Victor Topper Gumball Machine

[BrianB]

About two months ago myself, my wife and daughter traveled up to Illinois for a family members 70th birthday party. A few days before going, my wife got a call from her Step-Mother wanting to know if I would like to have an "old gumball machine" that belonged to my wife's father who passed away last January. I said "that would be great!".

As the day approached I was filled with anticipation as to what make and model the gumball machine would turn out to be. I thought that it might some cheesy plastic globe and flapper job but also remembered that my wife's dad didn't dabble in junk. After arriving at the party we said our hello's to other family members and waited for her step-mother to arrive. Shortly after her arrival, she invited me out to her car to retrieve the mystery gumball machine.

When she opened the trunk I was pleasantly surprised! It looked to an old glass globe Oak Acorn gumball machine! I thanked her graciously for the machine and told her that I would take special care of it. Out of any coin op related machine that I own or have owned, this is the only one that has any sort of "real" value to it. My wife was very close to her father and his death was very tragic and that added even more to it.

On the drive back to Indiana I told my wife that I would research and restore this machine to the best of my ability. It turns out that it isn't an Oak Acorn at all, It's a Victor Topper. This is my first gumball machine and the learning curve had been a little steep. To make a long story short, here are some before and after pictures:

[MCarter]

It looks better in Person !!!

[loman4ec]

I have the same machine here. They are really nice little machines.

[dr galaga]

Nice job!  Gumball machines are just like soda machines...can't have just one!

[Eric]

Great Story and GREAT machine..... Yeah it looks lonely... you're gonna need a couple more....! Looks awesome!
check out www.crowriver.com for parts and stuff.. if you or anyone needs parts.

[BrianB]

Thanks fella's! Yeah, I've got my eyes peeled for another one that's for sure! Roger at Crow River is super. He's helped me a bunch of times on various projects. I recommend him highly.

[davethebirdman]

Nice story. Its great to have an item with REAL history to it. How often do you drop a coin in the slot and wonder who has been there before you (or is that just mad old me)

I agree about the aaddictive element. I had two vending machines at Christmas. I've now got more than 20... I need help.

Dave

[Eric]

Ha... I think the same thing too... What stories has my old phones heard... who stopped and pumped gas out of the pumps and into what model/makes of cars Who dropped a dime into or reached into the machines I have... If they could only talk and tell what they've seen and heard.

[BrianB]

Those very reasons have always been the draw for me. History!