Automatic Age

LOCATION EMPLOYEES ARE BIG BOOSTERS OF
R IN G THE BELL F O R
Since the “RING THE BELL
FOR UNCLE SAM” idea was
developed for the purpose of dis­
posing of Defense Stamps and
at the same time increase the
earnings of phonograph oper­
ators, many operators have tried
out this plan and found it to be
very successful. Not only does
it dispose of many Defense
Stamps to help the Government
for the good cause of defeating
the enemy, but it also increases
the earnings for the operator
and the location owner as well.
In operating this plan in con­
nection with phonographs, it
is interesting to note the keen
interest shown by location own­
ers and all employees in the
locations, who very willingly sell
the idea to the patrons. It is
very common for the bartender
to tell c u s t o m e r s to drop
quarters in the phonograph so
that they may get 5 tunes plus a
10c Defense Stamp FREE. In
many instances, of course, the
bartender is also saving a book
of Defense Stamps. A great
many times patrons dropping
quarters in the phonograph are
desirous of doing a favor for
the bartender and therefore give
him the Defense Stamp for the
book he is saving for his kiddies
or his wife. Naturally, the bar­
tender is interested in the pro­
motion for this reason as well as
keeping the place live with music
as a result of the phonograph
playing more often due to the
promotion.
Everybody Boosts Idea
The waitresses also are found
selling the customers on the idea
of putting a quarter in the
phonograph to enable them to
get a 10c Defense Stamp FREE
and, of course, in many in­
stances the waitresses or waiters
also are saving Defense Stamps
so where the customer does not
UNCLE S A M "
take the stamp, he very oblig­
ingly allows the waitress or
waiter to put it in his or her
book.
Everybody is working for the
phonograph, it seems, when the
“R I N G T H E B E L L FOR
UNCLE SAM” idea is in oper­
ation. The patrons get into the
spirit and join in very freely.
Men with their sweethearts and
friends are more inclined to
drop quarters in the phonograph
than ever before. This is proven,
of course, by the receipts which
have increased to figures almost
unbelievable. In one particular
location in Chicago where a tele­
phone set is in operation the
operator reported over 100
quarters for a 7-day collection.
This means 100 Ten Cent De­
fense Stamps. This of course is
an exceptional spot, but many
locations report 40 to 50 quar­
ters every week in locations
where they normally would get
only 3 or 4 quarters a wreek.
This average has been maintain­
ed for 10 weeks.
Bell-Ringer For A ll
The “RIN G THE BELL FOR
UNCLE SAM” idea was devel­
oped by Jack Nelson of the
Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corpo­
ration and has been given to all
music operators regardless of
what phonographs operated. It
works on any make phonograph
with a quarter chute. It is truly
a plan to help the operator and
the location owner and certainly
is a dandy to dispose of Defense
Stamps for the Government to
help us in our Defense Program,
or should we say Offense Pro­
gram, now that we are going to
slap the Japs with bullets pur­
chased from the revenue created
through Automatic phonographs
and the endeavors of music oper­
ators throughout the country.
28
© International Arcade Museum
AUTOMATIC AGE
A letter received by Jack Nel­
son from the Treasury Depart­
ment is a. credit to the efforts of
the phonograph i n d u s t r y in
their endeavors to help the Gov­
ernment during the emergency.
•••.
■
'
Idea Inspires Song
' . The “RIN G THE BELL FOR
UNCLE SAM” idea has become
so popular that it has attracted
the attention of orchestras, song
writers, and recording compan­
ies. It has been reported that a
scmg has been composed and Art
Kassel recorded it on Bluebird
record a few days ago. The title
is “RIN G THE BELL FOR
UNCLE SAM”, and should
prove a fine cooperative addi­
tion with the idea when placed
on phonographs using this pro­
motion to dispose of Defense
Stamps and increase the earn­
ings of phonograph operators.
Of course, the net increase is
the thing most important to
phonograph operators. We have
found through a survey made
in Chicago that net increases for
the operator for each location
run from $1.50 to $3.00 per
week increase. The cost of put­
ting the switch on the phono­
graph which makes contact to
“ring the bell” indicating the
patron is entitled to a 10c De­
fense Stamp FREE, and also
the 2 or 3 signs used in the place
to advertise the plan, plus the
cost of the bell, will run about
$3.50 or $4.00 for the entire ex­
pense. All of the material can
be purchased locally with the
exception of possibly the switch,
which can be purchased from
the phonograph manufacturer
or can be made by a good phono­
graph mechanic in their own
shop.
The February issue of Auto­
matic Age contained a full ex­
planation of just how to apply
the “RIN G THE BELL FOR
March, 1942
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