Automatic Age

T he A
u t o m a t ic
cents machines. Therefore, in that
department there ccn only be sold a
fixed number of items in each price
range. This condition can be relieved
hy changing the coin mechanism^ on
the machines, but this is neither an
instantaneous nor a fool-proof job.
The proper handling of machines
in general, (along the lines of effec­
tive placement, display of merchan­
dise, periodic filling, etc.), will re­
quire a new form of study for the
merchandise men, but will also pro­
vide them with new opportunities;
nobody has given much thought, as
yet, to what can really be accomplish­
ed through the skilled and effective
handling of thece units.
And lastly, they will be confronted
not only with the necessity for de­
termining the best type of unit for
each location, but also with the need
° f developing of ptoper service or­
ganization to ma ntain the machines
in perfect order at all times. The
manufacturer canot be counted upon
to repair a machine which may have
gone out of commission in the midst
° f a busy sale.
Made and Assembled on Unit Basis
The cost of automatic retailing
machines varies, of course, with the
type required. These machines are
made up from assemblies of “units.”
Each unit sells one item. Ten units
assembled into one cabinet would sell
10 different items. These units are
preferably made up by the manufac­
turer in “chassis” form— that is, all
the mechanism is assembled in a
metal framework; the cabinet work
lf> then built around them by the
8tore to match the fixtures and trim.
The simpler units require the cus­
tomer to operate a handle or crank
in order to effect delivery of the pac­
kage; the more elaborate units de­
liver the package automatically as
soon as the coin is inserted. They
retain the money in a locked steel
© International Arcade Museum
A
ge
13
box, (for which only the cashier’s de­
partment holds the key), and also
keep rather complete records of
transactions, like a cash register.
These machines have reached a
high point of development today.
They function with remarkable de­
pendability, in the face of rough and
thoughtless treatment received at the
hands of the public. They offer al­
most complete protection against
slugs and, what is much more im ­
portant, they are not put out of
commission
when
paper,
tinfoil,
matches and other foreign matters
are poked through the coin slot.
It should be obvious from the above
that no standard form of machine,
or stock model, is going to satisfy
the varied conditions to be met
among the retail stores. Specialized
machines cost more, but they are es­
sential to the success of automatic
retailing.
There seems to be a good deal of
mystery connected with change-mak­
ing machines, as though the device
had to think out the proper change
for the coin dropped into it. A ll the
machine actually does is to vend, say,
five nickels for the quarter dropped
into it, just as another machine might
vend a pack of razor blades for the
same quarter. The use of change
machines is restricted, however, by
the fact that they cannot change
bills, but only coins. In most busy
departments a cashier, or some clerk
who can change bills, is almost a
necessity.
Some people also seem to get quite
a kick out of the fact that a ma­
chine, in addition to giving out a
package in exchange for an inserted
coin, can also deliver the proper
change, coupons, receipts, advertis­
ing, etc. Obviously the machine will
deliver whatever is packed into it.
For example, an article to sell at 23
(Continued on page 19)
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