To buy or not to buy.

[davethebirdman]

Hi Group

I may have the chance to get my hands on a Vendo 39 in the next week or two. A friend of mine has one and his wife is not too keen on it. At the moment I am in negociations trying to get together enough stuff to make a swap.

I have seen a few pictures of the machine and as far as I can tell it looks complete and is working. The body work will need doing and it could do with a re-spray.

With my vactaion still burning a hole in my pocket and Christmas fast approaching my head says don't be silly but my heart says go for it.

Head or Heart???

I've been waiting and waiting for something to come along and here it is in my lap. The only problem being that it is a 39 and that's the one machine I already have.

How difficult are these machines to restore would the proffesionals ammongst us recommend a 39 for a first timer with little to no skills base.  

Your comments gratefully received.

Dave

[90grad]

Dave,

That's a tough one.  Another fairly important question would be will your wife kill you if you bought it?

Anyway, how big is the market for that stuff over there?  You could always pick it up and part it out, if there were a demand.  Or, putting a little work into it (just cleaning) may allow you to resell it at a profit.

I haven't a clue how to do body work and exterior painting.  However, I consider myself very new to this hobby and already have redone the insides of VMC 56 can machine.  I am definitely a beginner.  There were tricks about it that folks here were glad to help with.  But, overall, it was fairly straightforward.  I painted stuff with Rustoleum Hammertone (thanks to JoeSquid's test data), replaced the fan motors, and rewired it.  It was pretty easy for a beginner.  I've not messed with a 39, so others could offer more knowledge.

Basically, the point of this rambling is it's a tough call.  You know the market over there better than we do.  Maybe you can turn a little profit.  I definitely understand the addiction, as I hate waiting for stuff to pop up, too.  I have a Cavalier 51, which is basically the equivalent of a 39 (small bottles, 1 flavor).  If another one cropped up, it would have to be a steal for me to go after it, unless I was certain I could turn a profit out of it.

[Eric]

I agree with Wayne... Could you make a profit since you already have one...
Could you turn it if another model popped up?... What is the market there?
(I would think high) and it depends on price.... if it's a deal and you can do
some swapping that you won't regret later get it!
Keep us posted and good luck....

Eric

I say go with your heart and grab it, but then I am guilty of doing that too much.
So then again, you probably shouldn't listen to me. '>

Hi Dave,
you can not have enough 39`s  
I have three ( one of each model ). I bought one four years ago in Harefield near London, one in Hamburg (Germany) and one in Pennsylvania (2004).
And no it is not difficult to restore a 39. I restored my three 39`s and they turned out pretty good (I did everything - painting, body work ...). Two 39`s are in my house in Germany and one is here in the US. I am moving back to Germany in 2009 - maybe with a few roundtops.
My Government pays the bill so it does not matter how many '>

[sodaworks]

Dave,
 Look at it as an investment, if you can pic it up a reasonable price I say grab it. If not, later on as the value increases as it will, you may have regrets. As far as restoring a 39. A 39 in average condition is very easy to restore compared to machines with a bottles stack. By this I mean there is no bottle stack to completely disassemble, media blast, paint and re-assemble. I do 39's quite often, they are a piece of cake. '>

[Eric]

Here was my experience with another 39 (if this helps sway you)
I have a very nice original without the drum....bought it 4 years ago $300
bought a rough condition 39 with drum that same year for $500... I Removed the
drum, the drum shaft, basket wire hook thing. I then parted the rest out down to
the hinges and made $550!
So it was like getting the drum kit free... plus $50!

And if you have stuff to trade and as long as it's like trading up go for it!

Eric

[davethebirdman]

Yep

Thanks for the advice. Don't think there is a market here for parts. Not like in the US. If I did part it out not sure whether I'd attract many potential buyers what with being overseas and postage costs.

If I went for it it would have to be with a view to restoring it and then selling it, probably at a show. That's where they sell for the best prices. Or holding on to it and possibly trading up again with another dealer to get what I really want.

Let you know how it pans out. For once I have something to share and I must confess I am a little excited about it all.

Dave

[joesquid]

Ahhhh but now we have an interesting new question....what do you REALLY want?

Enquiring minds and all that!

[joesquid]

By the way, how did the flasher work out for you?

[davethebirdman]

Eric

The flashers are working well. There is no real sequence but much better than just having the two lights illuminated the whole time.

As for what I would really like. Well, something small. Slider/chesty/Junior and prefably not coke. But beggars can't be choosers.

Take Care

Dave

[MoonDawg]

On speculation Dave, you may be one of the only ones on your side of the pond to own a 39, much less two.   You also must realize the freight bill someone paid to get that machine over there.  You may regret passing this machine up if it's priced right. If  you restore this one, you will have a complete machine to refer to when re-assembling, and when done, keep the best one and sell the other.

[jasmine64]

I'd say buy it, use it as a trade up one day.

You may never know what will come by in the future.

Or better yet, maybe Josh and Kate will honeymoon
over there, let him loose on the town and in no time
he will have them coming in.::

Just joking Josh! But who knows it could happen. '>

[davethebirdman]

Well,

I've gone for it. Have had to swap quite a few of my goodies. Hope to pick it up in the near future. Then I'll be the proud owner of two soda machines (A drop in the Ocean for some of you I know)

Have only seen a few photos. What are the things to look out for?? Any pointers would be gratefully appreciated.

Dave

Ps... Wife crashed the car tonight but hey so what...

[MoonDawg]

Mrs Birdman  "Honey I crashed the car today"
       Mr. Birdman  "No problem honey, I bought another Coke machine today"     '>

[Kilroy]

Congrats Dave
To the V39, sorry about the car.

[davethebirdman]

Well

Picked it up today. Had a four hour 200 mile round trip to get it but I think its worthwhile.
I now have an additional soda machine sitting in my garage awaiting restoration.

Hang on a minute. I know absolutely nothing about restoring machines. What the #### have I done??
The wife thinks its just another piece of furniture that will sit there. So little faith.

Swapped a 3W1 Seeburg Wallbox, half a dozen Rock & Roll posters, pair of Drive in movie speakers and a bin full of old GI Joe related items. All old stuff that I played with as a child.

Will get some photos tomorrow and pst them and then I'll need help. And lots of it. Where do I start. What do I do. I know it works. SO that's a start.

Dave

[jasmine64]

The addiction continues...

I have my eye on a couple more Coca-Cola dry chests,
but my hubby is making a lot of noise about me buying them.

So thats on hold. Until deer and duck season starts, then we'll see.

[MoonDawg]

You know Dave...........almost everyone on this site. never restored a machine until they got their first one!  
     Post pictures of both your machines, and help is on the way !

Congrats Dave!
You won't regret it.
I bet the wife accidentally crashed the car when you called her on the cell phone (or as you Brits say, "Mobile phone") and told her that you bought another machine. Just kidding, I don't mean to joke about the Trouble & Strife's safety.