SMC Discussion Areas

Did anyone notice the $1500 bid on the C-51 on ebay? It comes with a neon sign but the sign looks new to me. Am I missing something? I didn't think 51's were worth more than $4-500.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1950s-Coke-Machine-Good-Condition-/250740005627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6144dafb

someone musta wanted it badly.  Nice original machine working, maybe  $800-1000

If anyone has a C51 they want to sell it looks like a good time. From the Walters price guide it says similar to the 39 but not as popular.

I paid $400 for mine in 2005.  They are nice machines, but they only vend 1 flavor and the small bottles.  I vend Yoo-Hoo out of mine by cutting a piece of PVC to act as a spacer behind the bottle in each sleeve of the ammo belt.  The Yoo-Hoo bottles are shorter than a Coke bottle.  $1500 is way high for this, as it isn't restored.

Thanks for the tips guys, looks like I mite put off my other projects to get done with this one. Unfortunately I have a bad habit of starting a machine then run into another one and get distracted. Maybe this will be the one I finally finish. What you guys think, all white or the white and green? I'm leaning towards all white but I haven't seen one like that done. Thanks

All white is right!! IMO!

The only way to go all white. If your going to have a desirable machine why would you restore it wrong?? Painting it wrong would be like putting T-tops in a '70 Camaro Z28 its just wrong!

Joey

I like everything I restore to look stock. I even like cars restored stock. Sometimes it's hard to resist the urge to go overboard with graphics, decals, pinstripes, ect. You really have to have a firm hand and just say no. I think the two tones look great but I would more than likely stay true to the original color. You have to decide for yourself because you are going to have to look at it every day.

It's up to $1725.00 with 2 days left. I wish I had one to sell.

      High bidder has 0 feedbacks and was also the first bidder.
This machine will not change hands.

Well, here's my take on machine restorations. If you have something very collectible and rare, you always want to preserve the history of originality and restore it with correct pieces... IMO. Now on the other hand, you can have some fun with your restoration on a less desirable machine (like the square tops) and do a cool retro design. Like the frostie or grapette machines. I think those look pretty cool. Or the RC Jacobs machine... all yellow!

(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/bondovian/unrestored_soda_machines.jpg)

Is that a picture of your garage? :tounge:

What a collection, talk about heaven on earth. I'd probably die of a heart attack if I came across a collection like that.

Its a shame that collection is no longer around, I had that pic on my wallpaper for awhile.

Joey

Who's was it? What happened to it?

As referred to in another thread - there is a ST embossed 7UP 81 peeking up over the C-72's

Vintage Vending's old inventory, sold off about 8-10 years ago.

Joey

I'm confused by the following comment? are you talking about restoring a C51 all white ? someone said white and Green? what are we talking about here?? a 7up? or what.. just a little lost reading through the whole thread as it started out talking about a C51 Coke machine?

Sorry that was my newbie mistake, I meant to post that on the thread I started about my 7 up vmc 81.