Automatic Age

10
T h e A u t o m a t ic A ge
used in the United States by street
car conductors, are used but spar­
ingly in Germany. Street car com ­
panies and the Federal Railway Co.
might be interested in adopting such
machines, time-saving devices always
being in demand, although they are
not much in favor o f such machines,
their experiences with them not hav­
ing been favorable so far.
To introduce fare collecting de­
vices in Germany will be quite a
task. On street cars it is preferred
to have the conductor collect the fare,
make change, regulate the starting
and stopping and in general super­
vise the traffic o f the cars.
A considerable business in coin
counting and wrapping machines is
being done by a German manufac­
turer o f these machines. This firm
has among its customers many o f
the largest firms, one bank alone
having purchased 200.
Current Sales Methods
Vending machines are at present
being sold in Germany either direct
or through the medium o f agents,
principally to manufacturers o f can­
dy or perfume who have them in­
stalled in public places fo r the sale
and advertisement o f their own prod­
ucts. A smaller proportion o f the
machines are sold by agents to res­
taurants,
department stores, and
places o f amusement. Such agents
would presumably be in a position to
handle the sale o f the lighter type o f
counter vending machines to the
smaller retail shops. While there are
a few companies in Germany formed
exclusively fo r the purpose o f oper­
ating vending machines over extend­
ed territories, none o f them is situat­
ed in the cities o f the Leipzig con­
sular district. It is understood, how­
ever, that such companies are estab­
lished in Cologne, Berlin, Breslau,
Kiel, and Hanover.
© International Arcade Museum
General Comment
Coin carriers, collectors, change
making machines, coin counting ^
wrapping machines should find 8 ,
ready market in Germany. Vending
machines, other than the heavy tyPeS’
should also do well in this territory’ ,
but it must be remembered that the# 1
are seventy German manufacture^
er^aged in making automatic vend'
ing machines o f various kinds, aut°'
matic scales, etc.
An assortment o f circulars is
'
file in the Specialties Division whi^
briefly describe in word and pictur®
some o f the Germain coin handing
and coin vending machines. These j
are available fo r inspection upon re'
quest.
Electric measuring, counting, an^
registering
apparatus
and
parts
thereof imported into Germany P ^
a duty o f 100 marks per 100 kil°s*
Other mechanisms, as also automata
measuring and registering devices
without clockwork, and automatic
registering tills (not pedometers °r
cash registers), all, so far as they are
not subject to higher duties by re3"
son o f being combined with other
than common metals, pay 120 marks
per 100 kilos.
Returns From Legion
Convention in Europe
Have just returned from a three
months’ tour in Europe, where I at'
tended the American Legion conven­
tion, and read with interest the a r t i ­
cle in A U T O M A T IC A GE concern­
ing trips that others in the vending
machine industry have made in Eu­
rope.
L A W R E N C E BARCUS,
Operator,
Oolitic, Ind.
http://www.arcade-museum.com/