SMC Discussion Areas

Do any of you guys collect old popcorn machines?  I know American Restoration is a taboo subject here but I do like that Manley Popcorn machine they did awhile back.  I like to show movies on an outdoor screen that I built and it'd be great to find one of those old machines for when I have friends over.  I just can't seem to find one and I also don't know if they are a pain to deal with or not.

Attached is a picture of my movie screen, you can get a sense of the size of it by my car headlights that show under it. :smile:  If the weather is nice I'll be watching the Superbowl on this.

They are a little too big from me.  Remember , you will have to move it back and forth from the outside. I like the warmers like the "Popcorn Sez"

Machines.  There a little smaller and works on a dime.  I am working on one now.

I just ordered a popcorn maker on Ebay. Not as cool as a upopit or other 50's machine , but also several thousand dollars cheaper. 
They optionally come on a cart to make moving it that much easier.

Which one did you get? I have the 8oz machine and absolutely love it. It is a bit of work to clean, but you can use it for a weekend then clean afterwards.. we use it for parties and outdoor movies as well :)

I think the old popcorn machines are very cool. I also restored a Pop Corn Sez machine and the famliy and I love it. Here's a pic of mine.

I just got one off ebay for my kids and wife for Christmas.  Got a 6oz kettle and love it.  Definitely invest in the pre-packaged popcorn kits that have the oil and popcorn in a pouch since they are easy to use and make theater flavored popcorn.  I get mine locally here...   www.deusterco.com

I love that machine ,I have been looking for any kind of old popcorn machine but have not found a good one to restore yet.

I don't have a real popcorn machine but I did end up building this for a project that I was working on for my outdoor theater project. Built it for a theater intro video that I was working on for when I finally get around to viewing movies outdoors during the summer. (http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374676_2536826054483_1068549444_32684070_51735293_n.jpg)

What is it? A faux pop corn machine? Nice prop! Needs popcorn... :tounge:

Thanks! I was working on making a stop motion animation video about a drive-in and the popcorn machine is part of the stuff for the snackbar. Got most of the stuff built but have stopped for a while because of school.

I ordered an 8 oz machine, while it was a daily special, and free shipping. Should arrive this week.

I love the old popcorn machines,  but the fun money this year is going into the jukebox restoartions

he Wojcik,

Now that your Redwings just killed my Buffalo Sabres last night, can I get  sopme help with my Popcorn Sez machine???

if hockey determines this hobby you all owe me and my Rangers your best man cave item

Cough cough

Sure! I'll try to help. Let me know what you need help with. Oh, Sorry about the Sabres! :biggrin:

Do you have the paint codes for the cream color?  I am ok with the red trim pieces..

BC

No, I powdercoated  mine. I just used a powder that I had that was close to original.

I collect the old Manley popcorn machines.  They are a fun project to restore.  In terms of size, the one on American Restoration was a Manley Premier model.  It is approximately 30" wide by 20" deep and a little over 5' tall.  This is one of the smaller machines.  There are some counter top models as well that are smaller.  The advantage of the Premier is that it runs on 110 volts.  This model is on casters and is easy to move.

Many of the machines are of the larger size, such as the M-Line and Aristocrat.   These machines are approximately 36" wide by 24" deep by 6' tall.  All of the cabinet style machines are on casters and can be moved fairly easily.  The M-Line and Aristocrat are heavy and you would want to avoid steps unless you have plenty of help.  Most of these machine run on a 220 volt circuit.  The M-Line and Aristocrat are two of the more popular models as these are the machines that you saw in the movie theaters in the late 1940s and 1950s.

These machines make the best popcorn.  If you tried my popcorn, you would never eat micorwave popcorn again.  These machines were designed to make great popcorn.  They are better than the vast majority of popcorn machines made today.

The other thing to consider is that these machines are relatively inexpensive.  You can generally find a good restorable machine in the $400-$500 range.

If you have any questions, just ask.  I run the Manley Popcorn Machine web site.  Please feel free to stop by:  http://manleypopcornmachine.com/ (http://manleypopcornmachine.com/)

Ross,
Welcome to SMC ! Nice job on your web site.
Thanks for stopping by,
Creighton

Someone I grew up with just posted this pic on Facebook. Pretty cool.

I am following it on Facebook as well.  That is quite the find of Manley machines.  A couple are in poor condition.  Obviously not stored in the best location.  He has saved them from rotten away!

Wow!  Would love to get my hands on one of those...

Still tops my list of future buys...maybe when I get home.