Automatic Age

16
AUTOMATIC AGE
August, 1937
Interesting Observations on the
European Coin Machine Industry
By J. O.
B ates ,
Sales Manager, Pace Mfg. Co.
rious exhibits, so that an artistic
effect was maintained in practically
all o f the various booths. Mr. Godin
has visited many o f our coin shows
in this country, and naturally profited
very much from this experience. It
helped him materially in developing
the French show to such a high de­
gree o f perfection in so short a period
o f time. This third French show was
much further along in development
than our third show at the same cor­
responding period o f time.
France Excellent Coin Center
France is an excellent country for
coin machine operation at the present
time, being open to front and side
venders, pin ball machines, diggers,
etc. P ayoff is in checks, with the
player receiving candy, razor blades,
or mints fo r his money. The checks
are used to redeem premiums which
are mounted on the display board on
the venders. Checks are also good
fo r trade at cafes, fo r beverages only.
J. O. B A T E S
AVIN G just returned from a
trip to Europe, which included
visiting the Third Annual
French Coin Machine Show and sev­
eral coin machine centers, I received
many favorable impressions which I
should enjoy passing on to members
o f the coin operate 1 machine indus­
try. It is impossible in so short a
time as I was on the Continent to
make a lengthy and detailed comment
on conditions, but there are several
impressions which I should like to
pass on to others.
H
The Third Annual French Coin
Machine Show, which no doubt is al­
ready familiar to most o f the readers
of the A u t o m a t i c A g e , was held at
the Hotel Continental in Paris, May
27, 28, and 29. It was the biggest
and most elaborate o f any o f the
form er French coin shows, both in
attendance and number o f exhibits.
The show was very elaborately
planned and promoted under the di­
rection o f Rene Godin, publisher o f
the French trade paper, “ La Revue
de l’Automatique.” It compares very
favorably with the annual American
coin show. In many aspects it was
better than our show, due to the
European flare for showmanship and
artistry. Much time, careful thought,
and preparation was given to the va­
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The cafes are, o f course, the best
type o f location, and in Paris there
are about fifteen thousand cafes, most
o f them o f the open air or sidewalk
type. The cafe is the average French­
man’s club or social center; he is
there at noon and in the evening,
practically every day. There he meets
his friends and has something to eat
and drink. The large cities o f France
are naturally the best outlets fo r coin
machines, and this is due to the con­
centration o f wealth among the few
people in the large cities. The many,
many small French cities and villages
are usually o f the rural type, and
there is very little comparison be­
tween modes o f diversion, recreation,
fashion, and habits in a French city
o f twenty-five thousand people and
those in a city o f the same size in
the United States.
(Continued on page 22)
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