Amazing Luck (FREE VMC Pepsi 81)

[Cameron]

Hi All,

I am new to Soda Machines.com. I recently obtained my first soda machine (a VMC Pepsi 81) for the amazing price of $0. 

I am an engineering geologist and I have been monitoring drilling of caissons for a landslide repair in the Mount Olympus area near Hollywood, CA.  The general area consists of two hilltop houses, with incredible views, on about 20 acres. The Hollywood sign is visible from the property.

The closest structure to the landslide repair is a detached garage. Apparently the homeowner is a rock hound. There were several buckets of various rocks and minerals stored behind the garage. While checking out the rocks I noticed an old rusty soda machine. I thought it was kind of cool so I told the driller (Dennis) to check it out.  I told Dennis that I had always wanted an old bottle dispensing soda machine.  Dennis told me that I should ask the homeowner if he would be willing to sell it. I thought to myself, “That thing looks like it’s in bad shape, do I really want this thing?”

The next morning the homeowner (Barry, a Doctor in Beverly Hills) was leaving for work. Dennis saw Barry and asked him if he was going to restore the soda machine.  Barry said something along the lines of “That old thing, if you want it you can have it.” Dennis told him “Actually I don’t have room for it on my truck, but Cameron here would like to have it.” Barry told me “Go ahead and take it.” I told him “Wow, thank you very much.”

After Barry offered me the machine I thought to myself, “Do I really want this thing; it probably doesn’t work and needs a lot of TLC.” I told Dennis that I was thinking of not taking it. He told me that if I didn’t take it, he would come back later that afternoon and take it himself. After he told me that, I decided to go ahead and load it into my Tahoe. The machine was very heavy and the base was full of dirt and black widow spider webs. I brushed it off and cleaned out as much dirt as I could.

When I got home that night I started researching the machine. I made some calls to various soda machine restoration specialists and soon learned the true rarity and potential value of my machine.

I have decided to have the machine fully restored. This last Saturday, July 4, I dropped off the machine with Glen Boyd at Ideal Sunroof & Soda in Ventura. Glen has recently restored another VMC Pepsi 81 and has photos on his web site oldcokemachines.com, under restoration services.  Glen was able to get my machine working while I was there. The compressor and condenser fan still worked and some of the refrigeration coils iced up. The light in the door also still worked and the drain pan area was also in good shape, not to rusty.

I am very exited to see the final product. I can’t believe my luck. I am planning on keeping the machine, hopefully for many years to come. 
Cameron

[collecture]

So it is your machine!
I will be doing the coin mechanism on it for you.
Glen is a very nice guy and does great work - he is also a member here. When he is done, you will have a restored Pepsi VMC-81 for about the price of an unrestored Pepsi VMC-81!
Great find and great story! Congrats!! 

[halehouse]

Pictures are a must. You have to have them...don't you?

[loman4ec]

Wow what a great story!!! Thank you for sharing. You had amazing luck with that. I have owned over a hundred machines and never had the luck to get a Pepsi 81. You also picked the right guy to do the restoration. Glen is a great guy and he does fantastic work. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Just beware that this is the most addicting hobby in the world. You may think you only need one machine but you will soon find that machines start to follow you home more and more every month. This may be an addicting hobby but at least is can be a profitable hobby. Great score on your first machine and welcome to the site. Please stick around and make sure to post lots of pictures of your machine!

[rugrunner]

Yes, pictures please!

Sounds like a great score for you!

My best score on a jobsite  was a lady that paid me $50 to "haul away" her old oak roll top desk (on which my laptop now sits) because it was too big for her lake cabin.

Under the bottom drawer I found check stubs from 1903.

[Cameron]

Collecture,

The coin mechanism on the last VMC Pepsi 81 you did for Glen looks great. I cant wait to see your handywork in person.  

I will post some photos as soon as possible.

Cameron

[Cameron]

Here are some photos taken at Glen's shop.

[Cameron]

More photos!

[Cameron]

More photos!

[loman4ec]

That doesn't look too bad at all. A little surface rust but it doesn't look like anything serious. I wish I could get a deal half that good!