Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

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LAST MINUTE REPORTS-PREDICTIONS-FORECASTS and GOOD OLD
FASHIONED RUMORS COMPRISE THIS NEW REPORTING SERVICE OF
. liTHE REVIEW:' THIS PAGE IS WRlnEN AS THE FINAL FORMS GO T
PRESS ON THE 20th.
NEW EQUIPMENT DELIVERIES: Settlement of the steel strike will give add-
ed impetus to coin machine manufacturing but the strike did delay pro-
duction terrifically and some manufacturers claim it has thrown them
four months behind on planned production. But steel has not been the
only critical item. There still exists plenty of shortages on other
component parts of the average coin machine and until ALL factories are
back to normalcy no appreciable amount of equipment will be trickling
through. Samples and spot deliveries - Yes; but this only serves to whet
the appetite for more and the smart manufacturers are waiting until they
can follow through and give a full serving to appetites created. We
see June and July at this moment as the earliest dates for any great
amount of new equipment. Some will say we're two months ahead and Sep-
tember is a better bet. We'll stick to June and July.
PHONOGRAPHS: Models shown thus far have had terrific receptions and it
will not be a case of SELLING.
Instead it will be a job of SUPPLYING.
A quick check acros~ the nation revealed that most distributors had sold
all of the machines they expect to get during the present year.
This is
in line with a prediction we made last month that "demand for new phonos
won't be filled until late '47." We'd like to amend that, at this point,
to Spring of 1948. On paper it works out that way. We figure that the
1946 production will not fill more than twenty-five percent of needed
phonograph replacements. Prices: Operators are complaining about the
cost of auxiliary equipment more than the instrument prices. A range of
$650 to $850 was expected, but speakers at $159.50, plus freight, are
causing the shouts. So far only one major manufacturer has gone off
the deep-end on such an item. Operators hope for a maintenance of low
cost speakers as long as the initial investment in instruments has ad-
vanced. Exports: No! With the limited supply of equipment available
there is little likelihood that any distributor will cultivate the for-
eign market on new phonos.
If he does it will be at outlandish prices
and there is little hope for "suckers." These foreign buyers are extra
cautious and you might just as well know it from the start.
VENDING. This is a turbulent field.
All kinds of new names will make
their appearance in the months ahead.
Some will deliver; others will
talk about future deliveries. Leaf Gum, Chicago, is getting ready to
cater to this field. Not only will they supply the product but a very
modern vendor as well. Adequately financed they expect to give Wrigley
something to wiggle about. Sandwich Vendors to vend pre-packed sand-
wiches are in the offing. One or two machines on the market at pre-
sent could be adapted to such use.
Soft Drink Machines will blossom
out in abundance once the supply of soft drinks makes their presence
profitable for operators. We've accumulated a tremendou~ list of firms
expected to be active in this field.
You'll hear from these manufact-
urers as time goes by.
.
WIRED MUSIC or telephone music seems due for a tremendous revival.
In
Chicago Jennings, Rock-Ola and AMI are preparing new "Voice-By-Wire" or
telephone music offerings.
USED EQUIPMENT was never more in demand than at present. Operators seem
to sense a delay in the new machines and are filling in with the old and
reconditioned machines.
It's a good practice to follow f
some time to
come.