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        I got an e-mail last week from the Vendo USA Corp. headquarters in Dallas Tx. The marketing director was asked by their parent company in Japan to locate a Vendo 63 and ship it over for a 50 year anniversary in November. They were looking for one that was restored or at least nice looking on the outside that was to be used throughout their party and then kept at the headquarters after that.
      I have 2 of them and told them I could start building one for them immediately. I got it stripped and painted this weekend and was going to try and have it done by next weekend but then they called back this morning and said they need it shipped sooner since the convention is on the 11th and 12th.
      Now they don't even care if it's re-painted, but would consider a nice looking original. If anyone has one and is anywhere near Texas or can get it there ,please PM me and I will have them get in touch with you. I'm sure they would pay $1000. to $1200.or more since they had no problem when I quoted them $1600 painted. They don't care about the inside and don't need a coin mech. since they have thousands of them suited for their own currency.
      They may also consider a 56 or 90 but of course it MUST be Vendo. (I have a nice Cavalier 64 I would have liked to sell them)  :biggrin:.

Here's one in the Houston area that looks pretty nice for way less than what you're saying they'll pay.  Finder's fee?  Haha.  Good luck.

http://houston.craigslist.org/atq/2678731663.html

Ken

     Thanks Ken, but I should have been more specific, they were looking for the early style.  
     Here is the pic on their wish list.

Glen...I sent you an email.  I have a mint restored early one.  Problem is it's in Michigan.

Email me if you want pics.

Thx

No worries.  I'll keep watch just in case I come across one in the next day or so.  I'm in Texas area.  I'll let you know if I see one!!

Ken

Glen,

I know of one in Boise Idaho let me know if you are still looking?

I will confirm with him tommorow.  I will PM you a picture tommorow..

I have this exact machine if you are interested.  I am in South Carolina though.

       You guys have all provided nice machines, and with light-up panels which they prefer. Will see what they say today....thanks!

It will prove interesting to follow this along... keep us informed. :upside:

yes, please keep us informed

Wow. 1200? I like that benchmark!

Ok...Here's the deal...

I have been in contact with Moondawg's Vendo contact.  They are definitely interested in my restored Vendo 63 and are willing to pay me 2k for it (I know...an exorbitant amount for a square top, but when you gotta have it, you gotta have it!). I am in the process of getting quotes for it to be shipped via air from Detroit to Japan but Vendo balked at the air quote they got for $3500 from their own shipper. It must be in Japan by next week (Nov 11th show).  I am in the process of getting an air quote from my contacts.  Vendo wants my restored machine but doesn't want to pay almost double the price of the machine for shipping.  I understand that, but if you wait till the last minute you have to pay the big bucks for shipping.  So not a done deal, but a possibility.

I'll keep you posted when I hear back from Vendo management tomorrow (Deal or No Deal?).

Here's a couple pics of my 63 machine.

One more of its home in my basement.

Hope that works out  :smile:

Good luck Bob!  Make sure to mark SMC Michigan Mafia somewhere inconspicuous inside of the machine with a Sharpie!   :biggrin: 8) :laugh:

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

  The flip side of a shelve or the compressor compartment 8) 8) .

Thats a cool idea!

       Or do like Coke did! Right under the ID plate place a sticker
"For service call the SMC Michigan Mafia". I'm sure they could fly
one of you guys over there. :biggrin:

The pictures don't do it justice. In real life, it looks like  just off the assembly line.

I'm more suprised Vendo didn't have anything at their Corporate HQ or factory.

So whose 50th anniversary is it?
Is this not the same Vendo company (or close relative) that has been around since the 1930's?
Or is it the anniversary the square top that they are celebrating?

Hope it works out for you Bob, was this V63 the one I worked on for you?   ..as I recall it's your 1st machine from way back when... :drinking:

Bob and I were talking about this last night, and during a confere4nce call, I tried to do some searching.

 Vendo started in the late 30's, bought Vendolator in 56, maybe 1957, but started building  soda machines for Japan in 1962 ( They were built for Vendo by Mistsibushi Heavy Industries)   This kind of gels what Glen (Moondawg) and  Ideal-Bob  were told, the machine needed to be early 60's, was going to Japan for a 50th anniversary celebration, and was going to be toured and displayed in  "the factory". Vendo was bought by the Sandin Corp, a Japanese Co in the late 1980's

It's all speculation on my part based partly out of boredom and an aversion to droning speakers on a tele-conference.

       If Vendo made machines for the Japan market in the 60's, I wonder why we never hear about survivors?

Prolly aren't survivors.  Japan has limited natural resources, they import all their raw steel needs for manufacturing , so I'm guessing machines were melted down for scrap.

Heard that.. the Chrysler plant here in St. Louis Was HUGE!!!! tore down and was shipped to either Japan and/or China... we will probably
be buying it back in the form of cars! :down:

Well...the Vendo Company of Japan is the proud owner of my 63! 

I found them a shipper that I work with thru Ford (Allied Van Lines) and they air-freighted it today from Detroit to Japan for $2426.00 (so I saved them a grand on shipping).  The movers did an impeccable job of packing it up this afternoon, and both me and the Vendo Company are happy campers.  I will post moving pics tomorrow when I get my camera SD card loaded onto my laptop.  I did write down SMC - Michigan Mafia - USA with a sharpie on the inside of the door jam at the bottom (hidden to the casual observer).  I'll be sure to post that photo....GREAT idea guys...thanks for the tip.  Special thanks to Johnie G who worked a lot on my first machine and put Humpty Dumpty back together for me.  Vendo especially liked the hidden button Johnie G installed to vend a bottle without having to put in a dime (comes in handy when no coins around...and I used it more often than coins!).  Also, another special thanks to Moondawg for hooking me up with his Vendo contact.  I appreciate it very much! And lastly, thanks for the words of encouragement from everyone on this forum....You're a great bunch of guys (and gals) that make this hobby most enjoyable!  And Vendo promised to send me photos of their 50th gala event, and then the machine moves to the front lobby of Japan Vendo headquarters.  I'll post pics soon!

Woot!

That's awesome Bob ! ! !
I hope everyone came away with a little something by the end of the day...

Nice! congratulations Bob! I guess it's now a little piece of history, pity they didn't think to offer you a trip to the event..

Wow, that's really cool!  Congratulations!!  Perhaps when I go back to Japan for a visit I'll try and find it just to see it!!!  Haha. :happydrinkers:

Outstanding!  8) Another great SMC example of members helping members and furthering the hobby on an international basis! :happydrinkers:

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Hey! I just thought along this line...this is really kinda one for the little guy  ( average hobbyists, such as we are)


In yo' face "resto "Rick"   :tounge:   now all slider-Bob needs is a cable show.. Ha!

again, Bob, congrats

I think I'll have to change my logon ID, from Ideal-Bob to Slider-Bob.    Jim...is that possible?

Seems like many people refer to me as Slider-Bob instead of Ideal-Bob (Pat, Johnie G), since I deal with mostly with sliders. 

I don't really care either way...just nice to be called out as something either way.

Johnie G...you're right...I should have negotiated a trip to Japan to ensure it arrived safely.  Let's hope it does!

Pic's coming tomorrow night.  Heading to Grand Rapids, Mich tomorrow AM to pick up another slider....It never gets old!

Done!

Very cool story. That would be cool to visit in Japan Ken!

Thanks for changing my SMC ID Bubba.  Fast response!

Here's a couple quick pics...The Michigan Mafia lives on...hiding in a door jam!

I emptied out the bottle caps before I shipped it, but I swear I emptied it last month! 

OK...2 months ago!

Thanks Bob, now I have to change your name in my phone.

Love the pics!  I don't see a lot of soda bottle caps in that pile!?!?!?

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Awesome story of cooperation, guys.  Situations like this are why this group is the absolute pinnacle of friendship and teamwork.  Well done!


Oh yeah, Rick's Restorations would've made a whole episode on this one...  Charged Vendo $5000 for the restoration, told them it was now worth $7500, and then insisted he fly it over to Japan, 1st class, on the new 787 Dreamliner built for ANA.  He would be in one seat and the machine in the other.

 :biggrin: :laugh: :biggrin: :laugh:

Great Story... and cool to see how it all came together..

so Bob, are you going to replace it with another? or just put a slider in it's space?

or you could slide another one into its place

At this point, I'm replugging the hole I cut in the drywall with new drywall and paint.  We are having 32 people over for Thanksgiving, and my wife doesn't like the unsightly hole in wall.  However, I got the green light from her to buy another machine, so who knows.  It is 3 weeks away  :hopefull:
 
So now I'm down to only one Hires slider that Pat P will be restoring soon (hurry up Pat!...I'm Jonesin'!!!), so really I have no machines at my house. That slider is targeted for my sun porch next spring.

Also, I'm buying a slider for parts tomorrow, so if anyone needs a functional coin mech or a rack let me know.  This generic slider is not a candidate for resto, so I'm splitting it up.  LMK. Thanks

       Get the sawzall out and round out the top of that hole, an 81 will fit there real nice!

Let's get a door from a V80 or other machine that will cover the hole and build a secret room

I did seriously think about doing that with a door.. Leading into my little room. Mrs B put her foot down though..

Not to hijack the thread, i have plans to do it in my basement/mancave. I have a side room that will nicelly be hidden behind a secret bookcase.

Thats cool,, I ddn't even realize it was recessed into the wall like that... good idea

I have a regular use fridge recessed all the way into the wall behind my bar too , the front is flush with the back wall.. problem is the door swings the wrong way and it's an old fridge without reversable doors... I'd like to find a glass sliding door cooler, like you see nowadays to put in there.. would look neat all lit up and would be flush to the wall...

I say leave it so you can put another one in there.. in the meantime hang a poster over it like in Shawshank Redemption.... :biggrin:

   Great idea for next time you have those Hooters girls over bartending your party!   8)

Great story, glad all went well. A video of them sorting out how to use it would be priceless.
Creighton

A guy over at KLOV built a really cool secret door to his arcade room with a haunted bookcase..Its a long thread, but some cool pictures during the process and videos of it working...  http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=177572