Original unrestored or dead mint restored

[coke_and_stuff]

What do you prefer? Nice originals or dead mint restored show queens?

Joey

[loman4ec]

Nice originals. No contest to me. But most machines need restored. So I do like restored machines as long as they are not over restored. I hate all of the pin striping and aftermarket decals.

[davethebirdman]

Unless the baby has been hidden away in a deep storage facility and
untocuhec by humanhands for 40yrs I'd go with restored... Ithas to pass
the wife test...

I'm sure there mustbe NOS machines out there somewhere....

Dave 

[Kilroy]

 IF I am buying one, I prefer the lower price of an original. If  I'm keeping it, it will be  restored,
 
And i have to agree with Josh,  I've seen nice machines  way over done, and excessive decals  and chrome   don't add to the  beauty or coolness of the machine.

[BrianB]

As with the others, I would much rather see a one-owner, basement kept gem that just needs a cleaning and maybe some rubbing compound. But....like Josh mentioned, few and far between.

All of the Sprite Boy's and pinstriping....To each his own. I personally don't like all that jazz and would prefer to bring a machine back to it's former glory as close to original as possible. We all know that certain parts or procedures are either to costly to duplicate or the art of it has been lost or never developed for the hobbyist (silkscreening embossing!!) so we have to make do.

[RC kid]

That brings to mind a question I had just the other day. I am restoring two Vendo 110s, Yes, the big oversized ones. I just bought the shelves that I needed and I was thinking of NOT painting the interior of the machines, just for the reasons stated here about over restoring these classic pieces of Americana. There's no rust, it's just old looking. So what do you guys think?

[davethebirdman]

What are you doing with the outsides... If you are re-doing the outside I would suggest you do the same to the inards.. If the outside is just being cleaned up then the inside would look good with just a decent wash down....

Dave

[SIGNGUY]

I'd guess I'd take a really nice clean original over a restored one too... but I have both in my collection, so I guess it's a love for both depending on the situation...The originals do have to pass the "can I get it in the house test" of course as Dave mentioned... I have two nice originals 44 and a 39 that are near minty... 56 and 81's are fully restored back to original, not overdone, but could be replaced if I find a nice original of each...
Great topic.

[SIGNGUY]

I was thinking of NOT painting the interior of the machines, just for the reasons stated here about over restoring these classic pieces of Americana. There's no rust, it's just old looking. So what do you guys think?

I agree with Dave, if your not redoing the outsides, then don't paint the insides... just clean it reall good, if there is rust, you may have no choice...
but once you restore on part on it .. it will look odd if the rest isn't and soon you'll be looking at it saying ok i di the inside, maybe I should redo the liner, well then the breaker strips, well that looks nice maybe i'll just paint the outside... well by then you might as well just strip the whole thing apart and do a total restore.
Good luck

[MoonDawg]

 I am restoring two Vendo 110s, Yes, the big oversized ones. I just bought the shelves that I needed and I was thinking of NOT painting the interior of the machines,

 There's no rust, it's just old looking.

   I think you could first paint the exterior, add lettering, glass, chrome, decals etc.

   The inside can always be painted at a later time, avoid burnout on your first machine!
   
       

       
   

[globalcompressors]

Original, hands down. Each and every machine has earned all nicks, dents, scratches, etc.
Not a total piece of junks mind you, but something with some wear and tear is just fine with
me.

All new wiring, gaskets, lights and compressor unit doesn't hurt, if you're looking to use it on
a daily bases.

Eric

[GreginNM]

I, too, agree that I like a good original best.  We have both in the collection, and although the restored ones are truly beautiful, there is nothing that replaces the authentic look of a nice original.  Having said that, the restored ones we have and the ones I like are done true to original appearance--no pin stripes or gaudy graphics.

[Pat Pixley]

Nothing gets the heart beating a bit faster than a Original unrestored  machine that you found in the basement of a hardware or out in someone's barn  With that being said
I also like doing them up a little bit better than when they rolled off the line, some nickel
plating rechrome the original chrome add some chrome bolts & nuts and replace steel bolts & screws with stainless steel, that always looks better .

  Take my Dr Pepper Better than original  but not a show queen and there is my Orange Crush
way better than original  may be a show queen  went over and beyond on this machine .

[MoonDawg]

      A nice original seems to have much more of a story to tell about it's history.

      A restored machine can hide lot of bad stuff

[Jim]

I'm a little slow joining the thread, but a nice/mint original will always be preferred over a restored machine/cooler, at least from a collectors point of view.