Marketplace
Issue: 1974 July 30 - Page 36
MARKETPLACE
Mistaken idea by some of the younger operators that juke boxes born in '34. 'Tain't so,
friends. Juke boxes were in operation before the tu.xn of the century. Some, like the "Regina",
featured huge brass disks over 3 feet in diameter that, thru perforations in the disks, merrily
tinkled out the tunes of those years. Then came wax cylinder phonos. These were followed by
juke boxes from Gable, AMI, Seaburg, Kills, Capehart, others, that featured 78rpm shellac rec-
ords. There was an arm on the side of these phonos that controlled the speaker baffle. Pulling
the arm forward would point the baffle to the floor and this would soften the sound. Similarly,
pushing the arm back would point the baffle upward, causing louder tone. There was no selec-
tivity. You inserted your coin and listened to whatever tune was next. Bamboo and, later, steel
needles were used and, after 3 or 4 records, the location opened the top, took a needle from a
small cup and inserted it into the tone arm.
Fact is these phonos continued in operation for some years after '34, when first new type
juke box was introduced, playing only one side of each record. But the new juke box featured
volume control and selectivity. In the '20s Capehart Corp.,Ft.Wayne,Ind., featured phono that
turned records over and played both sides, but n~ selectivity. Juke boxes were called all sorts
of names, "Piccolos", "Nickelodeons", until '30s when some unknown someone labeled them , "juke
boxes". Late Art Olsen and his "Fermo Point" needle had much to do with growth of juke box biz.
His needle lasted 2,000 plays. New, small 45rpm vinyl record also tremendously helpful. Not
only lasted longer but cut down on record storage space. Modern type juke box went from 10 to
12 to 16 to 20 to 24 and then, playing both sides, to 40 to 80 and up to 100 selections. From
there juke boxes went to 160 and 200 selections. There's much more about automatic music con-
tained in an encyclopoedia that tells all.
Ed Doris, Rock-Ola Exec Vice-Pres., announced that Ray Williams, Commercial Music, Dallas,
Tex., is new Rock-Ola distrib for northern Texas and C.A."Shorty" Culp, Culp Dist., Oklahoma
City,Okla., is Rock-Ola distrib for Oklahoma and west Arkansas. ••• Solly Rose of Lieberman
Music, Minneapolis, advising it's over 30 years since we got together. Solly just as chipper
as ever •••• Alfred Harper, Consolidated Music,Las Cruces,New Mex., points out that, regard-
less of general market conditions where, due to unusual circumstances, equip't prices fall for
trade-in valuation, if earning power continues, route and loan valuation can hold at a more
impressive price level where operators concerned. ••• Allan P. Lucht, Servomation's chairman,
reports firm's earnings will fall compared to last year. "The decline", he stated, "vas due
principally to higher food costs." He also advised vending prices being adjusted to meet the
higher costs. • • • !!!:X (Health, Education & Welfare) asking Congress for power to control tar
and nicotine content of cigarets in view of nev U.S.Gov't report tHat cigs bring on lung cancer,
emphysema, coronaries, etc.
CMI ot Washington, headquartered in Tacoma,Wash., after 3 meets, gets attention of leading
coinf'i:rm8 in this state. Very interesting meet held this past June where Rep.Paul Connor, ex-
offioio member of State of Washington Gambling Commission, spoke at dinner to operators and
their wives, Governor House Hotel, Olympia,Wash. (6/1/74). M.K.Triplett of Kennewick is Pres.
of Wash.CIU. Big membership drive now under way prior to next meet in Seattle. Washington OP-
erators urged to phone CM! in Tacoma at: MA-7-8466 for full details. ••• Sometime ago reported
Florida's Dade County Metro Commission, which covers cities of Miami and Miami Beach, preparing
legislation to ban non-returnable cans and bottles like Oregon law. First hearing (6/19/74) was
passed unanimously. Public hearing set for Sept. ••• Adman Gaston Henne.ult of Montreal,Canad.a,
advises, "We hear very good things about 'Marketplace'." (That goes for all of Canada.) •••
It you've got a gripe about what's happening in the industry, get it off your chest quick -
write now to: Marketplace, 185 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60601. (Betcha 2-Bits there's
soaeone around in the industry who had the saae gripe and solved it. He'll be happy to answer.)
Best advice offered this year: "Plan ahead - remember it wasn't raining when Nosh built
the ark:."
Mistaken idea by some of the younger operators that juke boxes born in '34. 'Tain't so,
friends. Juke boxes were in operation before the tu.xn of the century. Some, like the "Regina",
featured huge brass disks over 3 feet in diameter that, thru perforations in the disks, merrily
tinkled out the tunes of those years. Then came wax cylinder phonos. These were followed by
juke boxes from Gable, AMI, Seaburg, Kills, Capehart, others, that featured 78rpm shellac rec-
ords. There was an arm on the side of these phonos that controlled the speaker baffle. Pulling
the arm forward would point the baffle to the floor and this would soften the sound. Similarly,
pushing the arm back would point the baffle upward, causing louder tone. There was no selec-
tivity. You inserted your coin and listened to whatever tune was next. Bamboo and, later, steel
needles were used and, after 3 or 4 records, the location opened the top, took a needle from a
small cup and inserted it into the tone arm.
Fact is these phonos continued in operation for some years after '34, when first new type
juke box was introduced, playing only one side of each record. But the new juke box featured
volume control and selectivity. In the '20s Capehart Corp.,Ft.Wayne,Ind., featured phono that
turned records over and played both sides, but n~ selectivity. Juke boxes were called all sorts
of names, "Piccolos", "Nickelodeons", until '30s when some unknown someone labeled them , "juke
boxes". Late Art Olsen and his "Fermo Point" needle had much to do with growth of juke box biz.
His needle lasted 2,000 plays. New, small 45rpm vinyl record also tremendously helpful. Not
only lasted longer but cut down on record storage space. Modern type juke box went from 10 to
12 to 16 to 20 to 24 and then, playing both sides, to 40 to 80 and up to 100 selections. From
there juke boxes went to 160 and 200 selections. There's much more about automatic music con-
tained in an encyclopoedia that tells all.
Ed Doris, Rock-Ola Exec Vice-Pres., announced that Ray Williams, Commercial Music, Dallas,
Tex., is new Rock-Ola distrib for northern Texas and C.A."Shorty" Culp, Culp Dist., Oklahoma
City,Okla., is Rock-Ola distrib for Oklahoma and west Arkansas. ••• Solly Rose of Lieberman
Music, Minneapolis, advising it's over 30 years since we got together. Solly just as chipper
as ever •••• Alfred Harper, Consolidated Music,Las Cruces,New Mex., points out that, regard-
less of general market conditions where, due to unusual circumstances, equip't prices fall for
trade-in valuation, if earning power continues, route and loan valuation can hold at a more
impressive price level where operators concerned. ••• Allan P. Lucht, Servomation's chairman,
reports firm's earnings will fall compared to last year. "The decline", he stated, "vas due
principally to higher food costs." He also advised vending prices being adjusted to meet the
higher costs. • • • !!!:X (Health, Education & Welfare) asking Congress for power to control tar
and nicotine content of cigarets in view of nev U.S.Gov't report tHat cigs bring on lung cancer,
emphysema, coronaries, etc.
CMI ot Washington, headquartered in Tacoma,Wash., after 3 meets, gets attention of leading
coinf'i:rm8 in this state. Very interesting meet held this past June where Rep.Paul Connor, ex-
offioio member of State of Washington Gambling Commission, spoke at dinner to operators and
their wives, Governor House Hotel, Olympia,Wash. (6/1/74). M.K.Triplett of Kennewick is Pres.
of Wash.CIU. Big membership drive now under way prior to next meet in Seattle. Washington OP-
erators urged to phone CM! in Tacoma at: MA-7-8466 for full details. ••• Sometime ago reported
Florida's Dade County Metro Commission, which covers cities of Miami and Miami Beach, preparing
legislation to ban non-returnable cans and bottles like Oregon law. First hearing (6/19/74) was
passed unanimously. Public hearing set for Sept. ••• Adman Gaston Henne.ult of Montreal,Canad.a,
advises, "We hear very good things about 'Marketplace'." (That goes for all of Canada.) •••
It you've got a gripe about what's happening in the industry, get it off your chest quick -
write now to: Marketplace, 185 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60601. (Betcha 2-Bits there's
soaeone around in the industry who had the saae gripe and solved it. He'll be happy to answer.)
Best advice offered this year: "Plan ahead - remember it wasn't raining when Nosh built
the ark:."
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).