Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

NOW! Enlarged Bulk
Vending Dept.
To Better Serve Vending Operators
Featuring
l1cI'tAl41eJtel'''
FINEST QUALITY CONF,E CTIONS
AT LOWEST PRICES
Pr ompt AH ent lon to All Mall Orders
Minimum Order Shlpped-25 pounds
Almonds (Teeny ) Vae uum Pac:ked-5 lb . Tins, 600 ct ............... 80c lb .
Almonds, Vacuum Packecl--5 lb. Tins , 400 ct ........................... 65c lb .
. .
:::'t!~·t.;;:~~::,an';(B:~:j.~ ~~~ ~~~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~: :~:
Parch.d Corn (Cornnuts)-Delicious ............................................
Pistachio Nuh-Red ........................................................ 65c and
Rainbow Mix (Candy coated Peanuts ) ........................................
5panlslt--New crop, salted-GOOD ..............................................
Gum-Regular Ball Gum , 125 count ..............................................
Gum-Bubbl. Base, 125 count ........................................................
..
23c
88c
25c
24c
35c
27c
lb .
lb.
lb .
lb .
lb .
lb .
~c:.~mn~~~~~ ~~~.~!~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~~ :~:
Pine Nuts (Pinions) .......................................................................... 43c lb.
Also Complete Selection Charms-Parts and Supplies
BADGER SALES co.!!
their own. With less people patronizIng
bars, taverns and restaurants, and with less
spending money and reduced industrial
employment, how can the coin machines in
these locations receive more than below·
normal play?
Music has been unsteady. One week
gross goes up; the next week it comes
down. But the smart music operator who
selects and merchandises his records care-
fully, keeps service costs down, and isn't
afraid to pull equipment out of spots losing
money, is still very much in the black.
While exceptional shuffleboard locations
are still grossing $70 and $80 per week,
the average is running around $30, which
still leaves margin for a profitable opera-
tion.
Cigarettes, candy, popcorn and beverage
machines are getting only fair play, and
while scales are below last year's figure on
a comparative basis, they are doing well
when present business trends are consid-
ered.
San Francisco
Bright rays of light in the Bay Area's
business picture are being beamed by bulk
machines, ice cream, scales, and shuffle-
board. While the latter has dropped to
an average $20 weekly net, this is con-
sidered excellent in view of the sparsely
populated bars and taverns.
The televising of all Coast League ball
games has made itself felt in music take,
which has not recovered from the low
point reached in May. Labor unrest, in-
dustrial layoffs, and generally poor busi-
ness conditions have hurt cigarette, candy
bar, coffee and soft drink machines.
Sf. Z.ouis
Shuffleboard sales continued to shine as
the bright new star on the coin machine
horizon in the St. Louis area, and many
operators, who are fortunate enough to
have locations alongside shuffleboard tables,
report a sharp pickup in collections. Typi-
cal operators have found that pin games,
phonographs and even vendors are profit-
ing sharply throullh drawing the attention
of shuffleboard devotees waiting their turn
at the boards.
The Missouri Amusement Machine Assn.
held a "quiet meeting" during the month,
during which little new business was
JULY, J949
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With
Tr ansfer Refill Feature
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$17.55 Sample
Write for Quantity Discount
Other Popular Northwestern Vendors
$10.35 and up
In~.
2251 W. 'ICO BLVD.
LOS ANGELES 6, CALI F.
brought up. The reduction in new equip-
ment prices has been encouraging, and a
letter of thanks to agents helpful in bring-
ing down new machine costs has been sent
out. Plans for the annual summer outing
are in the making, according to veteran
executive Abe Jeffers.
Vending route operators report the usual
hot weather slump in candy sales, a bit
more serious for 1949 due to the exces-
sively early hot weather in May. Most
operators are removing machines not in
air conditioned spots, although a large
percentage report they will leave vending
equipment in place with candy bars suited
to the season.
Tobacco vendors report cigarette sales
holding their own, despite a price war
among chain stores in the suburban dis-
tricts which has brought cigarettes down
to 14 cents per pack in most instances.
There is a general trend toward use of
electrically operated equipment, and many
location owners are insisting upon them.
Another gratifying influence which is
stilling the plaints of operators over low
collections is the rise of packaged air con-
ditioning through St. Louis. Taverns, con-
fectioneries, smoke shops, billiard parlors,
retail stores, etc., are busily installing five
and ten ton cooling systems, to maintain
play or sales volume during the "dog days."
New pin games are being tested over
the routes, with Williams' products notice-
*
able in many locations. While shuffleboard
has caused a slight setback in most terri-
tories, the trend toward economy in en-
tertainment is causing many workers to
amuse themselves with pin ball time, rather
than expensive movies or an evening at the
tavern.
The St. Louis Shuffleboard Assn., com-
posed of distributors and operators, will
soon announce plans for tournaments, and
"student" promotion, designed to acquaint
more people with the sport. All plans are
in a formative phase, however, according
to Tom Collins, of Universal Distributing
Co.
Operators report that cola and orange
drink dispensing machines are showing ex-
cellent results. It was pointed out that a
machine, which would give the public
their choice of flavors, would be an ex-
cellent innovation in the field. The cola
drinks, as well as the orange drink, sell
at 5c per paper cupful.
The Table Shuffleboard Assn. held its
first conference in St. Louis the latter part
of June. In addition to setting up a stand-
ard set of rules, forming of men and women
teams, both singles and doubles, the pro-
motion of the sport as a national recrea-
tion, and other subjects was taken up at
the national conference meeting. Operators,
distributors, manufacturers and location
owners attended the meeting.
Robert A. Latimer
Only
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*
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U. S. CHEWING GUM MFG. CO.
365 Fifth Street
1. H. Strickler
Oakland 7, Calif.
31