Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Idaho Reaps Million
In Bell Tax
BOISE-Idaho wa. ric her by nearly a
mi llion dollars becau8e of the law licen-
sin g bell machines.
Lela D. Painter, state treasurer, reported
that since May, when bell machiries were
made legal throu gh a state law, a total of
$221,892 had been received from the 111
ri ties and villages perm ittin g th e machines.
Vnder the law of th e 1947 Legislature
eac h machine is taxed not less than $500,
of which amoun t the sta te receives 125.
Ano ther $125 goes to the county and the
remainder is kept by th e ci ty or vill age in
which the machine is loca ted.
As the $221,892 represents 25 per cent
of the minimum fee the total was $883,478.
However, some cities and villages assess a
sum p;reater than the minimum $500 which
would boost the total take by th e sta te,
county and community to near the million
dollar mark.
The largest sum remitted was made by
Pocatello which submi tted $19,926 to th e
state treasury. Other lar/!,e amoun ts weTf~
made by Twin Falls, $17,605; Boise 17,02')
and Idaho Falls, 13,260.
•
Meet "Mister Gimmick"
NEW YORK-In a recent article i n Col-
lier's magazine highlighting the caree r of
William Rabkin, the presiden t of Interna-
tional Mutoscope Corp. was called "Mister
Gimmick" and "the Thomas Alva Edison of
the amusement device industry."
The story described Rabkin's inventive
career and told how he and Internationa l
Mutoseope engineers had designed 49 ma-
chines, many of which have been utilized
by governmen t agencies. One of them, th e
Drive-Mobile, was used by th e Navy to test
the coordinating faculties of poten ti al flyers.
WALSCO STAPLE DRIVER
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Pays for Itself on
the first lob_
A sensational tool
for installing wires
and c:ables. that
saves time and
money_
Exc:ellent for in-
stalling c:oin ma-
chines, P. A. and
interc:om systems.
Staples into c:or-
ners and other In-
accessible plac:es.
Staples on hard
surfaces ,uc:h as
plaster, hardwood,
etc.
Can be loaded In
10 sec:onds.
Adiustabl e for
staple depth.
Staples c:ome In
3 c:olors to matc:h
wire.
The Walsco Staple Driver is a real time
and trouble savin g tool for the coin ma-
chine installer. Also extremely useful for
general stapling .
This device automatically positions the
staple after which it is driven to a pre-
adjusted depth with one or two strokes of
the palm of the hand. A small trigger con-
trols the fe edi ng mechanism. Wires and
cables up to '/'4 ' in diameter can be
quickly installed with the Walsco Staple
Driver.
Pric:e $4.95 Dealers Net (inc:luding
box of staples)
prepare :J-or [;xpan::5ion
The biggest topic of discussion among operators in all sections of the coin
machine trade is the purchase and placing of new machines. Looking ahead to a
new year, now just around the corner, the subject of new machines is certain to
become more important.
Manufacturers of standard machines are getting their production schedules
pretty well adjusted to conditions and are planning to maintain a good rate of
output through 1948. The trade is now starting on its third year since the war
ended and that will mean a lot of emphasis on the rate of progress to be
felt in 1948.
The outlook is that a lot of machines, long delayed in development and
s etting up manufacturing plants, will get onto the market in the first half of
1948. Coupled with the output of standard machines , these new developments
will likely mean that 1948 will be described as "the Year of New Machines."
The passing of time means that it has to be that way. Machine output in
1941 was cut short, so that 1940 was really the last year in which new coin
machines came onto the market in a normal stream. The passing of eight years
means that every pre-war machine must now be considered as in need of re-
placement.
The operator can s ee an example of replacement needs by noting the con-
dition of the pre-war automobiles and trucks that are still in service. Of necessity,
a lot of people are having to wait to replace the o ld car, but the spirit of the
time is exemplified in a new car. The old ones have outlasted their day and are
becoming dangerous.
The normal outlook for a new year calls for making new plans and , with
many operators , some steps toward expansion. The established operator must find
some s ystematic way to replace old machines and in that way he will keep
growing. Many small business men eventually reach a stage where they no longer
wish to expand. But they keep growing by improving the equipment and services
of their present setup.
The majority of established operators today obtained, or stabilized their
routes pretty well as they wanted them during the war. Many of them do not
want to extend routes any further , but they do want to improve by installing
new equipment. To them, The REVIEW slogan , "Expand With New Equipment,"
means chiefly replacing all pre-war equipment with new machines as fast as
they can do it.
A lot of operators also plan to use new machines to get new locations.
A prominent Chicago music operator explains that most of the new machines he
buys are put in new locations. A majority of his rank-and-file locations are
still satisfied with the machines they have , a:1d so the operator is able to expand
by taking on some more spots.
That idea might be put in slogan form by saying, "Expand into New Locations
With New Machines. "
The new man , however , is likely to be the most logical agent to take new
machines into new locations. For him, the slogan might read, "New Operators
Get New Locations With New Machines."
If the entire Industry makes normal progress during the next year, new m a-
chines will be in the spotlight. And while the trade gives so much attention to
new machines, plans s hould be made to develop thousands of new locations al s o.
Before the war, a few operators' associations had a special program for
finding and cultivating new locations, and such an idea may become useful
again . In recent months, it has been reported that a manufacturer of amusement
machines is making s urveys in different territories to find new locations that
'!light be sold on the idea of letting an operator place machines in the place.
Before the war, new establishments opened up at the rate of about 12 per
cent over a period of five years. There was a rush to open up new business
places in 1946, then the pace declined , but now the rate is presumed to bring
a 25 per cent increase in new establishments from 1945 to 1950. Operators mu s t
be on the alert to cultivate every new establishment. It can be assumed now
that every establishmenl that caters to the public can use coin machines of
some type . Get the new locations, and they will be better locations if you get
them with new machines.
The two national conventions, in December and in January , will reveal much
in the way of new machines. The aggressiveness of operators who buy the s e new
oachines will be depended on to develop new locations.
W~ LJ.J~
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Dept. 12 M
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WALTER L. SCHOTT CO.
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9306 Santa Monica Blvd.
BEVERLY HILLS. CALIFORNIA
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CHRISTMAS SUGGESTION:
CIVE YOUR. PORTRAIT
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MERGE STUDIOS
P1
2115 West Pico Blvd_
.
EX. 2458
Los Angeles 6, Calif.
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DECEMBER, 1947
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