Lets hear your greatest finds

[jt2139]

I'll start off with my best find to date.  10+years ago I was going to college and had began restoring machines.  I had a few needing compressors.  A acquaintance in the business called and said he looked at 5 machines in eastern New Mexico but didn't want them because they were too big and rough.  The seller wanted $100 each.  I thought if they had compressors I could pick and choose and come home with a couple so I made the 90 mile trip and couldn't get out of my truck fast enough.  Seller had two 81's, one 72, one generic 110, and one 83.  They were rough but complete and restorable.  I put the first four in my pickup and offered $400 but he wanted them all gone.  I paid the $500 and told him it would be a while before I was back for the 83.  Pretty sure my contact never looked at these machines.  Sorry no pics this was before digital camera.  

Anybody else with a story?

[coke_and_stuff]

Complete and Cooling Coke 81D $100.00
Porcelain US Motors Sign, Bought it at a auction for $35.00 in a box of junk. I sold the sign itself on ebay for $1,150.00

Ive bought probably a dozen or so Coke 81s from anywhere $250-500

Joey

[GreginNM]

Complete Coke 81B for $22 here in Del Rio, TX 19 years ago.  Had to take the Westy Standard minus lids near it for another $22.

Porcelain 2-sided flange sign for Texas Pride Beer from San Antonio found here in Del Rio at the same time.......$65.

Where are these deals this go around??!!   

[pepsi-perk]

V39 for $50....complete and running.  Bad thing is there were two and I only took one!     Young and dumb at the time.

[mznb1u]

I have stumbled across a lot of good deals on soda, candy and cigarette machines but I think my greatest find in this hobby was finding the soda-machines.com web-site.  I have learned a tremendous amount about the hobby, met some friends and you certainly can't beat the price!

  Tim

[davethebirdman]

Wow Tim... Hit the nail on the head my man...

[bubba]

I have stumbled across a lot of good deals on soda, candy and cigarette machines but I think my greatest find in this hobby was finding the soda-machines.com web-site.  I have learned a tremendous amount about the hobby, met some friends and you certainly can't beat the price!

  Tim

Your not looking for a group hug, are you??

[90grad]

Tim/Dave,

Couldn't agree more.  The comraderie on this site is tremendous.  #2 on my list is the Vendo 110 I was able to get at Christmas for $10.

[Jim]

I have stumbled across a lot of good deals on soda, candy and cigarette machines but I think my greatest find in this hobby was finding the soda-machines.com web-site.  I have learned a tremendous amount about the hobby, met some friends and you certainly can't beat the price!

  Tim

Years ago, this Site was created to accomplish just that ! ! !
I think it has succeeded and then some...

So I stay on topic; I have to say my Pepsi 56 Light-up for $1k was my best greatest find since I was at work, saw a machine shop ad that was liquidating in the local Bargain Trader. I noticed the familiar shape in the background, was able to take comp-time off for a couple of hours and head to to see it. On the way, I stopped at a garage sale, bought early 70's baseball pinball and another 70's pin for $200. Then went on the purchase the Pepsi Lite-up for $1000! Year or so later, sold the 56 for $2800!

On another note, I would have to rate my Wayne 866 up there as a great find since I removed it from its original site and only paid $120 and the old man even wrote me a receipt!

[collecture]

  Ditto on the site! 

I'd have to say my greatest find was not soda related. When we bought our house, I found three Walt Disney/Standard Oil painted tin signs in the attic. I sold the two Mickey Mouse signs for around $2000 and kept the Donald Duck.