Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

ments have been formed with the Coin
Machine Operators of Philadelphia and
the Automatic Music Associa tion of New
Jersey, which have protected local oper-
ators in gaining and holding locations
for their machines at a reasonable rate
of profit.
The Association's importance has
grown until now the Philadelphia
branch numbers 58 members, with the
two subsidiary groups having 57 mem-
bers for a total of 115 members operat-
ing more than 8,000 phonograph ma-
chines in Eastern Pennsylvania and
New Jersey.
In this issue of the COIN MA-
CHINE REVIEW, recogmzmg that this
b ody has become one of the most im-
porta nt groups of its type in the coun-
try, has published an article reflecting
the views of this group on how the
phonograph business can best be estab-
lished on a solid, profitable basis for
operators, location owners, distributors
and manufacturers.
Newest members of the Association
are: Joy Music Company, Atlantic City,
N. J.; James Masselli, Vineland, N. J.;
Norman Smith, Laurel Springs, N. J.;
Frank Kuhn , Philadelphia; M. Petalis,
Claymont, Del.; and George Workman,
Chester, Pa.
Three Objectives Necessary to Return Phonograph
Operations to Normalcy
By WILIJAM NATHANSON
40
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
February I will mark history for Los
Angeles music operators. At a meeting
in the Clark Hotel an Association was
completed with a stale charter granted
for the purpose of promoting the phono-
graph business and putting it on a pay-
able basis. It will be known as the Inter-
national Association of Automatic Elec-
tric Phonograph Owners, Southern Cali-
. fornia Division, affiliated with the Inter-
national Association of Chicago.
E. C. Steffens, president of the Inter-
national, addressed the gathering from
Chicago on a special telephone hook-
up. We cannot give the readers his com-
plete talk as it would take many pages
and we are limited in space; however,
we will endeavor to give some points
of his talk.
Steffens Talks from Chicago
I quote: "We realize that y ou, like
all other phonograph owners in all other
cities of the nation, are struggling with
the obstacles of cut-throat competition,
chiseling, and unethical practices so
prevalent in the operating industry. Day
by day, week by week, month by month
these conditions are becoming more
ruinous and disastrous , except in those
cities where the great national move-
ment to stabilize this industry, through
the International Association, is in pro-
gress."
His speech then continued, giving a
full resume of how conditions are im-
proved in those cities where they are
already affiliated with the International
Association.
I quote again: "The New York local
association affiliated with the Interna-
tional November 16, and in January their
membership represented 7,788 instru-
ments, or more than 98% of the phono-
graphs in that city. So you may know
the enthusiasm of the members of that
organization. What the two largest
centers in the country-New York and
Chicago-have done in so short a time,
to correct chaotic conditions in the op-
erating industry that existed in those
cities, and to start the profits back into
the pockets of the phonograph owners,
can be duplicated by the third largest,
Los Angeles, if you will put forth the
same concentrated effort and coopera-
tion."
St. Louis Pitches in With Helping Hand
These are just a few excerpts from the
!chg talk given via telephone by Stef-
fens. Immediately after him another long
distance call came in from Martin Bal-
ensiefer, business agent and secretary
of the St. Louis Operators' Association.
His talk was also accepted with enthusi-
asm. It was a message of encourage-
ment to the gathering to put forth their
best efforts and do the same as other
large cities have done , namely to put
the phonograph business on a paying
basis.
Conditions Surveyed
The writer has just returned from an
extended trip through the East, and in
every city, small or large, found the
same enthu siastic movements by phono-
graph operators. Throughout the entire
United States phonograph operators are
looking to the Chicago International As-
sociation to come to their aid in organ-
izing, as it is impossible to continue
phonoqraph operation under existing
conditions.
Origin of Movement
We have been asked many questions.
Who started this movement? Who is
responsible for this idea? It is hard to
say exactly who was the first one, but
it is a known fact that one man is to be
given credit for starting the ball rolling
in the right direction. We refer to E. E.
Rullman, the able president of the A.M.I.
Distributing Company. His company op-
erates between 10,000 and 12,000 phono-
graphs throughout the United States,
and since even the large operating com-
pany is not immune to the terrible con-
dition in the phonograph business, he
was forced to search for a way out. It
was a selfish motive, true , but what was
wrong with it? If he can point the way
back to normal conditions, then he de-
serves the full credit due him.
It is Rullman and Steffens and their
associates in Chicago around whom the
entire national movement is now con-
centrated. When the Association is com-
pleted, with branches in every city of
the United States, the following three
major points will be accomplished:
Three Objectives
Normal operating conditions will be
reestablished, putting phonograph op-
erating again on a profitable basis. Op-
erators will then be in a position to add
new equipment which is so necessary,
now more than ever, since the public is
already educated to the idea of stream-
lined equipment in every line, and the
phonograph business is no exception to
this rule.
The second major point will give the
phonograph manufacturer an enormous
field for his output as it is the aim of
the Association that phonographs now
purchased should last for a three year
period only. One third of all phono-
graphs will therefore be replaced year-
ly. For example, we now have 15,000
phonographs in operation in the State
of California. One-third would make
5,000 machines to be replaced every
year. At that rate it will give phonograph
manufacturers a natural field for the
new models released yearly, and it is no
secret that there is plenty of room for
improvement in the phonograph busi-
ness insofar a s the manufacturer's out-
put is concerned, a s under existing con-
ditions the market for new equipment is
very limited.
The third and ma;or point that will be
obtained is that the public will be given
the very latest streamlined equipment,
thereby stimulating the busine ss and
giving a greater profit to both location
and tavern owners .
Here is a three point vogram which is
worth the efforts of all groups to com-
bine and work for. When we say "all"
groups we definitely mean the phono-
graph manufacturer, the jobber, and dis-
tributor, and the music operator.
The Man That Does the
"White-washing"
Returning to the local setup in Los
Angeles, and the local organization, I
would like to tell the readers about a
very important selection Southern Cali-
fornia operators made in electing Wil-
liam Corcoran their president.
Some of you may recall a moving
picture called "Tom Sawyer." A young
ambitious lad is white-washing an old
worn-out fence . He starts the job all by
himself and then the kids of the neigh-
borhood gather. They too would like to
take part in the white-washing. I men-
tion this story as a parallel to the work
of William Corcoran, president of the
Southern California Division. I have
been in close contact with him for sev-
eral months, and have watched him go
from one city to another - addressing
operators, attending meetings, carrying
on organization work-in other words
white-washing the phonograph busi-
ness.
In conclusion, I would like to thank
the editor of the REVIEW for being so
generous in giving this space to a
worthwhile cause like ours, namely to
organize operators in order to bring the
phonograph business back to normal.
e
Groetchen Tool
adds novelty games,
legal merchandisers.
CHICAGO.-Many a visitor to the
CMMA Show at the Sherman Hotel, last
month, expressed pleased surprise at
the new line of novelty games, amuse-
ment devices and legal merchandise
machines which have been added to
the well known Groetchen Tool Co. line
of Columbia Bells and automatic payout
counter games.
Groetchen's new Skill Jump game,
which many believe may be termed the
first successful vertical marble game,
held crowds spellbound from opening
to closing hours, according to report. A
number of prominent jobbers and oper-
ators evidenced their high expectations
for this game with substantial advance
orders, after having seen the tremen-
dous player-enthusiasm which was
manifested. A number of inclined sur-
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