Pinball Machines May Be Banned

The fate of local amusement-type pinball machines still remains in doubt. The Cambridge Licensing Board's recent announcement that it will not renew pinball licenses applies to the bino-type machine, a gambling type on which money can be won.

Whether the amusement-type machines also will be removed will be decided shortly. The Licensing Board's reason for refusing to reissue licenses was an Internal Revenue tax of $250 on the bino-type machines. A ten dollar tax, however, has been levied on the amusement type.

Although the pinball machines attract considerable attention, local restaurant owners discount the effect their removal would have. "The pinball machines form a small percentage of our business," stated Henry Baumann, owner of Elsie's. "The boys use them to relax. They are the ones who would complain if the machines were removed."

When asked the possibility of the Board's refusing new licenses, the distributor of the machines, Sidney Walbash said, "I don't think they will. I hope they won't..."