Automatic Age

AUTOMATIC AGE, $1.00 per year. Published bi-monthly by Automatic Age, Inc., 4021 N. Melvina Ave., Chicago. Entered as
second class matter February 20, 1943, at the Post Office at Chicago, 111., under the Act of March 3, 1897. Printed in U .S .A .
O p p o r tu n itie s
W ill B e
f o r O p e r a t o r s in P o s t
All out war is really some­
thing-, isn’t it? Thousands of
marginal operators (those who
operate a route on a part time
basis, or to supplement income
of a salaried job) retired from
business as the problems of sup­
plies became tighter and tight­
er. Even the large operators
have trimmed sails — pulling
in machines from none too-well
paying locations. Others have
pulled machines to replace un­
usable machines in more profit­
able locations, and have com­
pressed their routes to permit
servicing within the limitations
of gas and tire rationing.
Two years ago, “ total war”
seemed to be just words that
would apply to certain indust­
ries and members of the armed
forces. M a n y thought t h e
words would not apply to them.
However, as the months pass­
ed, their meaning pinched more
and more businesses not en­
gaged in actual war produc­
tion. Machines were no longer
manufactured, parts got scar­
cer and scarcer, merchandise
became available in lesser and
lesser quantities. Yet problems
mounted, and on top of a l l
A bundant
W ar
these woes — stiff federal tax­
es, state taxes, and local taxes.
Only the strong could survive
the onslaught.
Gloom and pessimism strike
from every direction, and more
and more operators are having
their confidence shaken on the
“ comeback” of the coin opera­
ted machine industry. For ex­
ample, an operator writes:
“ During the past year I have
read week after week about
the tax troubles confronting
operators. Local, state, and fed­
eral taxes are taking a b i g
chunk of our income, but we
are able to keep going. Noth­
ing is accomplished by blaring
out these matters, and I fail to
see anything constructive about
crying over the tax situation.
Heavy taxes are not heaped on
coin machines alone, e v e r y
wage earner is paying heavy in­
come taxes, every corporation
is paying up to 9 0 % of its pro­
fits in taxes. I am of the opinion
that taxes are not our big prob­
lem. It is a h e a v y load, but
everyone else has a share of the
load, whether they are workers
or in business. To me, focusing
so much attention to only one
© International Arcade Museum
part of our problems, is merely
spreading g l o o m and pessi­
mism unnecessarily. I do not
believe that these wartime con­
ditions mean that the good old
days are gone forever. Better
times are coming, and the in­
dustry of which we are a part
needs more optimism about the
good opportunities that will be
ours and the returning service­
men, with the return of peace.”
Automatic Age l i k e s the
t h o u g h t expressed by this
operator. It does not believe in
an ostrich-like “ see-no-prob-
lems” manner. You c a n ’ t do
business as usual with all the
prerogatives and comforts of
peace time, in the midst of a
world conflict. But the world
we knew will not remain for
long in a topsy-turvy condition
following victory. The c o i n
operated machine industry has
made a place for itself in the
American way of life. Its fac­
tories have strengthened Uncle
Sam’s power with production
of war equipment, and its men
are serving in the a r m y and
navy in all parts of the world.
And manufacturers, distribu­
tors, and operators will again
pick up their peaceful pursuits
and perform all of its useful
services, and add many n e w
types of service.
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