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Okay, here's the loooooong story...

About 4 years ago, I heard from a guy at work that a family-owned hardware store not 10 miles from my house used to have an old soda machine.  The guy worked there when he was a teenager.  My boss at the time had a teenage son who was working there.  I knew the kid.  So, I stopped in after work (I pass the place EVERY day and have bought stuff there - great store) and talked to my boss's son (Kyle).  Kyle tells me there is a machine in the storage shed and it's been there for years.  He takes me back, and buried under rags, boxes, corregated plastic is a 1957 Vendo 110.  The machine has minor surface rust on the paint, especially the white, but it was complete.  It had been in the storage shed for about 30 years.

Then, I talked to the store owner, and he said he would not sell it.  His father and grandfather (both now deceased) got the machine originally from Coca Cola.  He said he thought about getting it out of there and redoing it.  I stopped in there every few months or so - no dice.  My contact at work (the guy who worked there as a teenager) told me the store owner's mother once sold her late husband's 1/2-complete hot rod car because her son (the store owner) had always said he was going to do something with it and never did.  So, I got the idea she might sell the machine to me.  I went in there one evening, but she said she would have to talk to her son -  :censored:.  So, I let the thing drop.

Over the past 2 years, I've gotten to know the store owner pretty well due to some business dealings.  He's a very straight-up guy and is quite nice.  He has seen how much I love these machines and am just a collector.  So, a few months ago, he told me he would let me buy the machine off of him.  

For the record, our business relationship was purely business.  I am confident he let me get the machine because he considers me his friend.  In no way did I decide to do business with his company to influence his decision.  His hardware company handles MANY commercial contracts with my organization, and he and I were paired on one of them.  His company was the only place in the area that handles the type of work we needed.  

That said, yesterday, he and I were finishing up another project we were both involved with, and he said I could stop by today and pick it up.  I asked him how much he wanted for it (the answer is at the end of this message)......

So, I go there today with my wife.  The owner had the machine pulled out of the storage shed.  It has surface rust, but it isn't bad.  He didn't have the keys, but I got the numbers off the locks and can order the keys from Funtronics.  The belt area looks good and I could see the underside of the belt when I had it in the truck.  Very small areas of surface rust, but no rot.  The paint is faded, but I planned on getting this redone.  I have a friend who is an expert woodworker, so he can redo the wood framing if necessary.  I can handle the electrical and interior stuff.  It's a large coin door model, with a change-giving mech.

When I get the replacement keys, I will post interior shots.  For now, here are 3 of the outside.






Oh yeah, the price.............................. $10 (yep, ten bucks)!

Nice! :biggrin: :biggrin: :laugh:

Santa is never that good to me. Congrats on a great find, and finding a machine with known history!

Score!!

At that price, I will take a dozen! :Oo:

Again, you guys prove my theory of "Patience and Persistence" pays off in the long run ! ! !
Congrats on the purchase, if you can really call this a purchase...


Quick recent story.
There's a neon clock in my travels to my archery shop, every time I have stopped, nobody is home... Last trip by and the clock and mounting bracket are gone! :veryangry:

Good buy.  Wish I knew of a few around here.

Congrats on the great deal on the machine...
Good story and excellent find... I'd drop by with a nice box of Christmas Candies for him next week!

 Nice !!!!  It's Always better to be a Straight -up & Honest with People !! I have Always been Bewared for it ..

Shows how persistence, respect and kindness can pay off in the end.  Nice find with an excellent story behind it.  Thanks for sharing!  Still hunting for my "barn find".

After the restoration, I have a great place that you can store that machine for the next 30 years!   :biggrin: 8) :biggrin:  I will only charge you $10 (yep, ten bucks!) for the storage fee!  :tounge:

Excellent deal that you got on that machine.  Should be a beauty once it is finished.  I would suggest stopping by with a case of the Christmas 8 oz. Cokes!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Thats a awesome story, congrats!!!

Joey

Awesome deal Wayne.. When its done, you should let him buy a Coke from it!

OH MAN !!!  That  is a great story and  what a great deal  you can't get better than that. :biggrin:.

Thats really cool, one of these days I'll find one like that.  I'm still waiting on the first round-top, but prices around here are a 'little' inflated e.g. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/for/1514379255.html

that is a crazy price

This is a really good idea.

Congratulations, great story and one heck of a deal.

That's a lovely story Wayne... What a nice guy.. Obviously knows you are going to take great care of it and
that meant more to him than a few dollars.. Definately a case of wanting it to go to a good home.

When its done you should get the guy round and show him what you have done with it and how its not going anywhere...

Well done mate and the seller has restored a little bit of Xmas Spirit in me...

Dave

Thanks, guys.  I am still on cloud 9 about this.  I ordered a key yesterday, so hopefully by next week I can show you some interior shots.  This machine will definitely stay with me, and the store owner knows it.  I have another close friend who does trophies, placques, promotional items, etc.  I thought about having him make up a small (couple of inches, max)metal plaque engraved with some information about the machine (where it came from, name of the owner, when it was transferred to me, etc.).  Then, mount the plaque (with adhesive backing) on the machine somewhere inconspicuous, like the compressor compartment or back of the machine.  Yes, I definitely plan on keeping the store owner updated on the progress.  We are potentially going to have more business contracts coming up in the next year and I go into his hardware store regularly.

put the plaque on the side where the information plate, just below so you can see it to read but not in your face

Awesome... Better yet give him the dime and let him pull the first cold Coke out when restored...
keep us up to date on this one...great story. Congrats and Merry Christmas! :happydrinkers:

Excellent score!!

Excellent story!!!

Thanks for sharing.

Okay, I received the key from Funtronics (Thanks, Rod & Janet!).  Here are some interior shots.  Sorry for the inability to open the door all the way, but it's out in my shed.  Other than being dirty, it didn't look too bad.  It's missing one shelf, but everything else seems to be there.  The condensation pan still had the fiberglass plates in it.  When I get it in the house after Christmas, I will start tearing it down.  This is going to take me quite a while, as I will be doing a complete restoration.  But, the end result should be good.

There were no old coins in the machine.  I did find a bottle of eye drops from 1981 and a block of pecan-flavored cheese (like something you'd get in a Hickory Farms gift pack).

 Wayne ,

          Look Really Clean on the Inside >Lota Dust But should Just wash right out with a Power Washer . Again Nice .& It'll turn out Great !!!

                                            Leonard

Nice score, and a bonus block of well aged cheese just in time for Christmas! Will you be keeping it or giving it as a gift? Maybe to some "favorite" relative or inlaw.  :laugh:

That is a cool story and nice machine as well. I have a soft spot for 110's. I used to buy them up like crazzy as the 81's were going for large coin.