SMC Discussion Areas

I'll start off with my best find to date.  10+years ago I was going to college and had began restoring machines.  I had a few needing compressors.  A acquaintance in the business called and said he looked at 5 machines in eastern New Mexico but didn't want them because they were too big and rough.  The seller wanted $100 each.  I thought if they had compressors I could pick and choose and come home with a couple so I made the 90 mile trip and couldn't get out of my truck fast enough.  Seller had two 81's, one 72, one generic 110, and one 83.  They were rough but complete and restorable.  I put the first four in my pickup and offered $400 but he wanted them all gone.  I paid the $500 and told him it would be a while before I was back for the 83.  Pretty sure my contact never looked at these machines.  Sorry no pics this was before digital camera.  

Anybody else with a story?

Complete and Cooling Coke 81D $100.00
Porcelain US Motors Sign, Bought it at a auction for $35.00 in a box of junk. I sold the sign itself on ebay for $1,150.00

Ive bought probably a dozen or so Coke 81s from anywhere $250-500

Joey

Complete Coke 81B for $22 here in Del Rio, TX 19 years ago.  Had to take the Westy Standard minus lids near it for another $22.

Porcelain 2-sided flange sign for Texas Pride Beer from San Antonio found here in Del Rio at the same time.......$65.

Where are these deals this go around??!!    :darn:

V39 for $50....complete and running.  Bad thing is there were two and I only took one!   :tounge:  Young and dumb at the time.

I have stumbled across a lot of good deals on soda, candy and cigarette machines but I think my greatest find in this hobby was finding the soda-machines.com web-site.  I have learned a tremendous amount about the hobby, met some friends and you certainly can't beat the price!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Wow Tim... Hit the nail on the head my man...

Your not looking for a group hug, are you??

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/flynverted/smilies/th_jumping0041.gif)

Tim/Dave,

Couldn't agree more.  The comraderie on this site is tremendous.  #2 on my list is the Vendo 110 I was able to get at Christmas for $10.

Years ago, this Site was created to accomplish just that ! ! !
I think it has succeeded and then some...

So I stay on topic; I have to say my Pepsi 56 Light-up for $1k was my best greatest find since I was at work, saw a machine shop ad that was liquidating in the local Bargain Trader. I noticed the familiar shape in the background, was able to take comp-time off for a couple of hours and head to to see it. On the way, I stopped at a garage sale, bought early 70's baseball pinball and another 70's pin for $200. Then went on the purchase the Pepsi Lite-up for $1000! Year or so later, sold the 56 for $2800!

On another note, I would have to rate my Wayne 866 up there as a great find since I removed it from its original site and only paid $120 and the old man even wrote me a receipt!

 :happydrinkers: Ditto on the site!  :happydrinkers:

I'd have to say my greatest find was not soda related. When we bought our house, I found three Walt Disney/Standard Oil painted tin signs in the attic. I sold the two Mickey Mouse signs for around $2000 and kept the Donald Duck.

Greatest Soda find... was a Vendo 81 and a Cav 72 for $75 each 11 years ago... time flies.
Then my favorite is probably my Nichol Kola Quikold junior... my first Quikold cooler... restored
and favorite and rarest piece in my collection.

+1 on SMC has saved many hours of time and just a great place.
Here is a RT V-56 I picked up for $75. Missing compressor and rack/shelves.
Creighton

Two best finds of mine would have to be:

1.  Heintz C2P

and

2.  Stoner Jr. with Gum Wheel

Found them both through CL which proves that there are still machines out there.  I think I paid $400 for each of them.  Sold the Heintz for a nice profit and am keeping the Jr because it is my machine that rates the highest with the War Department!  :biggrin:

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Let see I would say this pair for $100.00  the Coca Cola And Dr Pepper  ( 7Up at the time) Sold the Coca Cola
 that night and got made a profit and then restored The Dr pepper and sold that.
I just saw the Coca Cola Machine (Cav 64) last week  and to be honest I wish I never sold it to this person
He has it setting out on his deck in all the bad weather and it is looking kinda bad.  :down:
 

Nice web-site Pat!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

I'm still waiting for my greatest find. :biggrin:

  My GREATEST !! Find Is Most of the People on this Site !! I feel Richer just Know People I've Talked To And NEVER SEEN !!!! ZERO Cost !!!! And Priceless .

                     THANKS GUYS !!! :happydrinkers:

                                                                     Leonard

                                               

Leonard you know your right this is one of the best finds of all.

  And thanks Tim  :smile: .

I've been lucky to find some great deals..
Vendo 81's for under 500 is always a great deal
Got a Wayne 60 Gas pumps for $25.00 from an old farmer once
Coke Cleveland Neon Clock with Marquee for $200.00 was a good score
several more.. hope they keep on coming! :hopefull:

Mine...An Ideal 55 Orange Crush working, with coin mech, minus the rack for $74.00.I guess at the time I'd call it my "screaming deal". I know some of you here know what I'm talking about.

         I'm envious.......would love to find an OC slider  :happydrinkers:

I just bought last week a 1955 v39 for 40.00!
I now own 4 machines....1 each from the 50's 60's 70's and 80's.
never paid over 50.00 for one.
2 work 100% (the 68 vendo and 70's vendo)

Well, just scored a Vendo 81-D from a guy up in Michigan for $300. It was painted all blue... even the glass door. It is missing the coin box and coin door but everything else seems to be there and complete. I thought it was a steal at that price. Anyone have a complete coin door and mechanism they would like to sell? It can be original or restored. Let me know!

Thanks, Jeff

(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/Picture5.png) (http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/Picture6.png)

I have a mech on ebay right now. It just listed today. Its a really nice change giver.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110606757179&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

Send me a PM and let me know what you want for it. I also need 2 crank handles. I have a 44 that needs a handle. Thanks!

I have a several restored coin mechanisms that are correct for the 81D and I probably have a coin entry bezel, but no door. I have a couple of handles as well.

pm sent

I have a Large Coin door available, Think I have a bezel too for it...
PM with your contact info and I can contact you with details.. if going to chicacgo, I can bring it with..

John

Well this isn't my greatest find but its a darn good one. It was only 2 hours away away and just down the street from my grandpa so I stopped to visit grandpa. The owner had a late 70's vendorlator that had a bad condenser fan motor So I fixed that for him and he sold me the VMC 88 for $75. It is missing the inside rack and chrome bottle chute but luckily I just won an auction for a square top 88 and he is sending me the rack and bottle chute. Since the square top had a change giver coin mech it will pay itself off. Although the machine needs painted it is in great condition. It has a few dents but no rust that I can see at all. It also has the cap catcher and coin box.

Good score on the 81 and another great score on the 88. Those 88's always intrigued me. Neither of those machines were available in Canada so almost any machine intrigues me. LOL