Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

June saw two big Shuffleboard Tournaments held in the middle
west in Springfield and Chicago, Illinois. Above photo shows the
State of Illinois National Shuffleboard Leagues Tournament in
progress at the State Armory in Springfield. Event, sponsored by
National Shuffleboard Co., had a capital prize of $500 and a
new National 4ger Shuffleboard. On the right is a pre-tourney
shot of the Chicago Coliseum which was the locale for the
Standard Four State Shuffleboard Tournament. Meeting attracted
2,000 contestants who vied for over $15,000 in cash prizes.
Planning Made Illinois
Tournament A Success
by T. C. BROWNE
Advertising Manager, Nationol Shuffleboard Co.
Newspapers and the trade magazines had
much to say about the State-of-Illinois
shumeboard tournament held at Springfield
for three days, opening June 10, hailed as
a precedent in statewide tournaments of the
kind. It is because this tournament will be
the inspiration and an example for many
other state tournaments that the writer is
glad to mention some of the highlights of
the event from th e standpoint of the Na-
tional Shumeboard Co., the firm that spon-
sored the tournament.
Naturally, our firm is interested in manu-
facturing and selling shumeboards. It was
organized some 20 years ago and ha been
promotion-minded in every respect in all
that time. It has never relaxed an iota in
its drive to help make the public shume-
board-conscious. The sponsoring of state-
wide tournaments is a part of the big pro-
gram, and a very important part.
As a manufacturer, our firm doesn't end
its contacts with merely selling boards. Pur-
chasers are aided in many respects-even to
promoting play in every possible way. Our
firm doesn't cover up its efforts in this di ·
rection. It is not giving any secrets away
by aiding in promotion tips. A suggestion
here, a bit of advice there, is healthy for the
entire shumeboard industry- and we have
never stifled any ideas that might help the
industry in general. That's why we can point
with pride to the many promotional angles
that have been initiated.
National has field supervisors who serve
as the axis of promotion ideas, ably assisted
from the home office in Orange, N. J. A
new monthly publication, called National
ShuDleboard News, has even been started
to spread all the ideas and information pos·
sible about shumeboard. A progressive or-
ganization, and all the promotion angles
possible, helps to make more dollars for
everyone who purchases shumeboard.
The State of Illinois tournament is rightly·
regarded as a feather in its promotional
cap for National. The success of the event
and the results were urprising. The event
retained the interest of older players, de-
veloped new ones, and opened up a vista
of free publicity through the press and
radio. All this hel ps us to sell more boards,
and better, it helps those who own boards
to make a better return.
We can feel proud of the fact that the
tournament produced a sale of 12 new
National 4ger shumeboards before the tour-
AUGUST, 1949
nament was 24 hours old. The event re-
quired a careful blue-printing from the
start and much time wa spent in mulling
over all the plans. Because of all this
planning, the Illinois event will most cer-
tainly serve as a pattern for many state
tournaments to come, perhaps next fall and
winter, avoiding the torrid summer months
when league play does have a slight drop.
In all, there were close to 600 individual
players among the 72 teams represented.
Some of the teams were good, the majority
could be called excellent insofar as team
match play is weighed. The eight teams
which hurdled into the championship or
money rounds were polished, offering adroit
playing. And the best proved to he the
Anchor Club of Peoria, which defeated
Rudy's Inn of Springfield in the finals, 5·2.
A small entrance fee was collected, but
the prizes were alluring. In all, $1,200 in
cash, a new National 4ger Deluxe shume-
board, a 22-inch trophy, and plaques for
each of the winning players were distrib-
uted. For instance, Anchor Club of Peoria,
"as the champion, was awarded $500.00 in
cash and plaques.to the players. The sponsor
of the team received the new shumeboard.
The impact of these awards was seen and
heard when all prizes were distributed at a
dinner given at the Elks Club. The crowd
of 200 persons-members of the winning
eight teams, their captains and sponsors-
as well as guests-whooped up things so
much that the press gave it a marvelous
coverage. What added more color and lustre
to the tournament as well as dinner, was
the fact that Mayor Harry Eileson of
Springfield, with four other city officials,
not only turned up at the opening
ceremonies at the State Armory, but one of
the commissioners appeared. at the Victory
Dinner. Few angles for publicity and the
promotion of shumeboard were missed. As
a matter of fact, National threw the book
in this promotional drive-and it succeeded
in getting results from a tournament that
Much importance will attach to the
scheduled meeting of manufacturers
of shuflleboards and equipment, to
be held at the Sherman Hotel, Chi-
cago, August 1 and 2. The St. Louis
conference indicated the interest-
and the problems-froID the players'
standpoint. Manufacturers also have
many angles to consider at their meet-
ing, which was scheduled too late to
be reported in this issue.
Keep calm
and collecting ~
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