Where do you use your vintage soda machine(s)?

Hi all,
Just thought I'd start a thread about where we end up placing our machines when we are done with them.

Now I do NOT mean those that you end up selling, I'm talking about the ones that are finished and you keep to use yourself.

Here's mine (my first, but soon to not be my only machine).
Originally it (a very tall  1957 Vendo 216MD) was going to go down in my gameroom, but it was too huge and heavy, so we custom cut out part of the cupboard above and put it right next to our kitchen, right on the main floor. I so love it there.

So please tells us about it and then post a photo of it in its happy place. Let's make this like a scrap book of the machines we kept and use.

My soon to be acquired (mid-1960's) V-56 will be going down in the gameroom for beer since it will be so much smaller and lighter than the one above.

[loman4ec]

Kito, It looks like you couldn't have found a better spot for that machine. That is a rally good looking 216.

[Bob K]

Mine are all in my basement.  I run one every weekend to keep them in shape.  They only get used for adult libations when we have people over.  They totally get a kick out of putting their money in and grabbing a cold one '>  .

kito, that 216 really does look perfect there.

Bob

Thanks Bob, good idea.
Please post a photo of them in your basement when you have the chance.

[dr galaga]

Mine is in our small gameroom in the basement.

(some video games are to the right of the jukebox)

Very cool stuff in that basement!

[ussexplorer]

Well, when I first got the soda machine. It sat downstairs at my dads house. I was still living at home going to middle school. Then it went and was in use for a few years at the community youth center. While that one was being used. I aquired another machine. That went into the basement of my dads house. Got used each summer when the weather got hot. Until I moved out. Now one sits in his basement and the other in the garage. Don't worry about the one in the garage. No sunlight and a new roof. Last time I plugged it in. Fired right up. Oh and these are those UGLY westinghouse wb-66 machines.  

Interesting note. I had a slight problem with the coin acceptor. Even cleaning it in hot warm water. Wouldn't catch the money all the time.

The most annoying problem was when a selection was out. There was a white tab that was suspose to stick out and prevent you from turning the handles. Even when they stuck out. They would still allow you to turn the handle. I finally put a note on the machine that if don't get one selection. Try another. Since the machine was still in vend.

later,

Josh

Howdy All,
Thought I'd throw my two cents in on this one too.  I'll attach a couple of pics of the machines placed around my living room.  I'm a college student here at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.  I have friends over all the time that love the Cavalier 72 that's half full of beer and half full of sodas.  They, and I, also enjoy putting a nickel and a penny into the Selectivend 48 for an ice cold Dublin Dr Pepper in a classic 10-2-4 bottle.  I have spent probably thousands on aquiring enough vintage DP bottles to keep that machine stocked.  You'll also notice my newest project - a V80 in pieces all over my living room (I sure wish I had a garage).  It's going in to the paint shop tomorrow.  Enjoy, and thanks Jim for a wonderful website!
A J

Here's the S48 and the V80 (in parts).  The S48 is in all original condition with original paint even.

[MoonDawg]

That Vendo 80 does'nt look bad enough to be sent out to the restoration shop.  Nice original look as is.

I wish I could just polish it up but the resolution of the photo doesn't show much about the true condition.  The machine was repainted sometime in it's service life, sadly it wasn't a very good paint job.  Plus, hidden in the photo is some really severe surface rust on the bottom edge of the door.  Also, there is a dent in the top right corner of the cabinet, the coin door is dented and badly bent, and the white area on the top of the door has some rust pitting, though luckily it isn't through the metal.  The machine was a $350 bargain though and it's very complete and restorable.  I'm hoping to turn it into the showpiece of my collection.  It's remarkably straight except for the aforementioned dent and coin door.  I like to believe that it will easily be worth what I'm putting into it.  If anyone has a good chrome coin entry bezel please let me know.  Thanks!
A J

[dr galaga]

Nice college set up lonestaraggie!  Nothing beats a nice cold pop or beer out of a real machine!  

[BrianB]

That Slectavend rocks! Yeah, those 10-2-4 bottles are pretty expensive to get a hold of. But at least living in Colleg Station you are a hop, skip and a jump from Dublin! Speaking of Dr. Pepper, I just got a case of it from them yesterday. Man....what a difference! Money well spent! Now if I could only get my machine back together.... '>  

Lonestar, your machines look great and good luck with that 80! Look forward to seeing the finished product!

Very true, living so close to Dublin is a blessing.  I was just up there yesterday exchanging my returnables.  I guess it could be called a curse as well in the fact that I spend a couple of hundred dollars on DP every time I go up there.  It's cool to be on a first name basis with the staff up there and for certain.  My dentist loves me and so do his kids who I'm sending through college...
A funny story from yesterdays trip.  I finally amassed enough of a collection of embossed DP bottles (the really old ones) to bring an entire case to be filled.  Talk about heartbreaking... I got to watch those classics run through the bottling line.  They were'nt cracked to begin with but four cracked in the bottle washer and two exploded in the bottle capper.  The shards of broken glass proceeded to wipe out one of the hoses on the bottle filler.  I stood amongst the rest of the tour group nearly in tears.  The bottling line crew couldn't have been nicer.  They gave me back my case of vintage bottles with all the shards from the broken bottles wrapped up in towls.  Despite the carnage on the bottling line I still have to give them credit.  Filling a specific case of bottles and returning those same bottles to a customer while you wait is an extremely tall order that they were only too happy to accomodate.  What a nice bunch of folks.
Thanks guys for all the compliments!

[glassbottlesrule]

Yeah great room,  I love those early selectivend's.  Here is my living room with my Pepsi 110.  I've put switches on the lights because those babies are bright at night.  My Coke 154 was alongside but I moved to make room for yesterday's purchase,  a pristine Williams Defender Game.  Has been in storage for 20 plus years.  It's off topic but I will post pics after I clean it up.

[BrianB]

Carnage on the bottling line......Wes Craven might be down for some of that action!! The real reason I wan't to visit the Dublin Dr. Pepper plant is to meet that blonde from their website  '>

Nah, seriously now, I'd like to see the bottling line and the whole shabang. Never had a chance to set foot inside a soda pop bottling plant, just beer. Plus I could go buck wild in the gift shop without the hassle of paying shipping and handling!

She is really cute though   <---(two track mind. Soda Pop & girls, sorry)

[loman4ec]

Nice pepsi 110. It looks like it is a wider Vf90.

[Bob K]

Do I see "Rock'em Sock'em Robots" on the top of that Pepsi 110? '>   I had a blast with those guys when I was a kid...

You're lucky Markito isn't here, he'd give you #### for storing stuff on top of your machine... '>

[glassbottlesrule]

Yeah, those are rock-em's.  I have to put stuff on top of the machine otherwise I'd run outta room.  Yeah the 110 is just a wider 90.  Same width as the 77 and 154.  Only problem is finding parts because it's wider than 63's and 90's.

[dr galaga]

Did you pick up any Dr. Pepper Jerky?

Wow!  DP jerky....   Didn't see any of that in the gift shop but I can't say I was looking for it.  Had "Pretty Peggy Pepper" been there selling the stuff I probably would have bought the place out.

[BrianB]

There's my girl!  

Quote (Bob K @ Mar. 18 2005,3:15)

You're lucky Markito isn't here, he'd give you #### for storing stuff on top of your machine... '>

Yeah, you are officially busted by the "Junk-On-Top-Of-The-Vintage-Machine-Police". '>  '>

But I'll let you go with a warning (no ticket) because I was a huge fan of the "Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots" myself when I was a kid. '>

"...they'll knock yer block off!"    


Thanks for thinking of me Bob k., that cracked me up!

[Bob K]

Welcome back, kito... '>

[Jim]

I almost purchased "Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots" mint in the original box a few years back but passed since I thought the $90 was just a little too much at the time... Wish I had them now!

Mint in original box... I would have paid that. '>

Either now or in the near future, you could turn around and sell it for a whole lot more.

Quote (dr galaga @ Feb. 27 2005,12:12)

Mine is in our small gameroom in the basement. (some video games are to the right of the jukebox)

Dr. G.,
I see in the photo of your gameroom that you have your traffic light (or is it semaphor?) attached to your wall. They are heavy suckers and don't have much to cling to.

I have one as well and need to mount it too.

What did you use to attach it?

[Bob K]

I like the Drive-In speakers!

[dr galaga]

I just have a piece of metal (mending plate?) inside and outside with an eye bolt going through.  There is a chain that goes up to the floor joists.  Back in my college years (and I lived with my parents) I just drilled two holes in the back and used lag bolts to attach them to a stud!  

My wife got the drive in speakers from the local drive in when they were remodeling.  I have a parking meter that I am working on that I'm gonig to put in front of (and below) the speakers.

Doc,
Thanks so much for taking the photo for me. I like your idea, but that won't work for me because I have a dimmer dial hidden in the top hole. But I may use your other idea, except I want to mount it to the top of a big thick verticle pipe (large post-sized). Not sure which materials to use.

Thanks so much.

[dr galaga]

You can use standard 1 1/2" plumbing pipe (as long as it wasn't made before 1950ish).  Is your light metal or plastic?  Those plastic ones are real easy to drill through.  I made a doghouse light with some plastic lights and I used a (can not remember the exact name) flange (located by the toilets, not with the rest of the pipes) and I drilled holes through the light for the bolts.

[dr galaga]

I got a sequencer from Lights To Go for mine - http://trafficlights.com/default.htm .
Here's the inside:

Great link!
Thanks.

[Kilroy]

I too use the sequencer from Lights to Go, and if you want to go authentic for brackets try Scott signal company
I've been happy with their service, only wish they would get some octagon bases in stock.

Kilroy, wow that's a great resource too!
Thanks guys. Just when I think I am alone in a collection, I find out there's a whole world of strange collectors like me.

[Creighton]

Thats the truth. I picked up a big bang cannon at a garage sale that led to firecracker and black powder cannons...
No cool board though.
Creighton