Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

SAN FRANCISCO
(Continued from Page 74)
are busy converting the upper floors to be
worthy components. When it's all com·
pleted, according to Huber, California
Amusement Co.'s San Francisco branch
will be "the show place of the city." They
intend to have a showing of new equip·
ment after the first of the year at all
branches.
Concurrent with our visit to California
Amusement Co., Don A. Woolsey arrived
from Stockton to buy equipment. Woolsey
is a large scale operator throughout the
San Joaquin Valley.
W. H. "Bill" Smith, manager of Califor-
nia's San Diego br~nch spent several days
here.
At Clark Distributing Co. business activ-
ities were momentarily eclipsed by family
affairs. Considered as top news was that
Mrs. Don Clark had presented her husband
with a son, William Pardee Clark weigh-
ing at his debut 9 pounds and 5' ounces_
This makes the fourth son for the Clarks.
But even in the business field there were
some very interesting developments_ Ken-
neth W. Popkey, manager, said that the
entire building is being revamped, and
the work is rapidly nearing completion. It
was found that the very bright front was
not right for a showroom; detracting much
from the colorful equipment. So now a new
showroom and a parts department are be-
ing established in the rear of the building.
Also, there was a three days branch man-
COIN
ager's conference held here at which par-
MACHINE ticipated: Kenneth W. Popkey, San Fran-
aE'IIEW
cisco; Bill Schetter, Los Angeles and E. L.
Horiskey, Seattle. Don Clark is in Chicago
confering with Wurlitzer officials.
There are brisk doings at Associates
Rock-Ola distributors. Though already hav:
FOR
ing two premises on Union Street, a third
DECEMBER building was taken over to take care of
1945
the ever expanding business. George R.
Murdock said: "We are so busy we hardly
know where to begin. Just in one day we
76
Photo Electric
RIFLE RANGE
CONVERSION
FOR
"Shoot tlte Jap" • •• "Chick-
en Sams" • • • "Convicts".
are all making top dollars
when converted Into the
brand new Colnex Photo
Electric Rlfte Range. Can be
Installed on location In 20
minutes by anyone; has
great player appeal; loca-
tion-tested. Rlfte Range in-
cludes all the old target
principles. As stundard as
sugar and lalt.
$14.75
in lots of 3
$17.50
sample
f.o.b. factory
SEE
PAUL A. LAYMON
DISTRIBUTOR
1503 W." Pleo
Los Aav .... 15
had thirty-five operators call in here, some
from as far away as Hawaii. Edgar Walker
from Honolulu, operating a wired music
studio, was in looking for new equipment
and r eplacement parts." E. George Ben-
nett, of Associates said that he and Mur-
dock had a very nice trip up North. Asso-
ciates hope to have some Rock-Ola samples
b~ next month. It is also expected that Cap-
tal~ Fred. Neumann, who had such a big
wrIte-up In THE REVIEW last month will
soon join the family of Associates. George
Prock, Rock-Ola distributor in Texas but
with the Armed Forces for the last se'veral
years, is here at Fort Mason, and expects
to get his discharge this week. After that
he intends to go to Chicago to confer with
Rock-Ola officials.
That "the coin machine business is going
to be very, very big in the near future"
is the considered opinion of X. H. (Heini~)
Grusenmeyer, in the coin machine business
for over fifteen years, and he is laying his
plans accordingly. Heinie owns the Mission .
Distributing Co. He is a jobber and also
an operator. The service department is
staffed by capable, experienced mechanics
and can give excellent service on all amuse-
ment equipment. Grusenmeyer is active on
behalf of returned war veterans. He had
taken on two, experienced in the field, but
new to his organization. He has also been
instrumental in placing half a dozen more
with other firms. His own service depart-
ment will be expanded as warranted by
conditions. Grusenmeyer is taking on many
new locations with rebuilt equipment to be
ready when the new equipment becomes
available. Besides the individual locations
he operates an Arcade and is opening up
another Arcade in San Jose.
Dick Parina has just returned from Chi-
cago where he was elected a director of
NAMA. With the cigarette shortage just
a memory, Dick said all efforts now are
bent on keeping old equipment functioning
properly until new vending machines be-
come available. It is of th e utmost import-
ance to the coin vending business to re-
establish itself into the public's confidence
by giving prompt, reliable service. Even
reconditioned equipment. will perform ade-
quately if kept in proper repair.
The Associated Music Operators get-
together dinner party was a great success,
72 members and their famili es attending.
There was excellent entertainment consist-
ing of dancers, singers, pianist and racon-
teur. Five city officials addressed the group.
They were: P. J. McMurray, Robert Green,
Dan Gallagher, Chester McPhee and R.
Gartland.
Gisela Ney
The general scene in Oregon and in
Portland, the "City of Roses", the hub
of the coin machine business of this state
remains pretty much the same. The old
saying of "No news is good news" applies
here, inasmuch as nothing disturbing in
the way of new legislation, licensing or
ta).ation has appeared in the offing. Here,
as. elsewhere, much speculation naturally
eXIsts as to the rather indefinite future
prospec~ of new equipment, new trends,
new pnces and changing conditions. A
shroud of mystery somewhat overhangs
the offices of jobbers and distributors, but
a slight penetration of this seems to reveal
that they are all on their toes and that
interesting announcements will soon be
forthcoming. Most of the local news of
the past month appears to center mostly
on returning service men and their activi-
ties.
Clayton Ballard, formerly with Wurlitzer
and Packard, is the newly appointed North-
west District Manager for the Aireon Mfg.
Corp., of Kansas City, covering the states
of Oregon, Washington, Montana and
Western Idaho. He is serving under W.
E. Simmons, the regional manager for the
11 western states, whose headquarters are
in Los Angeles. Although the new Aireon
has had a formal unveiling in Kansas
City no detailed information seems to be
available to the trade. Clayton reports,
however, that he hopes to have at least
a sample here by January 1st, with de-
liveries following soon after. From all
we can gather, something new in the way
of electronics and other features have
been combined to produce something sen-
sational in the music machine field and
curiosity and interest are at a high pitch.
A. W. Slight, the new Northwest Re-
gional Manager for Bally, has been in
Portland a large portion of his time, but
at present writing is in San Francisco.
Recently visiting Portland on leave, was
Vern Clifford of The Dalles, Oregon. Vern
is a well known operator who has seen
much service in the Italian theatre during
the war but hopes for an early release,
as evidenced by his calls on local ~bbers.
L. R. "Jean" Teasley paid his wife a
visit, on leave. "Mrs. Jean" continues to
operate their music route, as she has been
doing, and from all we understand, she
has been doing a remarkably creditable
job.
Herman Levin, prominent operator of
games and boards, was in town on leave
but is now back at Camp Adaire, Oregon.
The Navy was represented by Bruce
Scrievers, home from the islands on fur-
lough for a visit with his wife. Bruce is
still serving as a Radar Technician.
After his discharge from the Army, Walt
Williams is now back with the L. and W.
Amusement Co. of Vancouver, Washington.
His many friends will be glad to know
that Roy Gatto is back again at his old
job, taking care of his music route, having