Thought you all might need a refresher course!

[collecture]

http://www.ehow.com/how_7374905_restore-vintage-coke-machines.html

J/K 

[globalcompressors]

do we know any professonals?   

[tkaz]

Oh, that's all I have to do?  Sounds easy enough, time to give it a shot.

[johnieG]

Oh my Gawd!!!! we're all DEAD!!!  

Quote;  "Replacing the refrigeration unit with a modern substitute will not properly weigh the machine down and could create a dangerous tipping hazard."  That's right you may tip over 20% for your meal...

as my son would say    "WHAT A Freak'n DERP! "    

Now that you have those nice little piles on the basement floor, & realize you've just destroyed your machine, NOW it's time too call that "professional"  (Who will charge you double to just look at the mess, let alone consider restoring the machine ( er rusty piles of parts) for double what you'd have paid in the first place....

PS this is "resto-rips" secret to vending machine restoration, have someone else do it & take all of the credit! oh & don't forget to do a special on your cable TV channel. those missing parts are only a swap meet down the street away!    

[jholmgren]

PS this is "resto-rips" secret to vending machine restoration, have someone else do it & take all of the credit! oh & don't forget to do a special on your cable TV channel. those missing parts are only a swap meet down the street away!     

Well, I'm headed to a flea market/farmer's market tomorrow in Lancaster PA to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies - so if anyone needs any impossible to find parts for a restoration, I'm sure I can find them for you.  I'll even check all the boxes under the tables!   

Jim

[Grey Wolf]

Don't forget to "Hire a professional"!!!!

[briandr1]

That was kinda vague. he coulda just said save money hire a professional, gotta love it

[Creighton]

My favorite:

> #6 Disassemble the refrigeration unit. Thoroughly clean and wire wheel polish it. Repaint and rewire the unit.

No mention here to "Hire a professional".

Creighton

[BrianS]

Man, those instructions were waayyyyy to complicated!!!  That person is obviously uninformed if they thinnk it takes ELEVEN entire steps to restore a Coke machine.  This person must be one of those professional types - they can do it in only SIX steps.  And some critical advice was left out of the first article.  Important tidbits such as "Cut out rust holes using a circular cutting tool",  "Sand uneven surfaces using filler and an electric sander, and one we have all learned the hard way "Inspect engine and air compressor to see if these parts need to be repaired or replaced".

Failing to check the engine in my Vendo 56 cost me months worth of time and unknown expenses.  Not to mention forgetting to cover my chrome in newspaper.


http://www.ehow.com/how_7604636_restore-old-coke-vending-machines.html

[BrianS]

OK, not to ramble on, but reading through a couple of these is a great example of how anyone can post anything on the internet - whether they know what they are talking about or not.  Some of these "blog contributors" don't even use proper english in these articles, and why even go to the trouble to write about something if you have no clue about your subject matter.  Pat, I remember your 81 that you posted pics of a while back, and Curtis, the Stoners you just completed - well come to find out those machines can only be graded as "good".  They can't be mint or excellent, because they don't have the original packaging and even though they are from the 50s, they have apparently been USED before.  An obvious faux pas.

http://www.ehow.com/about_6507620_value-old-coke-vending-machines.html


A Coke machine's condition can be graded as mint, excellent, good or poor. To receive a grade of mint condition, the machine must look as new as it did when originally manufactured. In most cases it must also be unused and in its original, unopened packaging. An excellent grade machine may have tiny scratches or marks on the outer rim or edges. The machine can be used but it would require that its original although opened packaging still be available. Good Coke machines have a moderate amount of scratches or flaking and may even have dents or rust. A poor grade would be given to a machine that is badly rusted and worn, possibly dented and chipped.


Now if you will excuse me I need to  go submit my article on how to generate you own home power using common household products you can find under your sink.

[scalebowler]

You know my friend posted a video on youtube like that once as a joke after he got tired of seeing all these stupid related youtube videos about just dumb stuff and it was quite entertaining to see people trying to show off how "smart" they were by explaining how it worked. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHRYD6Ol9XU He just took some random junk we had in our dorm room and a laser pointer and a sound program on his computer and made that.

[mznb1u]

  Laser Theramin  PRICELESS!

The Beach Boys could have saved a lot of money had they known this valuable information!

  Tim

[Pat Pixley]

 Did you see in step 3 that they named Custom Chrome plating In Grafton OH.,   I used them for a while  got to expensive
 to use .

[jholmgren]

 Did you see in step 3 that they named Custom Chrome plating In Grafton OH.,   I used them for a while  got to expensive
 to use .

I noticed that Pat - thought it was a little odd for a how-to article to call out a specific vendor for a process that any chrome shop should be able to do...but then again, consider how well the rest of the article is written.   

I had my Spitfire bumpers chromed by Hanlon Plating in VA.  They did a nice job and were very resonable.   They specialize in car chrome, but in talking with one of the guys who owns the shop, I think they'll plate pretty much anything.