Automatic Age

AUTOMATIC AGE
August, 1939
Quality machines have to justify
the reputation of the manufacturer.
So they are precision built, of the
very best materials, by skilled work­
men. Quality machines are practic­
ally trouble free. Once placed on loca­
tion it is the very rare exception that
the operator ever has to make re­
pairs. Such machines commonly go
for two years or more without so
much as an adjustment.
Around the Corner Spots
There are certain locations that
stand out, that every operator is
after. You want to be in these spots.
But the smart operator is always on
the alert to discover good locations in
unexpected places where he will not
have to fight competition. The list of
possible locations is long. They in­
clude drug stores, confectioneries,
taverns, cigar stores, barber shops,
pool rooms, bowling alleys, theatre
lobbies, hotel lobbies, restaurants, fill­
ing stations, railroad stations, bat­
tery stations, country stores of many
kinds, and numerous other places
where the public is to be found con­
gregating at times when there is
leisure and inclination for amuse­
ment.
Don’t always judge a location by
expensive fixtures that adorn it, by
the neighborhood it is in, nor by the
appearance of the clientele that pat­
ronizes it. Some dingy location near
a busy factory may be a gold mine.
Some store near the terminus of a
street car line may be excellent. Some
isolated confectionery, cigar, or drug
store in a poor neighborhood with
few amusement facilities may be a
bonanza. Especially if you operate in
a fairly good sized city, you may
make some amazing discoveries as to
locations. Many times there are
small, obscure spots which partake
somewhat of the character of “social
centers” for neighborhoods. Men and
boys gather there to spend hours.
They take to coin machines like ducks
to water.
As the operator gets about he
should by all means investigate for
such locations, some of them with the
appearance of a “hole in the wall.”
They are “original discoveries” when
you find them, yeilding excellent re­
turns, and offering the greatest pos­
sible freedom from competition.
And here’s a point— if you operate
with quality machines. You will have
machines that have been on the firing
line in the hot spot locations for a
year or two. But because they are
quality machines they will be in good
serviceable, playing condition. Put
them into the out of the way spots
you discover. There they will begin
to earn big money all over again.
“Penny Play” Locations
There are many locations where
nickel play machines would not go—
neighborhoods where players consider
five cents too much. These are gen­
erally the poorer neighborhoods in
purse and appearance. But in many
such locations penny play machines
will do amazingly well . Most experi­
enced operators have such spots and
find that machines take in five, ten,
fifteen and more dollars a week with
remarkable regularity. Such locations
are not “educated” to demand all the
new machines that come out. The lo­
cation owner is likely to be keenly
and personally interested because of
his additional and unexpected revenue.
When Making Locations
Try to time collections to suit the
convenience of the location owner.
This will be at some hour when the
location is not extremely busy. When­
ever possible, find some out of the
way place in a store to count collec­
tions. Leave everything just as you
found it. If you have to move any­
thing on a table in a drug store, for
instance, put it back just where it
was. If you rumple a table cloth in
a restaurant, straighten it out before
you leave. Put chairs back where you
found them. These may seem small
things, but many location owners are
annoyed if you neglect them.
It is desirable to make collections
fairly often. The operator should
avoid too frequent collections, at in­
tervals when the machine could not
be expected to yield fair amounts.
But an important point is to get
around often enough so that you can
keep the location owner supplied with
change. Sometimes the location owner
© International Arcade Museum
83
is sufficiently interested to obtain
change from the bank. But ordinarily
it is necessary for the operator to see
from the change he collects or has
with him. Of course if the location
owner cannot make change for pa­
trons who want to play the machines,
it is just that much business lost.
Where your observations and your
study of the location owner seem to
justify, it has sometimes been the
practice to supply the location owner
with a limited number of slugs. Thi#
matter must of course be handled
judiciously. But where you feel it is
the wise thing to do, it will enable the
location owner to familiarize himself
with the machine and sometimes start
customers playing.
Always give your machines a care­
ful inspection at the time you collect.
See that they are in good mechanical
condition. Also see that they are
clean. Remove glass whenever neces­
sary and clean the playing board.
Meeting Unfair Competition
Operators sometimes encounter the
fellow who is willing to give the loca­
tion owner better than fifty per cent
of the net returns from a machine.
Do not cut your commission under
any circumstances. When you cut
commissions you invariably start
something you can’t finish. One con­
cession is likely to lead to another.
Besides if you cut your commissions
for one location owner, the fact is
almost sure to become known. The
location owner is probably of the kind
to try to “work the racket” on
another operator, for additional
“deals.” And that operator is very
likely to spread the news all along
the line. So before long, the operator
who cuts commissions for one loca­
tion is in hot water with all his other
locations. The outcome of such prac­
tice is operating loss and plenty of
grief.
No location is worth gaining or re­
taining on the basis of cut commis­
sions. Occasionally an unscrupulous
operator will employ cut commissions
to put into a location the same ma­
chine you already have there. If he
succeeds, there’s no use “fighting fire
with fire.” The location is not worth
it. Move your machine to another
location.
“ Also See T h a t They Are C le an "
The Problem of Servicing
You can’t make money with ma­
chines that are out of commission.
You can’t hold locations unless you
give quick service when a machine
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