Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Jerse.y Specialty Bas
Interesting Growth
SINGAC New Jersey - On Ro ute 23, Newark-
Pompton Turnpike, next to the Passaic River Bridge -'
stands one of the most interesting jobbing and dis-
tributing organizations in the coin machine field in
the state of New Jersey-the Jersey Specialty Co.
Boasting the finest' and largest display rooms in
the state, Jersey Specialty, under the capable owner-
ship and management of Peter H~gedoo~n, has taken
its place along with the leaders m the mdustry.
The company was organized in August, 1931, when
pin games were just starting to flood out of C~ica!l0
like the swollen waters of a flood stream breakmg Its
banks. New manufacturers were springing up all
over the nation and the public had taken the marble,
or pin, games to their hearts.
But to start our story at the beginning we must go
back to 1929 when Peter Hagedoorn first became in·
terested in coin-controlled devices and started to
operate. His first machines consisted of an assortment
of peanut machines, ball gum machines, Penny Four
Jacks Barn Yard Golf, A. B. T. Target and Pocket
Pool. ' "In those days," says Hagedoorn, "it was un-
heard of to pay a location 50% commission. The
customary commission at that time was 20% on
merchandising machines and 25% on amusement
devices."
About 1930 Hagedoorn began to 'act as salesman
for different machines and sold the first Masters in
the State of New Jersey. He also lays claim to being
t he first to sell a pin ball game in the state. It was
a game called Roll Over and was manufactured by
the Hercules Manufacturing Co. of Chicago.
Roll Over was a small counter game but it was an
instant hit. "I recall that we sold several of these to
an opera tor in Belmar, New Jersey, who in turn
placed them on the Boardwalk," said Hagedoorn.
"The game grossed $25.00 in pennies the firs t week.
We sold them to the operator at $19.50 each.
"Then along came the games called Whiffle, Baffle
Ball, Ballyhoo, Screwy, and a number of others. In
1931, we saw .great possibilities with new operators
coming into the business from the huge ranks of un·
employed. We opened a store at the present address.
We have seen the operators grow from day to day,
and in less than six months there were more than
eighty operating routes in the two counties closest
to us.
"We have always maintained and carried a com-
plete line of merchandise machines and games of all
kinds that we felt we could offer to our customers as
genuine money-makers. Then too, at all times we
have carried a complete stock of parts for any oper-
ating emergency."
Asked concerning the policies of Jersey Specialty,
Peter Hagedoorn explained: "Our policies have al-
ways been to give excellent service and to do every-
thing in our power to help the operator with his
numerous problems. We have organized operators'
Organizations in order to solve many of their prob-
lems in the way of commissions, jumping locations,
etc. We have conducted a clean, legitimate jobbing
business and our sales and showrooms have been
proclaimed the finest and largest in the state through·
TOP: The beautilul phonograph and movie displa y room 01 the Jersey Specialt y Co.,
out our years of doing business."
01 Singac, New Jersey. Phonographs are displayed on a raised platform, a Ste wart
In addition to the hundreds of customers Jersey
Fi/mtone machine is shown in the center, and cigarette merchandisers on the 'eft.
Specialty Co. regularly serves in the New England
CENTER: This photo shows more of the huge stock 01 new and used cigareHe
area, the firm is now doing business with countless
vendors always in stock. The t wo gentlemen at t he lelt in this photo are compan y
numbers of operators in other parts of the coun try.
mechanics while at the right is seated Peter Hage doorn, owner and manager
National advertising in THE REVIEW and other publi-
01 Jersey Specialty. BOTTOM: Th e marble game room where a complete assortm ent
cations has brought a new family of customers to
01 proven money-makers is always on display.
join those that have found Jersey Specialty an ex-
cellent house to do business with in the years gone by. These new
much as $100.00 a week operating with a high score prize. How-
customers are finding a personalized type of service that has been
ever, the .game has been shelved for the duration but when nor-
the pride and joy of Jersey Specialty Co. since its founding.
malcy again returns to the manufacturing activities of the industry
Hagedoorn in tends to turn it over to some enterprising organization.
Besides guiding the destinies of Jersey Specialty, Hagedoorn has
dabbled on the inventive side of the picture from time to time and
To operators on the Eastern seaboard, and those visiting in the
a short while ago worked out an idea for a game that combined
East, Jersey Specialty Co. extends a warm invitation to visit them
features usually found on marble tables with those of a pool table.
at their spacious home. "The latchstring is always out and we are
Jersey Specialty mechanics built models for location tests and ten
never too busy to sit down and talk with any operator at any
were placed. They proved to be a big success and some grossed as
time," concluded Hagedoorn.
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
5
fOR
SEPT.
1942