Automatic Age

T h e A u t o m a t ic A ge
17
tematize records and bookkeeping and plan routine work to save time
and expense. Despite the waves of spring fever, this is the best time
to see much, hear much and read lots about the vending machine
business.
A Place in the Sun
While coin-operated machines have been in existence in this country
for more than two-score years, it is only in the last few years that
progress has been rather rapid toward standardization and organiza­
tion. Changes come so swiftly in these days of progress that one some­
times wonders what the next developments will reveal in relation to
the coin-machine trade. In the midst of all these developments one
fact stands out clearly— that the operator must be the center of the
stage in any vending plan. The operator is the human element that
must receive chief consideration if any plan is to develop successfully.
There may be a tendency at times to place emphasis either on the
machine or on the product, but in final analysis the operator is found
to be the pivotal cog in the wheel.
While operators as a group are assured of a place in the sun as the
automatic business goes on, yet for each individual there is a message
for serious thought. The large organizations that are now entering
the operating field are going to call for men of experience, plus an
ability to make progressive changes in keeping with the times. They
will not be looking for the old-time operator who can boast of several
years in the business and yet who has not kept himself posted on the
most recent trade advances. Even the individual operator, to hold his
place in the sun, cannot expect to keep himself apace by merely keep­
ing his eyes on his own machines. He must be big enough and pro­
gressive enough to note every new trend in the whole field of selling,
as fast as the trends become definite.
To the boys who recognize that changes are taking place, the busi­
ness of operating will be an interesting game. There will be no use
for anybody complaining and wishing for the good old days that were.
Getting Back on Schedule
While so many of the railroads are announcing new and faster
trains, we are now trying to get up some speed ourselves. We know
the aggravating effect on passengers who are waiting for these finest
and fastest of trains when the trains happen to be off schedule even a
few minutes. Everybody likes for trains— and magazines— to be on
time.
Since our move to new quarters last November, A u t o m a t i c A g e has
been late each month. Some mechanical upsets immediately follow­
ing the move were largely responsible for the first falling behind; then
the extra work of getting out the big February convention number
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