Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)
Issue: 1939 April - Page 51
News from the
Heorl of Americo
By B. K. ANDERSON
KANSAS CITY, MO. (RC)-With the
coming of spring, the sun shines bright
on the coin machine industry in the
Heart of America. There is news and
plenty of it. Perhaps, one of the most
important news stories to come out of
this area in many months is the an-
nouncement of a legislative victory for
operators in the State of Arkansas.
Operation of free play machines has
been legalized in Arkansas. Undoubt-
edly this is the best single piece of
news that has developed in this sector
in many months. Not only will it mean
a new profitable era for operators in the
Arkansas area, but undoubtedly it will
have a decided effect ,on all such legis-
lation submitted to the legislatures of
the other slates in this section.
This spring and summer season
should be the most profitable in history
for operators both in southern Missouri
and Arkansas . As a great deal of this
equipment is distributed through Kan-
sas City showrooms, it s hould give op-
erators in this part of the country an
opportunity to attend the premiere of all
new equipment that is developed in the
coming months.
Many operating firms with Kansas
City headquarters have locations which
extend into or near this new boom area.
No doubt the influence of the Arkansas
operators' enthusiasm will help sur-
rounding territory, and we predict the
boom will and is spreading beyond
state lines and that 1939 will be a ban-
ner year for all Missouri Valley op-
erators.
In Missouri proper the Governor and
opposing political factions are still hav-
ing words. Although the picture gives
evidence of finding a solution in the
near future, coin machine ranks are less
awed by it and expansion is going
ahead at a better than normal pace.
Local sales charts indicate an increase
in the influx of new equipment sold
this year over 1938.
The popularity of automatic music,
growing steadily during the last six
months , has reached a new peak. With-
out exception all three of the leading
music operating and distributing firms
of Kansas City report a vast upswing in
demand and sales during the past thirty
days .
At the Central Distributing Company,
R. F. Mason, who co-directs Central's
destiny with Tim Crummitt, says that the
firm hasn't a new Wurlitzer phonog raph
in the building. Increased orders for the
machines went in months ago but ship-
ments from the factory have made Cen-
tral just a forwarding station between
operators and the manufacturer. Opera-
tion of music has never been more
profitable in this vicinity, he says.
At the United Amusement Company
Carl Hoelzel is also much enthused
about the way Missouri Valley coins are
clicking into automatic music boxes.
Carl operates and distributes Rock-Olas
and has recently added ·new members
to his music operating staff.
Frank Schrogl, genial owner and man-
ager of the Western Distributing Com-
pany, handling the Mills line, says that
lots of operators who were operating
other equipment until about six months
ago have turned to music.
Schrogl believes this is the most op-
portune lime in the history of the busi-
nes s to begin the operation of automatic
machines . "Business is picking up," he
s tates, "music is gaining great popular-
ity because equipment is much better
than in former years and the public is
getting the automatic music habit. The
many places where the public loiter for
any length of time have good music
boxes and the public is gettin;;i the
habit of playing these machines to the
benefit of all music operators."
Dutch Darkow, Unite d Amusement
Company operator, and Charles Katz,
Bally Manufacturing Company repre-
sentative, have just returned to Kansas
City after a trip of several weeks that
carried them through Kansa s, Nebraska
and Western Missouri.
The primary aim of the trip was to
merchandise the Bally line for United
Amusement Company and the district
sales director, Carl Hoelzel. Darkow and
Katz report that they had a very enjoy-
able trip visiting several hundred oper-
ators. The outlook in the farm belt was
never better, they say.
On the sales tax front , the news is de-
cidedly good. The Kansas mills tax
token headache passes out of the pic-
ture in June of this year. The Missouri
tax, however, gives evidence of linger-
ing a while yet. Operators of cigarette
machines have settled the problem by
taking the ta x out of the location's s hare
and have los t little business in this ma-
neuver. In most area s the location's
special tax for a permit to sell cigarettes
makes it unprofitable for him to mer-
chandise the packs over the counter.
A good chance for a swell picture of
(See KANSAS CITY, Page 64)
.All Operators .Agree -
"IT'S TOPS!"
The NEW
51
20 Record
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
PHONOGRAPH
" Haste did not make waste" . ..
Something worth waiting for.
This beautifully illuminated pho-
nograph , now ready for deliv•
ery, will add to the beauty and
charm of the finest of locations.
The beauty of design-stream-
lined for the "ACE" locations,
and acclaimed by every experi-
enced operator as the "Las t
word in music and beauty" ...
unduplicated elsewhere. All in
all, it is the phonograph for
1939-1940 and many years to
come ... The fines t musical in-
strument made.
Check These Features
Check these features . . . New
fool-proof s e lector, New record-
changing mechanism, improved
coin chute-takes Sc, !0c, 25c,
100% slug-proof (at no extra
cost) , fifteen inch speaker, bril-
liantly illuminated at extra low
cos t, piano key board, record
cancellation button, front end
cas h box, twelve s econd record-
changer.
We Ask That You Make a Comparison!
A WORD TO ALL OPERATORSl!I Bes ides having the MILLS 20-RECORD PHONOGRAPH,
we also have the Mills comple te line of coin operated devices-write for our prices.
NOVELTY GAMES . . . We are fast becoming distributors for all the leading manufacturers
of novelty games. Write for our prices on all the late games, both new and used. We
cordially invite you to visit us on your next trip to Kansas City, Mis souri, 3425-29 Market
Street.
EXCLUSIVE MILLS DISTRIBUTORS FOR WESTERN MISSOURI & KANSAS
Western Distributing Company
3429 MAIN STREET
KANSAS CITY, MO.
Phone: VALENTINE 1402
https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com
Heorl of Americo
By B. K. ANDERSON
KANSAS CITY, MO. (RC)-With the
coming of spring, the sun shines bright
on the coin machine industry in the
Heart of America. There is news and
plenty of it. Perhaps, one of the most
important news stories to come out of
this area in many months is the an-
nouncement of a legislative victory for
operators in the State of Arkansas.
Operation of free play machines has
been legalized in Arkansas. Undoubt-
edly this is the best single piece of
news that has developed in this sector
in many months. Not only will it mean
a new profitable era for operators in the
Arkansas area, but undoubtedly it will
have a decided effect ,on all such legis-
lation submitted to the legislatures of
the other slates in this section.
This spring and summer season
should be the most profitable in history
for operators both in southern Missouri
and Arkansas . As a great deal of this
equipment is distributed through Kan-
sas City showrooms, it s hould give op-
erators in this part of the country an
opportunity to attend the premiere of all
new equipment that is developed in the
coming months.
Many operating firms with Kansas
City headquarters have locations which
extend into or near this new boom area.
No doubt the influence of the Arkansas
operators' enthusiasm will help sur-
rounding territory, and we predict the
boom will and is spreading beyond
state lines and that 1939 will be a ban-
ner year for all Missouri Valley op-
erators.
In Missouri proper the Governor and
opposing political factions are still hav-
ing words. Although the picture gives
evidence of finding a solution in the
near future, coin machine ranks are less
awed by it and expansion is going
ahead at a better than normal pace.
Local sales charts indicate an increase
in the influx of new equipment sold
this year over 1938.
The popularity of automatic music,
growing steadily during the last six
months , has reached a new peak. With-
out exception all three of the leading
music operating and distributing firms
of Kansas City report a vast upswing in
demand and sales during the past thirty
days .
At the Central Distributing Company,
R. F. Mason, who co-directs Central's
destiny with Tim Crummitt, says that the
firm hasn't a new Wurlitzer phonog raph
in the building. Increased orders for the
machines went in months ago but ship-
ments from the factory have made Cen-
tral just a forwarding station between
operators and the manufacturer. Opera-
tion of music has never been more
profitable in this vicinity, he says.
At the United Amusement Company
Carl Hoelzel is also much enthused
about the way Missouri Valley coins are
clicking into automatic music boxes.
Carl operates and distributes Rock-Olas
and has recently added ·new members
to his music operating staff.
Frank Schrogl, genial owner and man-
ager of the Western Distributing Com-
pany, handling the Mills line, says that
lots of operators who were operating
other equipment until about six months
ago have turned to music.
Schrogl believes this is the most op-
portune lime in the history of the busi-
nes s to begin the operation of automatic
machines . "Business is picking up," he
s tates, "music is gaining great popular-
ity because equipment is much better
than in former years and the public is
getting the automatic music habit. The
many places where the public loiter for
any length of time have good music
boxes and the public is gettin;;i the
habit of playing these machines to the
benefit of all music operators."
Dutch Darkow, Unite d Amusement
Company operator, and Charles Katz,
Bally Manufacturing Company repre-
sentative, have just returned to Kansas
City after a trip of several weeks that
carried them through Kansa s, Nebraska
and Western Missouri.
The primary aim of the trip was to
merchandise the Bally line for United
Amusement Company and the district
sales director, Carl Hoelzel. Darkow and
Katz report that they had a very enjoy-
able trip visiting several hundred oper-
ators. The outlook in the farm belt was
never better, they say.
On the sales tax front , the news is de-
cidedly good. The Kansas mills tax
token headache passes out of the pic-
ture in June of this year. The Missouri
tax, however, gives evidence of linger-
ing a while yet. Operators of cigarette
machines have settled the problem by
taking the ta x out of the location's s hare
and have los t little business in this ma-
neuver. In most area s the location's
special tax for a permit to sell cigarettes
makes it unprofitable for him to mer-
chandise the packs over the counter.
A good chance for a swell picture of
(See KANSAS CITY, Page 64)
.All Operators .Agree -
"IT'S TOPS!"
The NEW
51
20 Record
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
PHONOGRAPH
" Haste did not make waste" . ..
Something worth waiting for.
This beautifully illuminated pho-
nograph , now ready for deliv•
ery, will add to the beauty and
charm of the finest of locations.
The beauty of design-stream-
lined for the "ACE" locations,
and acclaimed by every experi-
enced operator as the "Las t
word in music and beauty" ...
unduplicated elsewhere. All in
all, it is the phonograph for
1939-1940 and many years to
come ... The fines t musical in-
strument made.
Check These Features
Check these features . . . New
fool-proof s e lector, New record-
changing mechanism, improved
coin chute-takes Sc, !0c, 25c,
100% slug-proof (at no extra
cost) , fifteen inch speaker, bril-
liantly illuminated at extra low
cos t, piano key board, record
cancellation button, front end
cas h box, twelve s econd record-
changer.
We Ask That You Make a Comparison!
A WORD TO ALL OPERATORSl!I Bes ides having the MILLS 20-RECORD PHONOGRAPH,
we also have the Mills comple te line of coin operated devices-write for our prices.
NOVELTY GAMES . . . We are fast becoming distributors for all the leading manufacturers
of novelty games. Write for our prices on all the late games, both new and used. We
cordially invite you to visit us on your next trip to Kansas City, Mis souri, 3425-29 Market
Street.
EXCLUSIVE MILLS DISTRIBUTORS FOR WESTERN MISSOURI & KANSAS
Western Distributing Company
3429 MAIN STREET
KANSAS CITY, MO.
Phone: VALENTINE 1402
https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).