Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Airpops-It,
n ew est corn v endor,
re ady for Show.
CHICAGO.-Said to incorporate a
number of revolutionary features , an
entirely new popcorn vending machine
manufactured by Airpops-It, Inc. , will
be shown at the 1938 Coin Machine
Show at the Sherman. New in principle,
the Airpops-It machine uses corn sci-
entifically prepared for popping, which
reportedly insures greater bulk, delici-
ous flavor and considerably more rapid
popping. This pre-prepared corn is
floated in a bath of hot air before the
cus tomer's eyes at an exactly controlled
temperature without the use of any
grease, and comes out uniform regard-
less of outside temperature or other
factors.
Inse rtion of a coin in the slugproof
chute dumps the ready corn into the air
bath which agitates and pops it to
maximum size and goodness. Mean-
while the cus tomer gets a flat-bottomed
bag from the positive bag dispenser
which releases but one at a time, and
when the corn is done , makes his choice
by m e ans of a selector knob of either
the dry corn, salted to taste, or the
seasoned corn, termed "buttered" by
the layman.
Positive heat transfer by means of the
hot air bath is said to be so efficient
that the machine has the lowest possi-
ble current consumption. Again, the hot
air principle insures sanitation and
easy cleaning. Servicing requires less
than five minutes ' time , and may be
done from the front of the machine.
Without having access to the cash
drawer the location owner may add
more corn and bags if required.
Built ruggedly of 2o-gauge steel, the
cabinet is five-feet , six inches high and
fourteen-inches deep, of canary yellow
trimmed in black, and with chromium
plated fittings. The only moving part is
a small, proven motor that runs only
during the actual popping period. The
motor is guaranteed for the life of the
machine.
•
A man was discovered by his wife
one night standing over his baby's crib.
Silently she watched him. As he stood
looking down at the sleeping infant,
she saw in his face a mixture of emo-
tions-rapture, doubt, admiration, des-
pair, ecstasy, incredulity. Touched and
wondering alike at this unusual paren-
tal attitude and the conflicting emo-
tions, the wife, with eyes glistening,
aros e and slipped her arms around him.
"A penny for your thoughts," she said
in a voice tremulous with tenderness.
Startled into consciousness, he blurted
them out: "For the life of me, I can't see
how anybody can make a crib like
that for three forty-nine! "
"
" Gosh, baby, someone must be talk-
ing bad about you-your ears are red."
"Yeah, I know-that's my darned con-
science again! "
Dear Editor: .
I call my girl friend "Gossip." Can
you guess why?
-Dizzy Izzy.
Dear Izzy:
Probably because she goes from
mouth to mouth.
NI\TIONll AlUSDIDT
Chosen for th e convenience of th e greatest number of operators, the new headquarters of
N ational Amusement Company at 1403 JI7 est Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, are
shown here. National is doing a fine job as distributor for Ro ck-Ola products in Southern
California. From left to right, executives and members of the staff which serves coinmen:
Martin V. "Bud" Smith , general manager; Rob ert "Bob" Stark, president ; Miss Thelma
Hopkinson, secretary; Phonograph Operator Bob Huds.on; Art Friedman , in charge of th e
record department ; Operator Jim W est ; Bill Leonard, head mechanic.
Public Likes
Sani-Popt Vendor
visibility, Rock-Ola
discovery.
CHICAGO.-" See what you hear" is
the theme of a recent survey made by
the Rock-Ola Mfg. Corp. and its distri-
butors and representatives, in which it
was disclosed that about 85 percent of
the people who play phonographs enjoy
watching the mechanism change re-
cords every time a new number is
played. Indication is that the general
public is fascinated with the switch in
records, with never a miss, and the easy
motion of the needle which starts off
the record without a scratch.
Likewise, as a sidelight on the sur-
vey, it was disclosed that Rock-Ola op-
erators marvel at the non-scratching
needle whenever they remember that
not many years ago m ost records wore
out rapidly because the tone-arm drop-
ped onto the disc, spoiling the needle
at the same time. With adoption of the
multi-selector principle the Rock-Ola
phonographs lift the record gently up
to the needle, insuring more revenue
with customers satisfied by reproduc-
tion qualities.
In several instances, during the re-
cent survey, investigators discovered
people moving their chairs right up to
the machine to watch the changing
mechanism which is always visible
through the glass on the Rock-Ola in-
strument. In Chicago, in one particular
case, the entire mechanism was en-
closed in glass, and earnings increased
by more than 30 percent, according to
report.
•
made by leading
designer.
LOS ANGELES.-Following a seven-
months ' test, the new Sani-Popt popcorn
vendor which uses corn already popped,
insuring simplicity of operation, unifor-
mity of product and fast servicing, has
been announced ready for nationwide
distribution. Small in size and weigh-
ing but 75 pounds, the machine is said
to be an easy one to handle.
Sani-Popt is made by Kunkel Metal
Products Co. , headed by Victor M. Kun-
kel who has been in business in Los
Angeles since 1906. His familiarity with
the coin machine business and with
operators' problems g o es back over a
number of years. He has designed and
engineered a number of hit games and
coin operated service devices which
have had a national acceptance and
proven very satisfactory.
•
In some respects the idea of finger-
printing the children seems to be a good
one. At least it would settle the question
as to who used the guest towel in the
bathroom.
20-Records Preferred
CHICAGO.-Seventy-nine percent of
the people prefer 2o-record phono-
graphs, according to a recent survey
made by Rock-Ola Mfg. Corp. 5 percent
favor 12-record machines, 13 percent 16-
records . and but 3 percent want more
than 20 records. Basis of this informa-
tion , which was gathered in large, small
and tiny towns all over the nation, and
secured from the patron, the location
owner and the operator, came through
the revelation that the average person
remembered between 17 and 20 song-
titles. The checkup revealed that most
persons have but a few favorites at a
time , forgetting older titles as newer
ones win them. The operators' slant was
said to be a close parallel with that
of the general public.
•
109
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW