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I started a thread a couple of years ago on the subject and got some great responses.  Just found a third factory red/orange machine and it close to the serial numbers of the other two and the one on tv.  Anybody seen one?

I do remember the thread but have never seen or heard of one since. Do you have a photo of the 3rd one you found?

There is a red one on ebay right now for 9k. Not sure of it's authenticity.

I've seen 4-5 over the last few years, I've never owned one, mynunderstanding is they were used in Kansas to compete with Coke.

I have 3 and know of another that were all operated in central Nebraska.  There was also a possible 5th one that sold a few years ago, from Omaha.  There is a similar one for sale on ebay right now.  It is earlier than my 3.  Wide single louvers, same color though.  I will attach pics once I figure out how to shrink my picture files from my iPhone.

It's been brought up over a few threads over the years.  Nobody really has enough information to confirm the logic behind in ALL red machine.  In my opinion it doesn't change the value one bit.  The one listed on eBay will sit there until the seller wants to sell it a the price the rest of the Pepsi 81's are selling for.

Should a person restore it back to the original red/orange or change it?  Would anybody pay for a restored red/orange one if the restoration was well documented or would the buyer willing to pay 10K+ want blue or two tone blue/white?  I've never seen a restored red/orange one for sale?  Any ideas?

If I had a choice of buying a red or a blue one, all original for the same price I would pick the blue all day long. I would also never restore one in red unless if that's what you want. I just saw the one on ebay and regardless of price the machine does nothing for me. They do appear to be original and I'm sure if so they are rare but can't get over the color and I'm a huge fan of the Pepsi 81, one of my favorite machines. I would feel the same if they made a Coke 81 in blue.

I would think for paying 10k there would be very limited market for someone wanting to pay for a "red"Pepsi machine.

      I'm not saying the E-bay machine was not originally reddish / orange, but certainly the main door has been painted.
      There used to be a sign screwed over the letters, now only the 6 holes remain.
    
       http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Vendorlator-H81D-Pepsi-Cola-Red-White-Vending-Machine-/322098449998?hash=item4afe904e4e:g:rc4AAOSwQNRXK9sZ  (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Vendorlator-H81D-Pepsi-Cola-Red-White-Vending-Machine-/322098449998?hash=item4afe904e4e:g:rc4AAOSwQNRXK9sZ)

Mine are all within 25 or so s/n's apart, as is the one on tv(pawn stars/American restoration).  The one that I just bought is s/n 105944 B4.  Another is 40 miles away.  I need to call the guy and see what it's s/n is.  I'd bet that it is close to my 3.  Two of mine were repainted the wrong blue (sloppy job over door gasket), but both the same, one of those had the embossed letters white, the other didn't, none of the 3 had side or any decals.  Both repaints had 6 screws where they put a plastic Pepsi sign over the embossing.  Both signs are missing.  I know the locations where both sat when in service last.  All 3 were retired from different places in the early 70's.  The ebay machine is similar, but older.  It has an earlier s/n wide single louvers.  I do agree that these machines probably aren't worth a huge amount over a blue ones.  I think having several validates the authenticity of them.  I find them interesting as I do with prototypes and transitional machines.  They aren't something that you see every day.   

Good eye on the screw holes. Does that mean someone screwed a coca cola sign over it?

The previous owner of the second machine that I bought told me that it used to have a plastic Pepsi sign.  I think the local distributer revamped the red/orange machines and painted them blue and screwed the signs on for a new look. 

Plastic sign photo

Plastic sign pic.

Pic

More pics