Dad's is done!!

Nice job Brian!

[bcharlton]

Ok, the color is House of Colors Cinnamon base coat.  I used Ppg clear coat.  I used House of Color Pearl white for the bottle door.  It is an extra step but the pearl looks great.  You can not see this from the pictures. I wet sanded and buffed it.  Then I recleared it.  I wanted the extra protection because this "can"machine will sit outside my poolhouse.  Matt. I AM SORRY YOU DON'T LIKE THE ROOTBEER color but I have about had it with Coke red.  

I have a great idea but I don't know if we can pull it off.

I want to do a "Square top" face off/contest with people sending pictures of both the inside as well as outside. of their prized restorations.  We would send in pictures of the restoration process.  No cheating.  They have to be new projects not old ones already finished.  We would all vote on which one we all liked the best.  The winner could win a gift certificate from one of the vendors that might donate a few bucks like Allan, Curtis or Mike from Niagara plating.  Maybe we could have a $25 dollar entry fee and the winner gets to use this money to spend with a sponcer of the website.

The rules could be simple.  No coke or Pepsi restorations.  I am not the only one who would like to see a lot more creativity in the square top contest.  The entries would have to be completed by September 1st.  There would be a five day period for the votes to be cast.  I already have an idea for my next one.  Let me know what you guys think.  My only request is that Matt C does not get to hold onto the money.  He is going broke buying all new stainless steel for his Minit Pop popcorn machine and he can not be trusted.

Or maybe your all CHICKEN!!!!!!!!!!

Brian "the squre top junkie"C

[BrianB]

Dad's machine looks great, good job!

Now on the subject of a contest, It sounds like a neat idea but......I may be speaking out of place but here goes! I myself really enjoy this place because there is NO competition. People just have fun showing their work and in turn we also LOVE seeing pictures of each others work. The stories of the awesome finds and the one's that got away also keep us all very entertained and it keeps the hobby alive and people searching for that next great deal.

By adding money and percieved prestige to this site would taint it for me. Unofficial bragging rights between friends is one thing but a money driven contest is a completely different ball game. To me it adds commercialism and in this day and age anything that still has some innocence is very attractive.

Please don't take this as a personal attack, it's not. It's just my opinion.

[bcharlton]

BrianB

None taken.  I think the event may spark a little more creativity in the restoration hobby.  Because square tops are cheap, just about anybody can get one.  I like seeing them done up with brands that never historically existed.  Also, I don't see bragging rights and a $50 gift certificate "commercialising" our favorite pastime.  I think such a contest would allow some great ideas exchanged between members.  Also, I am sure you would see even more co-operation with competing entries.  I have restored 4 square tops Vendo 56.  I have given away 3 of them as gifts.  I have recieved a ton of help over the years from guys like Curtis, Allan, and Matt C.  I would like the opportunty to help others just getting into our hobby.  I am amazed at the friendly members and their willingness to assists the new-commers.  

I see the contest as an extention of this.
I would like to hear what some others think.

Brian C

[www.memorylanerestorations.com]

Good job Brian! Your stuff has been looking top shelf! Oh! are you sleeping in the garage yet? Machines? Wife? Machines? Wife? You keep this up and your going to have to buy her a new Car! For those of you out there looking for the best in Chrome plating ( Niagara Plating ) First class and great people to work with. Thanks. Curtis, Memory Lane Restorations.

[bcharlton]

Curtis:

Curtis:
Thanks for the love but I would have to disqualify you in any square top contest.  We are amatures.  You are a professional.  If you still have the pics, why don't you post the billiard machine.   That is one of the coolest square top restorations I have ever seen.  Now, if I could only afford a 9 foot Brunswick.

Brian C

[collecture]

I have to agree - the Billiard 56 was cool looking!

[loman4ec]

I kind of agree with Brian about the contest. I like the idea but I don't think it is right for the site. Not everyone has the funds or ability to participate. Meaning that only a few of us have the space to paint and do a restoration quickly. That would only leave a few of us to participate in it and that isn't fair to the other members. If it were to happen I would normally go along but I already have three projects going and have no money for a theme machine.

[BrianB]

Point taken, kind of. I've seen the kind of strife/hate & discontent that "contests" can generate. I know that all of the SMC members that are regular posters/contributers here are above that. (the strife/hate that is)

Theme machines are great, I agree I like to see what people can come up with and love thought provoking peices. Like Josh, I don't have an endless supply of cash (who does!) and don't have the locale to shoot paint.

To me, anybody can dissassemble a soda pop machine and farm everything out to be done. What fun is that?? Sure, it's a "restoration", but at what cost? I think that part of this hobby is the inate ability for those that don't have a lot of cash to do the majority, if not all, of the work themselves thereby promoting a sense of accomplishment and sometimes in this hobby a sense of overcoming overwhelming odds!

I'm all about friendliness, that's what first attracted me to this site. Everybody was super-helpful and more than willing to lend a hand. If not for SMC, I would have never of gotten this involved with the hobby. Not a soul wanted to compare machines and see who had the best. If that had of been the case, I would have bailed in a heartbeat! I don't have time for show-off's and needy-attention grabbers.

I've seen/heard about other websites and forums that are completly overun with egotistical, "look at me" types and it totaly ruins the experience. At the same time it turns away potential newcomers that don't want to get caught up in the drama and feel that they can't compare.

Luckily, Soda Machines.Com is exactly the opposite. Great people, great stories, 0% competition. Let's keep it that way.

Just my two cents.

[www.memorylanerestorations.com]

Here are a few photos of the Billiards 56 I restored. This machine was also on the TV special, ROKER ON THE ROAD back in june of 2005 They did a piece on my machines. It was called a blast from the past. They re run it from time to time. There's alot of cool things after they were finished with my mug. Thanks guys, but there are so many good people out there doing great work. This is fun stuff, I'm just lucky enough to be able to do this for a living. I work about 200FT from my house. Keep in mind, I'm always willing to help anyone if I can. Thanks. Curtis Kauffman, Memory Lane Restorations.