Hi, everyone...New Member Here

[ArcadeMemories]

Just got signed up the other day.  Tried to register a couple of times but, never would get a confirmation email, but finally got it worked out.

Anyway, I just wanted to say Hello to everyone.  Im loving the site so far, lots of great information and I love the pictures of all the machines.

Ive been collecting and restoring 80's Arcade Machines for a couple of years as a hobby, not professional by any means, still really just learning.

I just recently bought my first vintage soda machine for $200. Its nothing too special or rare, but I really like it for a first machine. Its an Ideal 35 generic done up as a Coke machine.

Its in pretty decent shape I guess for its age, everything seems to be complete except the "Cap Catcher".

Ive had it a couple of months now, but I just havent found time to mess with it yet.  Its runs really quite. Gets pretty cool but not ice cold, but wants to freeze up. The coils, compressor, and fan are just caked with dust and crud, so i think that might be most of the problem. Has the original key. Coin mechanism works. It will definitely needs a new power supply.

I think im hooked now, these old machines are so cool.

Heres a few Pics:

[Eric]

Nice find.. and a deal! A catcher will come along... are you gonna leave it as is or make it into another brand?
And Welcome to the site!

[Pat Pixley]

 Welcome to the site  and a nice looking 35.   like the bubble up sticker on the front of that   .

[Wojcik]

Hey, Welcome to the site!!!! Cool looking machine.           

[David D]

Welcome and nice machine, the ideal 35's are nice small machines.

[ciawarrior]

nice little machine!

[ArcadeMemories]

Thanks for the warm welcome from everybody.

As to Eric's question:  I really havent thought about it much. I do plan on restoring it though at some point.  I dont have any particular affinity to Coke, but since thats the way I think it was originally made I think i might just keep it as a Coke machine.  Although, I have seen some really cool Orange Crush and Pepsi machines I really like too, so who knows.

[globalcompressors]

welcome...!

[bubba]

Welcome.. Another arcade guy! Soda machines and arcades go great together!

[rayg]

Welcome, Nice machine.... what arcade games do you have ? 

Ken, yes I agree Soda machines and arcades go great together!After working up a sweat playing Pacman, Space Invades, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Defender, Galaga etc.... What better way to cool down then with a nice icee cold soda from you very cool personal soda machine.... does life get any better.....

[ArcadeMemories]

Welcome, Nice machine.... what arcade games do you have ? 

Ken, yes I agree Soda machines and arcades go great together!After working up a sweat playing Pacman, Space Invades, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Defender, Galaga etc.... What better way to cool down then with a nice icee cold soda from you very cool personal soda machine.... does life get any better.....

Yah, I love old arcade games.

I dont have an xbox or playstation or anything , not really into "gaming" like that.  But, theres just something about those old arcade games that I love, brings back so many great memories.

Right now I only have 2 restored machines, a Ms. Pacman/Galaga cocktail table and an upright Donkey Kong Jr.  I had a Frogger cocktail that i fixed up and gave to my nephew and I sold a Defender machine not too long ago.

I just picked up a "Carnival" machine by Gremlin/Sega this morning for $75, a craigslist find.  It needs a serious cleaning and the cabinet is chipped and worn pretty heavily around the edges and the monitor isnt powering up, you can hear the game playing you just cant see anything.  So its definitely a good project.

Heres some pics of the Carnival machine i just picked up

[bubba]

Cool.. I'm doing my first ground up restore on a Burgertime right now... Cabinet was borderline scrap, but haven't seen another one in the few years I've been looking. I've replaced the front panel, 1/4 of one side and the bottom. I'm in the bondo/wood filler stage. Almost ready for a primer coat. Luckily the cabinet was plywood not particle board.

[rayg]

Wow that's a good find for $75( gotta love Craigslist), you are already ahead of me with two classics Ms. Pacman/Galaga and Donkey Kong Jr.  Allot of the fun in collecting them is in the hunt and then the restoration.  My only current arcade machine is a 1996 Police Trainer. Always on the lookout for another. I would really like to get a 1976 Atari Night Driver, but they are hard to find.  

Ken,  Burgertime  is another on of the classics.  post some before and after pics.

Also he's a good site with some good how  to videos
http://www.arcaderepairtips.com/