SMC Discussion Areas

Just wanted to let everybody know, especially all of you current Popperette owners out there, that I am now reprodcuing the Popperette Popcorn Machine Main Plastic Sign.

It's made out of 1/4" Plexiglass and has been cut, machined and drilled to original specifications. The sign lettering is a vinyl application. It's applied from behind, just like the original.

I had a lot of fun on this project and hope that it will help some folks out there in need. I wanted to offer it here first before offering it elsewhere.

Some more pictures, enjoy!

Very cool!! :happydrinkers:

Now, if you make me a motor, a coin mech and a new globe, I'll be set!

I want to order one, and I don't have a Popperette yet. :)
Very nice work Brian

Cool sign,  looks very professional. But what's the deal with these  Popperette ? I'm not familar with them. But I do love my popcorn. Are the very expensive or hard to find etc?

Ray

Yes and yes :)

The Popperette Popcorn machine was a single serve coin operated Popcorn machine, after inserting a Dime, it would pop a single serving of popcorn for you right in front of you. Very cool machine. extremely hard to find, and parts are impossible to find.
i have a video on my website , and on you tube of the popperette in action as well as another member here has a video and tutorial on his on you tube as well. they are great machines and pretty spendy,, average price for unrestored unit but complete is aroudn 2500, restored around 4500.00 based on a few sales I've seen, and have been a part of .

Here's a few pictures of a Popperette.

Here are few more.. :biggrin:

Here's mine.

Here's one video that John mentioned.  A lady wanted to see how it worked before she bought it.  I made a longer video and explained a few things in detail, but I edited a lot out because I figured that it was technically scary for the lady and that she wouldn't want it after watching the original video.  So this one is plane and simple.

Cool machines.  Worth getting one.  Easy to work on.  Parts are scarce.  But that's allright because Brian is eventually going to have all the major components made.

Me and my son figured that if we ever won the lottery we would release a newly designed machine called the Popperretro instead of the Popperette.  Any backers out there?? :biggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5nlndIqkco

I love that picture!

Wow, thanks for all the great info, they are really cool. I would buy one if somebody would to reproduce them. I know their mechanize really could be simplified with electronically controlled step motors instead of cams etc.
I really like the video that showed how they worked. So did they use oil? if so didn't it go bad fast? Also ,where did the have them in bar's, bowling alleys ?

signguy are all 8 of those all yours in the picture?

Ray

If they were somewhat less money than the original I would buy one. We eat Popcorn almost every night. My wife is a popcornaholic  :biggrin: I know she would allow that in the house!  Wow it feels weird calling her my wife  :biggrin: :happydrinkers:

What's happening Ray.  They were designed to use coconut oil, just like the movie theaters.  Coconut oil is a solid and has to be heated above 76 F to melt.  Being a solid state, after the oil cools down, the oxygen in the air could not attack the oil and spoil it.  I used oil over six months old in the machine.  That's oil that has been heated, cooled, heated, cooled, etc.  When the oil level gets low, I replenish it with "new" oil.  This oil has not ever been heated.  It comes out of my five gallon pail, that I bought and opened, six years ago.  It's still good.

Liquid oils will spoil in about a month of usage.  I tried corn, vegetable, and sunflower.  Liquid oils, after being reheated, will leave a gummy residue.  It is hard to clean.  Coconut oil can be cleaned with a damp warm cloth of water.

Coconut oil has to melt before being pumped to replenish the oil in the pan that houses the heater.  If that pan lacks the proper oil, the heater will crack.  To help the oil melt ceramic heaters were used in the main oil pan to pre heat and melt the oil prior to use.  This could take about 30 minutes.  I redid mine so you can start making popcorn in five minutes.  I usually tell my kids ten minutes to be on the safe side.

There are pros and cons to what oil is to be used.  The only real advantage that a liquid oil will have is that you can make a batch of popcorn any time.  No need to preheat the oil.

I use a strictly liquid oil now. I made the switch about 3-4 months ago and have never looked back. I've ran multiple back to back runs, let it sit for weeks without use and used it once or twice a day with no problems. It's called Pops-a-Lot and is sold by a company in Indianapolis.

I got lucky through a lead on this site over a year and half ago or so and bought all those from one guy, Lots of parts machine, was able to complete a few and sold them , and then some parts machines sold and still have some parts.. I have one left that is missing the main motor, but am working on a lead for that..
They are great machines, really cool.. and fun to use.. I have used Cocanut oil, but have recently been trying the Pop O Lot that Brian spoke of ... I kinda like the cocanut oil tast better though.. Jury is still out... gotta eat more Popcorn..

I see why they would want to use coconut oil because it wouldn't spoil.   what oil to use I think it all comes down to personal preference, if you are a heavy popcorn eater then you would want to use the healthiest oil available, but if you just fire up your Popperette on special occasions then use coconut oil, because then you are always ready to go.    A rough dilemma, I wish I had LOL. It's hard to beat  good old fashion movie popcorn!

Signguy  it must have been a big gamble to buy so many in varies conditions.  Based on your collection listed, you are very diverse. Are you every going get a slot machine, pinball , jukebox ...etc?

We'll thats the the hobby, sometimes you take a gamble, this one was a good bet.. it turned out OK.. I like Coin op in general and I have had Slots, Pinballs and I have one Juke still in the collection.. no room for many more.. wish I did, then I'd have a few more.
Thanks

I bought one of these from Brian, got it on Saturday. It looks awesome great job. It looks nice in the picture but even better in person. If you own a popperette, you need to buy one. Really dresses up the machine!!!

Cokemachines,

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate it. Even though it was brief, I enjoyed meeting you and putting a name with a face. It was also neat to actually hand deliver an item with on the spot inspection/approval! Again, thanks!

You planning on going to the Chicagoland Show in November?

brian,

since you are the expert on these have you thought of making a reproduction? I would suggest making one that looks nothing like the original in order to hold the value of the originals but would it be hard to make one? I bet you could make a fortune and you have no copy write or patent issues like you would have with a coke product. I know I would pay for one if you were serious I would even go in with you since we are somewhat close.

I'm telling you, me and my kid have the name....Popperretro.

Not sure that by the time you fabricate all the parts in quantity, you'd be able to sell enough of them to make back the investment?
You can still buy some other single pop vendors, There are some hot air ones that came out ,and I think there are some newer (within 10 years) other versions I have seen?
Brian, They look great!... PS the Gearing We spoke about is on the way

However if the internals were like the popperette then you would not only have replacement parts but also parts for a new machine.


I know I am probably just dreaming. I am sure it would be a huge task, I have never seen one in person. I know there are a lot of parts. It would be cool though and I bet they would sell. People are buying the heck out of the repop antique popcorn carts. What would be funny since everyone eats popcorn with a movie they could put one next to all of the redbox movie rental vending machines  :biggrin:

John,

Thanks, I'll let you know what I think.

Josh,

Expert? I wish!!! :laugh: I just really enjoy doing this stuff and also enjoy learning along the way. It's a continuous experience.

Designing a whole new popcorn machine would take a LOT of time and effort and time is something that I don't have a surplus of. I'm blessed to get done what I do with the time that I have. Maybe someday I would take a look at that.

cant wait to see what the next part will be ?

would be nice if you could find a motor