From reading numerous newspaper accounts, it appears that the Electric Game Company reached its peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Changing tastes and interests, the increased popularity of television, and competition from larger game manufacturers contributed to a decline in the appeal of the company's products.
The company continued on and planned to manufacture a do-it-yourself magnetic electric motor kit for the 1962 Christmas buying season. A display and sales room open to the public was opened on the Lyman Street side of its building. Some games, such as Electric Road Race, would be demonstrated for customers.
A quiet transition occurred in 1965 when James Prentice retired. The Prentices moved to a ranch-style home at 18 Florida Drive. The new president of the corporation was Richard Benner of Longmeadow. There was no fanfare or news about this transition; however, significant changes were on the horizon.
In February 1967, the Electric Game Company announced that it would be relocating from Holyoke to the former Gilbert & Barker Company property at 250 Union Street in West Springfield. The reasons stated for the relocation included the need for more space and a more modern building. The company would also further diversify into the packaging division, which accounts for 40% of the company's sales.
The city of Holyoke's Chamber of Commerce, Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, and the Holyoke Water Power Company all attempted, to no avail, to keep the company in the city. On March 2, 1967, Holyoke Equipment Company purchased the 109 Lyman Street mill complex.
Electric Game Company continued to operate into the 1970s at both its West Springfield and Agawam locations. The Massachusetts Secretary of State's Corporations Division lists the corporation as dissolved as of January 10, 1979.
The end of the corporation did not mean the end of the creative and inventive James Mason Prentice, as will be revealed in the epilogue to follow.
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription); Price & Lee, City of Holyoke (Massachusetts) Directories
Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office, Corporations Division, Boston, Massachusetts.
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