Most collectable machine ?

[Skeleton Man]

Hi all,

I'm currently working with a 70's era Cornelius pepsi machine, but I'm doubtful I'll fetch much more than $200 - $300 for it.. (that's with new coin mech, new lock, new lights & wiring, cleaned, etc)..  I only paid $100 for it tho..

I was wondering for my next project, what would be a nice collectors item that I would make more than a few $$ from restoring ? (I see a lot of people here have round top coke machines, with the slanted shelves & glass door)

Regards,
Chris

[Eric]

You can't go wrong with the Vendo 39, 56, 81, VMC 81s or Cavalier 72 & 96s
those are your best roundtop glass doors. Good $$$$$

[Kilroy]

Ditto to what Eric said.

[Pat Pixley]

And for the future the Sq. tops are going to start to be the
hot items out there. vendo 63 , 90, 92-3 & 126 cavalier
64,80,1-55,2-55 & 96 now this is just what I think, A small
 machine that can go in a basement family room  or in a corner of a office (home or work )  or in the living room
If your wife would let that  happen.   '>

Pat

[Skeleton Man]

My cornelius squaretop is only small.. a bit over 5' tall and 3.5' wide..  (or did you mean the type that sit on a stand, e.g. skybox ?)

Girlfriend is OK with one machine at a time.. long as it stays in the shed..  :'>

[dr galaga]

Quote (Skeleton Man @ April 20 2005,7:51)

Girlfriend is OK with one machine at a time.. long as it stays in the shed.

I sure hope that the "shed" is some slang term for your rec. room! '>
If you have room, try to talk her in to putting it in the house.  Look at all the room it will save in the refridgerator '> .  Also, notice the selection of soda and beer.    If not, think of some other plan   (unless this is at her place '> )

[Skeleton Man]

Unfortunately shed = garage (and @ her place).. but I'm sure with a round top machine (fully restored) I'd get it in the house..

[DanV]

I love those Vendo 44's . The little size and the round edges.  It's amazing to me at 5 cents a bottle those machines brought in a whopping $2.20. I saw one at a flea market, al original, but he wanted $2500 for it. To bad he knew what he had.:angry:

[sodaworks]

DanV,
  2500.00 is the going price for a 44. Keep looking and eventually you'll find one much cheaper. Terry

[DanV]

Thanks, I'll keep my eye out

[Skeleton Man]

I'll be looking for something in fair condition (ie. incomplete, but no rust)..  gotta wait till I can afford to restore a machine like that tho.. (I figure if $2,500 is the going price, I'll have to spend at least $500 - $800 on parts & paint to get that for it..)

If you want to earn big $$$$ you have to do a great restoration job.

[Bob K]

I know everybody has different tastes, but to me there is such thing as "over-restoration".

I totally appreciate and admire the Bitw restorations, but they are not for me (like I could afford it anyway '>  ).  They're too pristine, I'd be afraid to let the kids enjoy it for fear they may scratch something.  "Alright, who didn't wipe off the powdercoated bottle opener after they used it?!!!

Not for me.  Give me a complete, well-worn, running machine any day.  I've got enough to worry about. '>

Bob

[glassbottlesrule]

I too like my machines with use scars.  The restore are pretty but just not for me.  I only buy machines which are clean and not rusted in the beltline.  I bring em home strip out the cooling system and mechanicals and swab it out.   I replace the two fans and lube everything and reassemble.  I clean the outside with light rubbing compound followed by a couple coats of wax.  I also always replace all the bulbs, starters, and ballast.  The machines always clean up great and look good with dents and dings.

[Eric]

Though this is swaying into another topic I must agree (a little) I hate seeing machines pimped out...
Now some machines have past the wax and elbo grease stage. So I can see fresh paint job. My 39
is original and it has slight orange peal to it... I like that... When I restore my 81 I don't want a mirror finish
I want an original finish. When I think restored... I think original condition.... Especially if they are a
harder to find machine. Pin striping, 34 decals, extra chrome.... Is there a machine under there somewhere? '>

Now if you're making a fantasy machine... you need some of that stuff. some of the square tops lost that vintage feel....
Love the Frosty ones Josh makes.

But a 81, to me, needs nothing but a nice paint job and stocked shelves.

Eric

[Skeleton Man]

My square top cornelius might get a coat of paint (won't be powdercoat) and a polish, but I'm not going overboard with chrome or anything..

Original condition is what I'm aiming for..

[MoonDawg]

Good point Eric. A Vendo 81 from the factory in Fresno had "Have a Coke" on each side, and "insert coin", "coin return"  and "visible bottle "warning decals only.
      Don't know the story about how the "Hand and Bottle" decals ended up on a lot of these machines.
      I feel too many decals and pinstripes are degrading
      (But I want my 81 re-painted with a mirror finish) '>

[loman4ec]

I agree with you Glen.  but when you are building machines to sell you have to do what people want. And for some reason peolple like things over restored.

[sodaworks]

I like the mirror finish paint jobs as well. New chrome and only applying the original decals. I only add additional decals at the clients request. '>

[Creighton]

Great thread!
Have been looking at the two RT V-56's on Ebay restored by "Home Arcade" and "Sleepwalk". Outstanding work on both accounts!! Has me thinking about fixing some details on mine (will be a new thread).

That said, when someone new is over to the house, it is great fun to point out a couple of the dents made by someone trying to break into the coin door and the guest will always find the lame attacks that also occured.

I put all kinds of decals on the box as mood suites but they are all mounted on magnitic (sp) backing so no harm done.
To each his own!!
Creighton


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