SMC Discussion Areas

I am so stoked!!! After 3 years of looking and waiting my Popperette is finally complete with the addition of an original stand courtesy of John (Signguy) and Matt (Mcarter). Thanks to John for the excellent packing job and the quick shipping and big thanks to Matt for letting me use (abuse) his shipping discount. Thanks for hookin' a brother up!

My wife got home yesterday and found the lonely box sitting outside of the garage in the cold where Matt had left earlier that day on his way through. She opened the door and "let" it inside where it is now nice and warm down in my soon-to-be-finished basement. It has taken it's rightful place!

As a side note. I found an old news article from May 6, 1950 that talked about Popperettes on location at various "amusement places" and it listed the dimensions as 15"x18"x21" which would lead me to believe that the machine was distributed without the base. What do you guys think?

Here are a couple of pics of my newly completed machine.

It's always nice to see a family reunited again.  I'm glad you finally got one.  I know how long you've been looking for the impossible.

They were sold with or without the stand.  Usually a patron would buy it and put it on a countertop. 

That looks fantastic! I think that is the ultimate coin op machine. That is at the top of my "someday" wish list.

Brian,
It looks Great,, I'm glad I could help you out on that...The other trim piece and other parts we talked about are on their way!

The original literature I got has it pictured both with and without the stand, I am sure it was an accessory available to the retailer when the purchase was made...

I like it better with stand...

Wow... that looks great...

That's awesome Brian ! ! !

Looks great Brian! I know how it feels to finally get parts to complete a piece - it is thrilling to say the least!

If my memory serves me correctly - John would not have been able to get you that stand if Creighton had not posted the SMC thread "Popperettes anyone?", which John jumped on.
So you should include Creighton in your appreciation because nobody would have any of it if Creighton had not shared the love also.

True! Thanks Creighton!!

DIDDO... thanks Creighton..
I have thanks Crieghton as well for discovering this find.
And to clear things up so everyone knows what came about with this find..
I contacted the guy, we exchanged several emails and phone calls. after other offers he got, he "raised" his original listing price. we agreed on a number (not the original asking price for those who thought I bought these for 3700.) Paid  MUCH more but thought I was getting 9 machines out if it. Paid another guy to DRIVE out from Minneapoils to pick them up on the Montana / Washington border..  I got them and was able to only complete 3 original machines out all the parts.. Which of course was able  to sell to people who contacted me about them (thank you to those who know who your are.)
Was able to sell a few extra parts and have a few remaining.  Was able to help a few members out by completeing their machiens with a stand...
I wish I was able to get 9 total machines out of the bunch but truth was ,there where only enought for 3 complete machines... I do thank Crieghton very much for posting this listing, and offering to help.  I do have some more incomplete units available if anyone is interested.. who knows.. maybe more stashes will come up.. since this find I have found one more COMPELTE unit that ... and maybe more will follow... but who knows.. these are Awesome machiens... I just used mine again tonight with friends in my basement bar.. .we had drinks and about 10 bags of popcorn out of it.. how cool is that.. we had a lot of fun, now gotta go to bed.
Good night.
John

What do these go for unrestored (if you're lucky enough to find one)?

Very nice.
What else is going to be in your new basement?

typically an unrestored complete, working machine with stand will go for around $3000 - $3500.

I would sell a restored unit for no less than $5000.

       Is an incomplete Popperette like getting an incomplete V-39.....missing the drum etc.?

Glen,

Kinda sorta :biggrin: Except that a missing stand doesn't affect the operational capability of the Popperette whereas a missing drum in a 39 is a show stopper. I just don't consider it a complete machine without the stand. Same arena as a Stoner Jr./180/Theater without the base I guess.

Brent,

Here's how it's laid out.

Along the long wall in the gameroom will be my EM pinball machines, U.S. Marshall Gun Game, Vendo Coin Changer, diner booth with Seeburg 3W1. On the wall directly across from the pin's will be my Stoner Jr. and a couple of gumball/peanut machines. Right around the corner from the games but before you reach the soda fountain will be my Seebrug M100B. The soda fountain is going to be have (4) dner stools and a variety of diner/soda fountain accesories.

The family room is next which will have a big comfy sectional and our big screen. It's completey wired for sound and should be pretty cool when it's finished. Behind that is the Pool Table Room with a full bathroom and a bedroom off to the sides. The exercise room is the final part of the project. It has enough room for a Bowflex and a full size treadmill as well as a weight set.

I've been working on it for about 2 years now and have done all of the work myself with the exception of finishing the drywall and the drop ceiling. Here's a few pictures of it during the build.

Some more.

Is the fourth bedroom reserved for members of the Popperette club?

 :biggrin: :biggrin:

Framing!

More framing.

Some more, I love progress!

Hanging some drywall! I'm really glad that I hung it myself and subbed out the finishing. They did in three days what would have taken me weeks if not months and I would hack goofed it up I'm sure!

More drywall..

Wow, the soda fountain is as big as the scrapbook room.  :upside:
Can't wait to see the final pictures!

I think the "Scrapbook" room, should be called the "Suck-up" Room... as I'm sure that is how he convinced the Misses on building a Soda Fountain in the House!
Way to go Brian... good thinking

I need a basement like that so my wife can have her own scrapbooking room and I can have the gameroom/antique/beer/soda room.  Lately it has been either she has her scrapbooking room or I have my hobby room, and I've lost the battle the last few houses!   :down:

I'd just love to have the space you have in your basement for my WHOLE house...
The area you have squared off for the bolier is bigger than my master bedroom...

Plse post pictures of its completion with all those lovely toys of yours in their new places...

Dave

How did you all guess?? Yes, the Scrapbooking Room was actually an afterthought and was originally a storage area connected to the under-stair storage. It isn't really big enough for her purposes but by name alone it helps. When we first bought the house I explained to her that I'd love to have a gameroom and a mini-50's diner with a small soda fountain. I drew up the plan and we sat down and hammered out the final layout together.

After the framing was done and the drywall had started being hung did she mention to me that it seemed like I was getting the "entire" basement to myself and that she had nowhere to pursue her hobby of scrapbooking.

Now, for you fellas that have wives that enjoy scrapbooking I'm sure you know that it isn't something that is entered into lightly. You can't just sit down and scrap. You have to everything set up just right and sometimes the thought of that process is very discouraging. Discouraging enough to make you not want to start at all! So, I was down in the hole one day and decided to surprise her by finishing out the storage area for her to have a small but useable Scrapbooking room.

Ultimately when we get to where we want to be, our current two car garage is going to be converted into a playroom for the kids and into *her* office/scrapbooking room. At the same time I will be building a two car garage/shop with a room in attic! Here's an artists rendering and layout.