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Not sure if I'm in the right forum because I have no idea what year this is. Just need to know more info....approx year, good or bad machine, what you can see from the pics. Seller said it works great but he does not give more info and said it has not ran in a while  :hopefull:. Just looking to be informed about this machine.....he is quite a drive from me and don't want to drive it twice if I can help it. He has not been eager to get info from the tag. Last, maybe an approx value. Thanks in advance for any help or guidance.

Hey.
  Autobon7

It's a True single door .Im don't think it's embossed .Nice little cooler but people want Victors I could not give you a value on it because they don't come up much . I think Eric Global Compressure has one

if you don't buy it, I would love to buy it. You can reach me at cokecolaman at Comcast dot net. I'm not sure of the value, but I know I like the smaller coolers.

thanks,
Ron

The book value in Classic Soda Machines is $1200 in "average" condition. There was a similar one in Pepsi that was bid up last year for well over $1200 on eBay. I can't remember the actual price.


And don't forget his definition of average is basically a non-cooling machine that is mostly complete, needs paint and isn't rusted out.

I like the shape myself, reminds me of a roll-top desk or part of a sidewalk mailbox-but not in the same way as a Jacobs machine.  :biggrin:

That is a great looking little cooler. I would buff it out, polish the stainless and it would look awesome. My eyeballs tell me it has to be worth at least $1,000, more if cooling.

Call this a rookie mistake  :darn: or call me stupid. It was brought to my attention last night that I should remove my post to protect my potential buy. That there are some folks that will see that this machine is rare.....look up your profile, find where you live, search, contact seller and take you out of the running. By the time I got the message and tried to remove my post I got an error message and said I couldn't but I believe it was too late at that point. I had 27 views and no responses and it was suggested that was because some (not all) folks were busy trying to figure out who, what , when, where, and how they could get this machine for themselves.  Ya know what......one guy must have been successful because the seller mysteriously cut off all communication with me and this morning pulled his ad that he has had up for a few months (off and on). The only reason that I didn't inquire here before is because I lost my job (my place of employment for the last 24 years shut down) and the seller early on was asking more than I had. This week he dropped the price and also was willing to barter so I felt I had a real shot. I'm sure most of the folks here are fine and wouldn't pull that kind of underhanded move so this will not keep me from coming here but it will keep me from posting a sincere "help me identify" BEFORE I have machine in hand. I want to thank those of you who responded because I doubt any of you would post and then "go to work for yourselves". I want to thank all you who are decent , honest, understanding,  and not low down......folks that read my post and didn't respond but did the RIGHT thing by doing nothing. I want to thank the member (who shall remain unknown) that PMd me warning that this may happen. Thank you much my friend....I didn't see your note until it was too late, but thank you for doing the right thing. And to the 1 person who did not do the right thing and essentially sucker punched me......I could say all kinds of things that would be all kinds of wrong (I sure feel like it though), instead I'm gunna pray for you because my God says we are supposed to be forgiving. I'm gunna pray that this will be the last time you do something like this. Some of you may feel differently about this and call it free game because I was not smart enough to recognize what could happen. I respect that. Never again. I will continue to come here and enjoy the projects and ask tech questions because I feel that at least 95% of everyone here are awesome people. However I will be MUCH more careful moving forward and protect my interests. This machine would not have been a keeper (under a different circumstance yes) as I have yet to find a job and sure could have used the money made on this unit to help pay bills that are stacking up as I type.

That's pretty messed up. Start by removing your location from your profile, all they have to do is a craig's list search within a couple of hours of you. There are a lot of members here that show their true colors when it comes to the hard to find stuff or money makers. There is a lot less community here then you think.

The book is not that expensive when you get back on your feet and is a great resource.  ebay completed auctions is free, but with the best stuff it wont come up because it comes up so infrequently so you have to keep an eye on stuff to get an idea what its worth when you get the chance.

As well autobon, there are MANY who frequent this board who do not contribute anything, (they come on as a guest) and look to see what people are posting etc.... SO, it might be a person who is not even a member of this board, but one who uses the board as a tool in their search.
In saying that, I'm glad you understand that one bad apple (experience) does not make the board, and there are MANY good people on this site.
Another cooler / machine will find you... they always do  :happydrinkers:

Somewhat ridiculous to blame this board. It's a big world out there so you have no idea if even another person was involved. Just because a seller stops communication with you, that can mean a variety of things, doesn't have to filter back to SMC.

Either way, good luck to you.

I'm one of the 27 views. i didn't reply because I didn't know what the machine was, so left it to those who do.

You are right in that I don't know for sure what happened but I have gotten a flood of PMs (since I posted this morning)from many different members who all echo the same thing. If I offended you or anyone else I do apologize because that was not my intent. They have all said that this type of thing is not unusual to happen and that in the future I need to be much more careful. I will.....   

Thank you Kilroy, I appreciate it.

I posted Picts for both my machines before I contacted the seller. I got really good advise form the members and I'm very thankful for the help. Maybe I got lucky or maybe I live far enough in the sticks to minimize this stuff. I also view a lot of posts without commenting because I like to see what's out there. I figure if you guys can find it I can find another someday.

Don't let your experience sour you on the people here. I'm sure there's some shady people (always are) but most are great and willing to help noobs like me.

Autobon7

Sorry to hear that .

But WOW I would have NEVER thought to do the checking profile thing .
Very Sneeky  :censored:

Depends on what you post! If its a 5 out of 5 for rarity and pretty desirable you might get blindsided.
There are 1255 members, with over 1000 of them newbies. Over 850 have 10 posts or less. I'm thinking there are a lot of the guests that are technically members!!! An if I recall correctly, as a guest I don't think I could see pictures. Is that still the case?   

Yeah that's why it's best to post a machine after you have unloaded it from your vehicle... There are some great members here and then there are the
lurkers-folks not necessarily members but someone popping in to see what someone else may have found... We have got some serious pickers on here that
find good stuff... So there are people always stopping in to see what's the latest find.

What I do now is when I find a machine I contact a few buddies (members here) that have knowledge of
the machine or cooler, shoot them a pic, and see what they think...
Never post a live auction or machine for sale you're really interested in... It will hurt your chances.

I use to post pics of machine or coolers that someone on here would be looking for thinking I was helping out..... and most the time it would end up in someone
else's hands... So I am where if I know someone is looking for a certain model I PM them direct... You will get to know who likes what and who's looking for whatever...
Me - I'm looking for embossed Quikold Coolers in Standard and Junior size! (Plug)  :smile:

You didn't work for AT&T did you?... They sent my entire department to India (outsourced)  I had 18 years.... Now I'm freelancing... not the greatest situation but
I'm surviving...
Hang in there... Don't stress.... It's a new year... That perfect job (and machine) is out there waiting for you!

All good advice, but I don't know anyone that is knowledgeable about machines so I have leaned on the board for advice. Now I know to be cautious.

I did not work for AT&T....worked for Graham Packaging, plastic bottle manufacturer. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement concerning the job situation. 

Yeah...it happens  

Wow johnnie, those special effects a real Hollywood-grade stuff.  :tounge:

Autobon7

Funny I worked with Graham many times as a service guy with high speed Labeling machines mainly with the pinch grip bottles for Welch / Tree top / Clement papas and so on

I was also one of the lookers who did not post.  Liked the cooler but had nothing to add.  There are a lot of lurkers here that are looking to pick off machines but there are also many useful search tools and apps that could have led many people to that cooler without too much effort.  Sorry you got sniped :down: but in general this board and the people on it are very helpful. :help:

Early on in my collecting, I did what you did with a very rare cooler and almost got sniped by another member/lurker.  Fortunately for me, the seller honored his deal with me and did not sell it out from under from me even though he was offered more money by the guy who tried to snipe me.  Lesson learned the hard way.  Now that I have been around a bit, I typically do what Eric describes and consult with a few of the friends I have made.  I don't usually post pictures until the machine is loaded and in my possession.

Don't despair as many more coolers and other machines will come along.  Unfortunately, it is often difficult to forget about the one that got away.

Happy to help whenever I can. :happydrinkers:

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Yep! only the best MS_paint will do!   :laugh:

Very unfortunate Autobon7

Sad to hear.

I think some of us new members have just leaned a very good lesson at your expense.

You will find another machine/cooler.

        It's a cute little cooler but it's only worth $1000 and you have a couple hours drive to get it? How much was he asking for it, $500.00 ?
Seller was uncooperative and it may have compressor issues, so there is a good chance you could have been underwater in no time, had you bought it.

We have a Graham Packaging Plant here in NJ scheduled to close this year. It services Ocean Spray, and they are moving south.
   TFJ

Thought I'd give everyone an update to this situation. The seller finally contacted me and said that several folks had emailed him and told him that his machine was worth more than he was trying to get. He said he told each person that contacted him that he had a buyer (me) and the response was the same from all......not to sell to me for the agreed price. He told me that he wants to take his time and research the value but he would still let me have 1st chance to buy. I tried to find out if any of the folks that emailed him had anything in common and he said that a couple mentioned that they were from a soda machine forum.   :glare:  I asked when they 1st contacted him and he looked through his emails and responded with 2 dates. The 1st being the day I 1st posted this and the next day. No big surprise. It is what it is........live and learn.

Interesting.

I guess we must keep our cards closer to the vest.

Like you, I am new to this and would seek knowledge on here as well, you could not ask for better.

As stated previously, most on here will help you. It's those darn lurkers.

Jeff

I can't imagine why anyone here would contact the seller and tell him he's selling it too low if they didn't want to buy it themselves.

It might be a case that the seller was googling and found the site..

Dave,

You can't imagine that but I have had it happen to me on more than one occassion when I was buying a machine.  Luckily, the sellers followed through and did not jerk me around.  Unfortunately, there are people out there who will intentionally try to sour your deal so they can get a shot at it.  That is why you need to be careful how much and who you talke to about machines before you have them loaded in the truck!

My two cents anyway!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

I understand how someone would 'trump" the deal. Especially if its rare but the chap gave the impression that people made calls just to warn the seller. Maybe I read it wrong.

I always post in the soda jerks section but unfortunately that wasn't an option this time around. Anything posted on an open site can be read by anyone. Even the seller...

I've often thought "Sellers could be reading these posts."

I made the same mistake years ago on a now ancient (for computer hardware) Yamaha synthesizer sound card. They were discontinued, and one retailer had 6 of them left. I posted about it on a forum, and would up empty handed. Utlimately, it worked out for the best I found something the could be made more versatile.

Sorry to hear about the machine. Call it a lesson learned and don't let it turn you off from the hobby or from the forum.

sorry to here about your situation.hang in there another machine will show up.

Indeed, this hobby often requires a lot of patience. Especially if you're looking for something very particular.

Sorry you got burned.
Never post anything you are the least bit interested in on any chat group until it is at the house or you have decided to pass.
Creighton
 

Chalked it up as lesson learned. This site is too cool to ignore.

After all this time and hoo ha the seller called me friday morning and asked me if I was still interested. He told me before that someone outa state contacted him and told him that the machine was worth more than he was asking and not to sell it to interested parties just yet. In the meantime he said he was going to research it and that I would still have 1st chance at it when the time was right. Then he dropped out of site until friday. I asked what he was asking before I made the drive out (expecting to be 3 or 4 times as much) but he said he tried to google it and couldn't find anything so he would stick to the original price ($250) because he was cleaning his garage out and tired of dealing with it. When we were loading it up he did confirm that TWO guys had called him telling him not to sell at that price. One guy was pushing him to create a paypal account (since he didn't have one) so that he would give him 3 times what he was going to sell to me and that he would travel out on the following weekend with a trailer and pick it up but he told me that he was afraid of being scammed (he was older).  It all worked out for me in the end but I learned a valuable lesson from the situation......and got very lucky.

Glad to hear it all worked out for you

congradulations awesome machine love the single door rolltops. is it embossed and does it cool

Good find and price. Glad it worked out in the end.

It is embossed on the sides and sticker on front. Weren't you looking for a cap catcher for the same model?

Nice find!
 
Here is the excerpt from the Classic Soda Machines book:

This is the smallest counter in the True line. It has only one stainless steel rollback door, but yet has a very large 384 bottle capacity. I have seen several different versions of the Seven-Up model. Some were only embossed on the front, others on the side as well, and others with the logo only screened on. I have also seen them both with and without service counters and the counters I've seen have been black Formica. This is by far the least seen size True and probably the most sought after of the Seven-Up counters.

SPECIFICATIONS
Capacity: 16 cases of soda
Tank: Galvanized
Size: 41" high
48" wide
29 112" deep
Means of cooling: Electric
Produced: Late 40's-early 50's
Rarity: 5.0
Average condition: $1,200.00
Fully restored: Rare

Good for you. Enjoy your new machine ..........

How does this little cooler hold 16 cases of soda???

is it like a Clown Car? or what?

yes autobon i am restoring the royal crown version right now. mine is missing the cap catcher cover.did your machine come with the cover.and again congrats that is a great looking cooler.

Mine did not......not sure if I know what it looks like. Do you have some pics of your machine? Would love to see it.

Glad that worked out. I had the same thing happen to me before on a ford bronco and I am still convinced some one on the other site I asked about the bronco on looked at my location found it called the owner and beat me to the punch . Unfortunately you have to be careful if you have not made the  deal yet.

have pictures on original post

Nice.....when will it be ready to paint? These are really neat looking machines and can't wait to see yours painted. How did you run across yours?

hope to have paint graphics and trim done in next couple weeks will post pictures when done.found it though a buddy.what do you have planned for your cooler.

You know when I started this thread the idea was to flip it because I am outa work. Even though I still don't have a job I am in a little better place due to some good fortune so I don't know. I suppose if the right deal came along I would consider selling but it's such a neat cooler.

Does anyone have a picture for the inside of this cooler? I'd like to see how it's laid out when in service.

To tell the truth I intended to flip a cooling Cavalier 64 when I got it, thought I meant to move to a can vending (USS) 64. A bit over 8 years little, and it's still in the family, chugging along. :oh:

I'm glad the cooler worked out for you. :)

Trying to find pics of the inside is like finding a needle in a haystack......only harder. :darn:

mine was empty no screens or racks just evaporator trays. ihave never seen a picture of the inside.even went to true factory no records that old

Jared, do you have any pics of the evap trays or maybe the inside when you got it?

i will look to see if i took any inside pictures

I can't believe that no one here has pics or old literature of this machine innards.  I bet someone does but has not read through this thread. Guess I'll just have to  :hopefull: that the right person finds this thread......or perhaps start a new one.

        What are you looking for? I had one in RC several years ago and remember it was just a reach-in cooler with a floor plenum and maybe dividers. Look for screw holes in the walls of the liner.

Here are the pictures of the inside of my royal crown true cooler.  Hope these help.

Thanks Jared.....looks like I have the same pieces as what is pictured. What is the purpose of the "trays" at the top?

they are what the evaporator tubes run through to cool the box.does yours cool.

It cools but a little slower than it should....I think.

find a good refridgeration guy and tune it up.good luck

I'm still on the fence about selling this unit. I may entertain reasonable offers (sent by pm of course).

Here are some additional pics....mainly of the back side and a couple imperfections.