00
Canada, One Year ..... . ..........•...•••...•• $1. 75
Adver tlsing Rates Furnished Upon Request.
The National Magazine of the Coin
Machine Industry
MORE ABOUT THE BLANKET LICENSE
Much is being said about the blanket license these days
and many different opinions are afloat. some for and v
some against. No doubt this variety of license would . be
more or less an experiment and it might be just the thmg
and it might be just the wrong thing.
.
To place the license too high would crowd out the small
operator ,a nd to have it too low would. displease the tax
officials. However. it would not take much of a blanket
tax to discourage location owners from buying their own
machines. Keep this in mind and do not make the tax
too high.
There are few states that are really realizing any profit
from coin machine taxation. The collection cost runs too
high and many states already wish they did not have the
tax. Why should a state engage in a business that proves
itself a total loss and an unnecessary expense? Don't it
look foolish? A state. county or city should discontinue
such ta~ation that is a total loss or that creates ' an added
expense upon it. With the blanket license in effect a pr~fit
will be realized by the tax officials for their respective
states. regardless of how small the tax might be. We un-
derstand that · Texas is losing money trying to collect the
coin machine tax and we quote below from a letter we re-
cently received from a Texas operator:
.
"A state tax collector spent perhaps forty days m two
counties cellecting coin machine taxes. In these two coun-
ties there were less than 200 machines which would mean
about $300 in taxes, Now figure forty days at $10 per
day salary and expense for man and car."
We might consent to a blanket tax if that tax method
is> used to benefit all operators large and small. but to use
it as a stick to swat the small operator is not in harmony
with good judgment and brings to the suface a self~sh
motive. Selfishness has never created success for an In-
dustry or an individual and never will. It carries destruc-
tive power instead of constructive power and will always
des'troy the industry or individual it possesses.
Many of our small operators today will be the i:>ig shots
of tomorrow. To keep the small operator out will not
eliminate competition and commission boosters will con-
tinue to be in evidence. The real gain to be realized from
a blanket tax or license is the f,a ct that it will allow an
operator to operate all the machines he desires and will
discourage location buying. A blanket license will increase
business for manufacturers and jobbers because the small
WORLD
Novemb er, 1932
operator will soon see that it would be for his benefit to
operate more machines as it would cost him just as much
to operate a few as it would a hundred.
We do not put ourselves up as the king of authority on
this matter but are only expressing our opinion.
- - - 0 > - - - --
IT'S DIRTY AND UNTRUE PROPAGANDA
The propaganda that has been put out to the effect that
AlJfOMATIC WORLD is a Southern sectional journal
and only has circul'a tion in a few Southern states is a dirty
falsehood and is absolutely untrue. unreliable and without
proof.
AlJfOMA TIC WORLD goes into every state in America.
saying nothing about the foreign and Canadian circula-
tion. Our circulation statement which is on file with the
postoffice. is better proof as to where AlJfOMATIC
WORLD goes than the proof of any propaganda distribu-
tor. This statement lists the various zones into which our
journal circulates and is undisputable proof.
We have national circulation and not just a sectional
circulation. However. we are proud of the fact that we
can offer you the most reliable Southern circulation along
with a thorough national distribution at a reasonable rate.
This feature. we realize. is worth mentioning and is very
highly considered by wise advertisers.
The next time this propaganda floats to your ears. will
you be fair enough to ask the author of same to prove his
claims? The truth is. we have more circulation in some of
these knocker's strongholds than they have themselves.
Naturally it hurts them.
- - -0 - - -
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
Something must be done for the general protection of
the industry. We have among our ranks men who can
not be trusted. they are dishonest. crooked and cheats.
Their one intention. it seems. is to "gyp" the members of
this industry and then brag about it. We desire to take
our hats off to our relative coin machine publications in
their efforts to "show up" these double crossing rascals.
It has been house cleaning time for years. We have been
too slow in starting this clean-up work.
Recently. in fact the date of the letter is October 11. we
received this word from an operator in Michigan and it is
only one of many that we receive each month. This man
has a perfect right to register a kick:
"Automatic World.
"Fort Worth. Texas.
" Gentlemen:
"Enclosed find a dollar to cover subscription to your
journal for the year. Also would appreciate a copy of
your "black list."
"Do you know anything about the
?
I sent this, firm a money order for machine parts June 30.
1932. but never received the parts. neither did they return
the money order nor explain in any way. I had the Postal
Department check up on the money order and was informed
that it had been cashed. I immediately sent them a reg-
istered letter. Same was not accepted by them. but re-
turned to me. I have ordered parts from them previous to
this order, and do not understand their attitude in this case.
Any information in regard to this company will be appreci-
ated."
AlJfOMATIC WORLD has fashioned a letter to this '
concerp and unless we hear favo'rably from them by next
issue we will publish their name and address.

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