SMC Discussion Areas

So I have planned a family RV trip for this weekend. I'm heading south to explore what there is to see in this great country both soda related and family fun. I'm wondering if anyone down that way (Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia) or any points south of me could recommend places we should visit along the way. I'm also interested what any RV people would recommend I bring since this is my first RV trip?? This is my planned route. Thanks Seth

Outer Banks are a blast, make sure you take the tour of the Wright Brothers Memorial, great history lesson and a neat spot.  We used to go to the OB often, not sure what's open during the offseason though.  I'm in Charlotte, if you're into NASCAR there's a lot to offer, race shops/Speedway Xmas Lights/Hall of Fame, shoot me a PM, I'd be happy to meet up with you though I don't have much of a collection to show off!

Myrtle beach is a little commercial, but I enjoyed the WonderWorks science place and there's a ton of family stuff around there.  Charleston has a ton of great food places and a great downtown area.

I'll keep editing as I think of places: the Asheboro Zoo is supposed to be pretty good and along your way on 64

That's exactly the type of info I'm looking for! Thanks Tom. It's a huge advantage when people that live in the area can point you in the right direction. We are planning on going to Outer Banks so I'm glad to hear it's fun. I'll send you a PM. Thanks again!

And though the wife might not want to hear it, feel free to buy (kind of) big on the first half of the trip, I need to truck some stuff up in a trailer to my brother in law in NH in the spring, there's extra room!

I know Alan Huffman gets a lot of heat, but if you get by Ashville NC, Granite Falls it is worth the stop to see his collection of machines. He has about one of everything in original condition. Alan is fun to talk to and if he's around he will be glad to show you his museum. He also sells soda in bottles at a great price.

Good to know Tom. I was planning on visiting the museum in Granite Falls It sounds like it will be worth the trip. I saw a video showing some of it but it will be nice to see it all in person. Thanks Janet, Rod

Yes, I am from Raleigh and going to see the museum in Granite Falls is a must as it is pretty cool to see all that stuff in one place.  I have been there once and it was incredible and he basically just let me and my son walk through as long as we wanted to.   He has has sprinkled through the vending stuff so vintage toys. 

That will be a highlight of my trip for sure. I like the rare and he seems to have plenty of them.  :biggrin:

Sorry, have a few other sights to mention.   The first is a bit out of your way as it is Wilmington, NC which is about 1.5 hours southeast of Raleigh.  It is the USS North Carolina (http://www.battleshipnc.com/).  It is basically a tour of the ship.  If you not seen anything like this before it is pretty cool, but there is a lot of climbing as you are actually going through the ship.  The second is North West of Granite Falls and is the Dr Pepper Bottling Plant (http://www.glassbottlesoda.org/bottlers/wjefferson.shtml).  They are one of the few bottling plants in the country that still bottles soda in long neck glass bottles and use pure cane sugar.  The plant is in downtown and the distribution plant is just outside of the city.  Just a FYI but the distribution plant is only open M-F I think 9-5pm. 

I'm in Washington DC now. I'll look Into those suggestions. Sounds like the battleship maybe something the kids would like. Thanks for the input everyone.

Seth ,

 The Battleship is cool .My fathers only vacation was there in 1969 with my mom .He was crazy about Battelships & The Biggiest train the Big Boy !!!! He would be going Crazy  :tounge: now if he was around now know there restoring a BigBoy 4014 .
Anyway I have some were a picture he took of the battleship with our 1961 Cadillac parked next to it

That is so awesome Leonard. Must be a cool pic. I'm sure if he was as crazy about those as we are about soda machines he would be thrilled its getting restored.

It just dawned on me that when I'm in Atlanta I'm only 4 1/2 hours from Nashville. I could always check out the American Pickers store. Anyone been there?

My one Buddy was there last year said it was a. It disappointment. Basically it one room and full of show T shirts & cups and other high dollar crap .they said most of the stuff was NFS .  
They bought me a plastic coffee cup with a lid $14.00  :tounge:

Pickers store in Nashville sucked! Unless your looking to buy a T Shirt or coffee cup I wouldn't waste your time.

On the way back to Mass you might want to try and stop at Coinopwarehouse in Maryland. It's about 1hr 20min from Baltimore in Hagerstown.

Good to know about American Pickers. Not driving that far for a t shirt. However I will be trying to stop at the coin op warehouse on the way home. Thx

If you go to coinop warehouse stop by Curtis's place. He is only a mile from coinop warehouse.

Another great tip. I didn't realize he was that close to coin op warehouse. I'll send him a PM and see if he's around on my return trip.

If you love collectables and big antique signs and old movie props , stop by bigger antiques in chamber ga . It's just outside Atlanta right off 285 . (5576 peachtree rd chamblee ga 30341) there are also several other large antique stores with in 2 blocks.

That will work I will be in Atlanta so I'll check those out. Thanks  :biggrin:

Headed to Stone Mt. GA tomorrow then going to check out the Coca Cola museum the next day. Following day I will be stopping at the recommended antique stores and head to Charlotte to visit with members. Then head toward Maryland and the coin op warehouse. Any other suggestions on return trip? So far all of your tips have been great and helped a ton. Thanks Seth

These were some cool pics I took in Myrtle Beach, SC at a store called Nostalgia City. It was a collection of old stuff surrounded by stuff for sale (T-shirts and Repro stuff) What a cool concept! They told me it was the owners collection.

I have been in that store. Very nice

Cool store. Thanks for sharing

I have been to that store also.  It is very cool.

Hope the trip is going well! Find any rare machines you can take back with you and the family?


Brian

Haha. Of course if I see anything good its going to be squeezed in with us. I stopped off at Biggars antiques and found some cool old candy boxes. Thanks for the tip Cohammer it was awesome and my kind of place. Unfortunately I was unable to meet with a Tom(Tkaz) and Matt (Cocaman) in NC due to being stuck in good old Atlanta traffic. I hope to meet you guys on the next trip and thanks again for the invite. I'll be visiting with a collector in Virginia tomorrow and he has some cool stuff. I'll try to get some pics and post tomorrow.

Love the old candy boxes !!!
Ultra cool.  I buy old candy and cigarette boxes whenever I find them at a good price! Great little additions to old stoners and such.

Have a safe trip home. Looking forward to more pictures

Thanks Jared. What a great time the boys and I had visiting a fellow collector today in Virginia.  We were able to see and play with some awesome stuff. I will post some pictures and a video when I have wifi. You will all be amazed! I also just so happen to pick up something I've always wanted. I'll post soon.

Glad you found some candy boxes . I did buy two barber poles there last year  They don't like to sell some items so you never know what you will find a biggars. Glad you liked it.

I did run into that also. There were a few items I wanted to buy that were NFS.
I'm finally home and have internet so I will update you guys on the past couple days. So I visited a friend of mine in Virginia and I was amazed at the quality collection he had and the volume of stuff. I posted a quick video and some pics to give you an idea. I'm so jealous!

http://youtu.be/Yhz8kxIdRfA

Here is a picture of the A12 Coca Cola Industrial carton cooler I picked up from him. The top is original but it has a reproduced drum. The lower half and insides have been restored. I'll fill you all in tomorrow on my following day at the Coin Op Warehouse for now its time for sleep in a real bed.

Thanks for stopping by, sorry for all the mess but here is that link to our like page, you can see the Milk Machine and the Vendola Candy Machine complete.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Memory-Lane-Restorations/126665017401339?ref=hl

Curtis, Memory Lane Restorations / www.retrovending.com

Seth...thanks for posting the pics!

Looks like you had a great trip seeing some really cool stuff!

Awesome Seth!
He wouldn't sell you on of his bases...?

Jim, He only has one base but is having repros made soon. He said he will sell me one when they are done. I did stop and see the A8 we spoke about and that guy said its valued at 10,000. Lol.  Don't think he's giving that away anytime soon. I got you some pics.

So I was also able to visit the Coin Op Warehouse which had a ton of arcade games and juke boxes. I picked up a neat National 216 cash register there as well as a old exit sign bulb. After visiting there I gave Curtis from Memory Lane a call to see If I could stop bye. He was available and told me to come over. I swung over and he gave me a tour of his personal collection and his workshop where they were finishing up a bunch of machines for a upcoming show. I took some pictures of some finished machines and some in progress. I must say the quality of his work was impressive as well as attention to detail.  Curtis, thanks for having me and the boys over and taking the time out of your busy schedule to show us around.  :biggrin:

Here is the register I picked up from Coin Op Warehouse.

Pictures of all the eye candy at Memory Lane.

Picture of milk machine part way through restoration. Curtis, Thanks for the update that looks great completed!

Quick video of one room at Coin Op Warehouse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYfCJkMu4RU

Glad the trip to the warehouse worked out.

Thanks Seth for the great pictures. The Virginia collection was amazing. Loved the Dr pepper vender. How long has he been collecting

Thanks for the Coin Op Warehouse tip by the way. He has been collecting for 25 years