Automatic Age

October, 1937
167
AUTOMATIC AGE
Make your plans now to attend the
1938 Coin Show at Chicago, Jan. 17,
18, 19 and 20.
1937 Coin Machine Exports Expected to
Set Peak Record
T^XPORTS of coin-operated machines
have been maintaining approxi­
mately the same total values for the
last three years, but a decided increase
is noted in this year’s foreign sales,
according to figures at the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce. The
figures did not include exports of
weighing scales or musical instru­
ments.
Our best customers for the mechan­
ical gadgets are France, the United
Kingdom and Canada, with Australia,
British India and Netherlands buying
amounts greatly in excess of the aver­
age. The smallest sale for 1936 was
made with Austria, which bought a
mechanical game of chance, although
the Commerce Bureau calls this type
of merchandise “other coin-operated
machines.” The bureau experts do not
analyze the export record for the
cause and effect, but from the figures
there can be determined that com­
modity vending machines are more
and more engaging the interests of
foreign buyers.
In 1934 the total value of exports
amounted to $1,478,990, a falling off
noted in 1935, with a total $1,407,218
but for the first six months of
1937 foreign sales amounting to over
$1,500,000 gave indication that a new
record may be set. Up to May, each
succeeding month shows a substantial
increase which is as follows: January,
$99,662; February, $122,683; March
$298,772; April, $354,871, and May,
$409,481 while June slid off to $248,­
758.
machines. Argentina imported from
the United States 240 vending ma­
chines amounting to $2,384. Brazil in
the same period bought 106 vending
units amounting to $518. Today sales
to each of the South American na­
tions are as follows: Argentina, $13,
867; Brazil $12,566; Colombia $634;
Ecuador and Venezuela, $117, Canada
bought 3,574 vending machines val­
ued at $117,652 and 6,219 other de­
vices valued at $225,304, making a
total of $342,956.
Among the American mechanical
items to attract attention of foreign
markets is the coin-operated photo­
graphic booth and inquiries received
by the Bureau of Foreign and Domes­
tic Commerce were answered with
complete information of various makes
in this country. Phonographs have
not met with gi’eat success in foreign
markets because of radio and competi­
tion from live musicians who are
numerous and are cheap to hire.
About the only prospects seem to be
amusement parks, or the bars fre­
quented by American or European
tourists who like to dance. Nearly all
nations impose heavy custom duties on
coin machines and some absolutely
prohibit importation of gambling ma­
chines, but nevertheless numerous
American-made devices are to be
found in various centers of these
countries.
Classified as “other coin-operated
machines” are pinball games, other
amusement machines and gambling
devices. This group leads the vend­
ing machines both in number of units
sold to foreign markets and in value,
but vending machines each year are
obtaining a larger portion of total
sales.
The latest figures available which
are broken down for sales to each
country is in 1936 and these show
that South American customers bought
over $28,000 worth of American-made
coin machines. Argentina and Brazil
by far the biggest buyers in the
Southern Continent, show a distinct
preference for merchandise vending
H E R E ’S A T IP !
IT S
TOPS
UNIVERSAL
acclaimed the
finest toy and
bulk merchandiser
of its kind.
See your jobber or
write us at once for
complete details and
low prices.
Victor Vending Corp.
4203 W. Fullerton Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
Lineup
© International Arcade Museum
of Operators Awaiting their "Around
W orld" games at D. Robbins & Co.
the
http://www.arcade-museum .com /