2 Stoner Theatres 2 Go

[memorylane]

2 Stoner Theatres leaving Thursday for a fellow member.....A few pictures but more to come

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.334482236619615.81952.126665017401339&type=3

[Wojcik]

They look GREAT!!!

[memorylane]

It is with great pride that I unveil this spectacular, just completed, full restoration of an original 1941 Stoner Theatre Candy machine! This is an early version of the Stoner Theatre machines that would become popular in the late 1940’s and through the 1950's and has several difference from the later models. Key differences include: an octagonal mirror vs. later versions that had a rectangular mirror with a curved top; a lighted hood above the mirror (some versions do not have this hood); two light tubes illuminating the candy art work and sample candy areas vs. nine on later models; a clamshell orientation for the opening of the candy tray area vs. the side-to-side opening on all later Stoner candy machines; and stainless steel levelers on the base.

 

Standard models of the Stoner Theatre became available around 1947 and were produced until the late 1950's in fairly large quantities and could be found at service stations, subway stations, motels, and in a variety of other commercial businesses around the country.   All genuine Theatre models are rare;  these versions were more expensive than standard Stoner candy machines and were used primarily inside movie screening areas, mainly in upscale theatres. The lighting on the Theatre model was intended to provide just enough ambient lighting in a darkened movie Theatre to attract customers without disturbing the actual movie.  The  Stoner Theatre model is one of the most beautiful and sought after models of antique vending by serious collectors and they have become extremely hard to locate in unrestored condition with the major components intact. Beware of fantasy Theatre machines that have been created by modifying the more common Stoner Candy machines adding aftermarket lighting and metal components. The Stoner Theatre Candy machine is a highly sought after collectible representing the pinnacle of the movie theatre experience when weekly visits to the local movie theatre was a popular way to pass time before the widespread introduction of television.  The Stoner Candy machine is an important representation of Americana from the 1940’s and 1950’s and is becoming more popular each year.

 

It is presumed that the early grade Stoner Theatres produced in 1941 were manufactured in low quantities and production was discontinued in 1942.  The beginning of the U.S. involvement in World War II most likely resulted in Stoner Manufacturing (located in Aurora, IL) converting their production over to wartime manufacturing as was common during that time period. Production of automobiles in the U.S. was similarly halted during the 1942-1946 time period to support the war effort.  The fact that this model Stoner Theatre predates later versions by seven to ten years adds to the difficulty in finding this early version.

 

Over the past 15 years, after having restored hundreds of Stoner Candy machines, this is only the third early grade Theatre I have restored and only the second machine I have restored with the lighted overhead hood.  I know of only two or three additional early Stoners in existence. This is truly a unique and rare machine and the new owner spared no expense in the restoration of this machine.  The finish is a beautiful burlwood  created using the very highest grade PPG automotive paints combined with a unique, proprietary process to bring out the wood finish and the originality of this machine. Every detail is perfect - chrome work, interior paint, coin mechanism, lighting, wiring, and trays. No detail was overlooked. Even the art work on the glass is completely correct as manufactured, recreated by piecing together photos from the 4 or 5 known early Theatres to produce a 100% accurate composite. This is truly a rare and historic museum grade machine and is the centerpiece of my client’s collection of antique vending restorations.

[BONOVOX]

Very nice work!!!

And great write up on the history of them!!!

 

[Matt]

They look amazing. Very nice. May I ask what those machines cost with restoration? I'd love to own one of these machines someday! Thanks.

[jbrumett]

Curtis,

As always you have out done yourself my friend.  I know there is a member in here (roadman) who said you have a couple of his machines. If these are his then man he is in for a super treat!!  This makes me want to get back to work on restoring my Stoner Theater ASAP. By then way Curtis, I still need to reach out to you about where to get a new light assembly.  Will call soon

As always, you are the best when it comes to Stoners

Jeff

[jholmgren]

Stunning.   Wow - quite an amazing pair!

[globalcompressors]

Beautiful... just beautiful.

[mznb1u]

Curtis,

I saw the pictures on Facebook and had to jump over here to see if there were more.  Those two machines look outstanding--UNBELIEVABLE!   Thanks for the history lesson on the early model Theater.  I had no idea that my machine was so rare.  I am fortunate enough to have one of those in my collection and would love to have you transform it back to it's original beauty when I am done paying college tuition.  I am glad my wife encouraged me to keep it when I did my recent Stoner sell-off, I guess she knows a little more about collecting than I thought.  I was wondering what you used for the pulls as those look great but slightly different from what is on my machine.

In any event, you have outdone yourself on these two and the owner is going to be incredibly happy with the results.  I guess I will be keeping my remaining three Stoners: 1. Early model Theater, 2. Later model Theater (need to find a tall base for it) and 3. Junior with Gum Wheel.  The Stoner Gods have been very good to me!

  Tim

[memorylane]

The knobs are the replacement knobs we make and we designed a new and better design for the coin return pull knob as the original was welded to a piece on the coin mec after installed. We out done ourselves on this design.

[memorylane]

Pixs

[memorylane]

More

[memorylane]

Please notice our paint work inside and out, we even put the undercoating back as it was done original. We polish all heads of our Stainless Steel screws/nuts & bolts and we like to Chrome....:)Thanks for looking

Curtis, Memory Lane Restorations
www.retrovending.com

[Roadman]

Thanks for the compliments! These are my machines, it's been a long time coming but they are finally done and being delivered today. I think I may have gone over the top in having these machines tricked out with every option and upgrade  but I think they look terrific and I'm glad I had Curtis go all out on these two machines!  Thanks again Curtis - you are the Stoner master!!  Also, much thanks to bcharlton "BC" who got me interested in these machines through his own restoration efforts.  I wish I had his talent to do this work on my own but I'm fortunate that he steered me to Curtis.   

[sodaman]

Absolutely terrific!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

[Jacko1070]

Absolutely gorgeous machines.......I can only dare to dream

[Slider-Bob]

Unbelieveably Spectactular!!!  Nicest I have ever seen!

Great Job!

[Ltransam]

   Curtis .
               OUTSTANDING !!  As Always you are the Stoner Man !!!!! There PERFECT !!!!

[tkaz]

Hey Roadman, if you wait until tomorrow, you can always say you had a couple Stoners delivered on 4/20... Couldn't resist!

Those look amazing!  That woodgrain really looks great Curtis, unbelievable that you can do that with paint.

[bcharlton]

I have to chime in.  The "Buffalo Coalition" (Roadman and Charlton) will be taking Curtis and Steve Ebner out tonight for some our best Buffalo Wings and adult beverages.  I am also looking forward to seeing the 2 Stoner Theatre machines.

And of course, I will be forcing Curtis and Steve to see some of the machines I have restored over he last 12 years copying almost every one of his ideas.  I will even provide malted milkshakes in the malt shop.


Pictures to come.

Drive safe.

Brian

[memorylane]

Off to Buffalo, see ya soon Dave

Notice the Restored WD-5 Coke Cooler on the back. A man that wants it all, gotta love it...

Memory Lane Restorations

[memorylane]

And Brian...Sorry

[jholmgren]

Hey Roadman, if you wait until tomorrow, you can always say you had a couple Stoners delivered on 4/20... Couldn't resist!

Those look amazing!  That woodgrain really looks great Curtis, unbelievable that you can do that with paint.

<GROAN>
 

[Swachtelncc]

Great job Curtis, you'll love the wings in Buffalo either from Duff's or Anchor bar, both great places

[Roadman]

Duff's and Anchor Bar are excellent  You must have spent some time 'ol Buffalo.  We are going to Grover's which is right around the corner from where me and BC live...check out the mouthwatering selections on this short video, they were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHmwDMKpeq0

[Swachtelncc]

My wife graduated from Daemen college, I lived up there for a few yrs after I graduated from college also, great time up there

[MaineT]

My first Stoner.  I picked it up in December. If I knew it was so rare I would feel guilty about what I paid!! It was in the State Theater in Portland, Maine until it was saved from the scrap bin by the former owner about 15 years ago.

[jbrumett]

Nice Stoner MaineT.

Any plans to restore it?

I love these machines. Found this site and got interested in collecting soda machines and what do I do? I buy a stoner as my first restore Still have yet to buy the second machine...but that will happen in time. Gotta get this one done first.

Nonetheless, a rare find....good job!!

[mznb1u]

The story on my early version Stoner is that it came out of one of the grand theaters in downtown Detroit.  While the sellers did not know which one as there were many back in the day, I like to think it was the Fox Theater that opened in 1928--the grandest of all of the original Fox Theaters and the first theater with built in speakers for those new-fangled sound films.  Curtis' restored early model would look right at home at the Fox!  If you ever get to Detroit, take the tour of this theater.  I could walk around looking at all of the architectural features of the lobby and theater for hours.  They just don't build things like this anymore and I am very grateful that Mike and Marian Ilitch (founder's of Little Ceasars and owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings) saved this jewel of Detroit's glory years!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Theatre_(Detroit)

The sister of the guy I bought it from purchased it at an estate sale in Indian Village, an upscale neighborhood in downtown Detroit with many beautiful mansions that once housed the barrons of the Motor City.

http://www.historicindianvillage.org/homeandgardentour.html

She kept in for many years with the intention of restoring it but that never happened.  It ended up in her brother's pole barn after she passed away and stayed there until I purchased it in October 2009.  Really a unique machine.  The picture below is of a note that was inside the machine--Of course this was intended for me! 

  Tim

[mznb1u]

My first Stoner.  I picked it up in December. If I knew it was so rare I would feel guilty about what I paid!! It was in the State Theater in Portland, Maine until it was saved from the scrap bin by the former owner about 15 years ago.

Maine T,

Very cool machine.  Can you post a close up picture of the candy display window and the pulls.  Just want to see if they look like mine.

THANKS!

  Tim

[Roadman]

Nice machine MaineT !   Your version is the one without the hood. There was another one like yours on eBay a few months ago and i think it was up in Portland Maine, it was painted a drab green. I doubt it sold, it was up for weeks at $5000, wayyyyyyyyyy too high.  Don't feel bad for what you paid.  As many folks on this board will tell you, rarity does not always equal value.  There are many one-of-a-kind machines out there that are rare but the overall market for old vending machines is thin and it takes a lot of work to go find, buy, transport, and ship these items to a willing buyer so the price to pay by definition is almost always well under $1,500.   Then, add in the cost and effort to amke these items look good and work.

Interest is growing through shows like American Restoration and American Pickers,  but this hobby is not yet near other hobbies like antique cars, artwork, baseball memorbilia, etc.  in terms of buying power and mass appeal.   Consider this time period as a buying opportunity with longterm potential as the teens and 20's somethings that watch these shows grow up and eventually buy homes and increase the interest levels and demand.   

[MaineT]

Jbrumett- I just got the mechanism working like a charm, it was frozen and just needed a cleaning and some oil. It is in shocking good original condition and I'm one of those "its only original once" people. I was going to save the paint, get it working, and maybe have the chrome and nickle redone if they do not clean up. The pulls are either celluloid or Bakelite and need attention too, and just may replace them.  I love the one Curtis just did and talk about quality, WOW, and if mine was in any worse shape I would have it torn down already and off to the sandblasters already.

Roadman- The guy that saved this one said there were 3 there and he took the best one. That ebay machine was probably 1 of the other 2 that he didn't get, lets face it, Portland isn't much of a city and there wasn't a lot of theaters around!!! Ya, I would say $5000 is a little much.  I met the guy to look at it and the longer I looked the lower he dropped the price. I was measuring my wrangler to see if it was going to fit and he had himself down from $800 at the start to him telling me his rock bottom price was $450. My negotiation technique.. I asked him how much and he kept talking and talking until he was telling me his rock bottom price. I just let him go...  I almost said ok at $600 but he just kept talking.....  And just if you are wondering, if you cram the front seats forward and lean it on the tailgate of a 4 door wrangler it does fit.

[MaineT]

Tim-

Here you go. I tried to give you some close ups so you could tell.

Did you ever find the numbers I messaged you about? I'm wondering if this is a serial number system.

[mznb1u]

I did find the number but it is difficult to read.  Just looked at it again and it appears to be 4017.  Looks like it was hand tapped in between the pulls.

The pulls on yours looks just like mine.. On mine it looks like the pulls were originally chromed but are now a bit rusty and there was a button of bakelite or something similar on the ends of the pulls.  looks like it was either brown or red.

The finish on your machine looks great and I would keep it that way.  If I restore mine I would like to attempt to duplicate the original finish.  The woodgrain paint process that Curtis used looks outstanding but I am an original finish guy if giving the choice.  Thanks for posting the pictures!

  Tim

[Creighton]

Wow that is nice and welcome to the board!!
Creighton

[Roadman]

Thanks for sharing the photos, MaineT! Just so everyone knows what a perfectionist Curtis is, he called me the day after you posted your photos and commented that there are intructions just above the coin return area that aren't on my machine, they were missing from the graphics that Curtis had pieced together from several early grade Stoner Theatres.  Curtis is now using that photo to have those instructions recreated to add to my machine. 

[Roadman]

I've had a couple questions PM'd to me on the Statue of Liberty design at the bottom of the Red Stoner Theatre.  The plate is a polished mirrored aluminum (same as the Candy lettering on the side of the machine) and the design elements were cut into the aluminum at a CNC shop.  According to Curtis, it took 4 hours for the CNC machine to cut the design in.

Dave