Please help the new guy!

Hello ,
  I have a few questions so I thought I'd turn to all of you more knowledgable folks for some help. I'm not a collector and really know nothing about these machines. Today I came across an old 7UP slider in an abandoned building.To me it looks to be in very  very good shape. It is an Ideal model 55B serial no. 12491, still has the inside rack and the 10 cent coin box. There are no logos on the sides but it has the red, black, and white 7Up logo on the front. Not sure if it still works or not yet. I tracked down the owner of the building (who lives out of state and hasn't seen this place in twenty years)  and he said he would take $100 bucks for it. What should I do? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

[Pat Pixley]

Hey clueless, you are in luck that is a great find and I think
that is one of the easy machines to restore there is not that
much to them and for a Franklin that is a deal. And there
are some great people here that can help you , plus there are the parts supplier like Eric at GlobalCompessor,
Steve at Fun tronics and Ron at Classic sodaware.
That is a good deal let us know, and if you can send a photo.

Pat P.
 

[johnieG]

Grab it and RUN! before I get there! great find! '>

[Jim]

Want to double you money...? I'll give you $200!

Just kidding, don't let it slip through your hands; that's a great deal!

[Pat Pixley]

WOW!! WHAT A BUNCH OF HOUNDS.
Clueless, watch these guys without there meds. there just a
little dangerous.

Pat P. '>

I just want to say that I can't thank you all enough! You have been a tremendous help and this website is great! I called the guy back, rounded up some friends, and went down and picked up the machine today! It is actually in better shape than I had thought originally! I really hope to have you all some photos very soon! I'll apologize now because untill I get this thing figured out you all will be hearing from me quite a bit! I still have a few questions about the machine and have faith in your help. Questions like how do I find keys to get into the coin box so I can make it work and actually use the machine some day or do I even need keys at all? Second, what needs to be done to a machine like this that has sat for fifty years before I can plug it in and see if it works?   One thing that I thought you all might find interesting is that the very tiny abandoned builing where I found and rescued this machine is the service station where it served the public until the owner closed the doors in the late fifties.That's right! I found it just like it was the day the owner cleaned it out, unplugged it, and closed his business for the very last time.
  P.S. He did forget to clean out one thing, the cap catcher is still filled half full of many different types of bottle caps. To my surprise, they were the first caps I have ever seen with cork on the underside. I guess us young pups have a lot to learn!  Thank you guys so much! Any information or help is greatly appreciated!    Clueless1