SMC Discussion Areas

Been a little slow on the site the last few months.  As much as I enjoy the new social media soda groups this site is still by far the best.  I developed some great friendships and learned a lot from some of you experts in which I enjoy trying to pass along to the noobs. 

I have been trying to think creatively what can we do to keep this site more active?  I think we just have to post more pictures of machines found, machines in the process of being restored, refinished parts, art work, etc.??  That opens up a bunch of discussions that we used to have plenty of...

Thoughts?

Jared makes a great point. This site is only as great as the people who contribute to it. When I posted happy birthday to Jared yesterday, I was online and there was 1 other member online and there were 15 guests (aka lurkers) logged on at the time. Guests don't contribute much, they mostly just ask for help as newbies. And that's fine. That's how we all got started by asking questions and learning from each other. But maybe we should look at restricting access to those who just view the site, but don't contribute to making it better. Or dare I say, pay a subscription fee to be on this site. I'd pay it to help defer hosting costs and promote information sharing. Or perhaps access is allowed on a sliding scale. The more you contribute and posts pics of your finds or restorations in process, the more areas you can access and view. Just my 2 cents.

I'm not a social media person... no facebook, etc.. this is it for me... Love this site.
Not much going on right now for me machine finding or restoring wise.. though I'm
working on some decals... Will post when they're completed..
Wish more would post their finds like we use to... maybe not as much being found as
it was.... But still here everyday...

Yes, agree, this site is slow. It's because it's not a App on our phone like FB so we have to do it the old fashion way, on our PC. I guess that's old school now and not cool but that's the way things are going now like it or not. I'm on FB as I used it to follow family and friends. Now it has exploded with so many categories to follow, it's overwhelming. Not sure I like it honestly. It's too much. I don't always need to see what sign this guy in Florida bought whom I don't even know. Let's go back to the 50's when there was no cell phones, FB, PC's, etc. When we would buy our kid a pedal car and used it as a toy, played Patula Clark on the jukebox, and pulled a ice cold Coca Cola out of a Coke machine for a dime. Things seems simpler that way.

This is a common issue on all forums I follow. Too a point a sign of the times. FB has many faults but that is what most people use. I don't like all the crap that shows up, but that is where the crowd is.

This is a "drive by" forum for the most part. Someone just got a machine cause they always wanted one, or have one want a price on. Get their question answered and gone. Not many folks buy multiple machines (at first -). This will never change.

I think pay around $200 a year in dues for other forums. Happy to do so to help the cost of maintaining a site. Jim has never asked for or accepted a dime.

Restrictions only drive folks away. There will always be people that read but do not post. Fine, but if just trolling for deals well Chuck Berry's  "My ding a Ling" is for you. Replace "sing" with "post".

1.5' of snow to shovel to just get to my shop. Roads are a mess so no new finds here. However, have a plan how to make a 56 RT lighted door with all bits in the door. Thanks for your thoughts Glen.

Doubt will ever see any massive surge of new members here. Hope the core group just keeps keeping on and helping when can.
Creighton
 



   

What's a Facebook?  .. / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / ..- ... . / .- / - . .-.. . --. .-. .- .--. .... .-.-.-

... -- -.-. / .. ... / .- / --. .-. . .- - / ... .. - . / .-- .. - .... / .... . .-.. .--. ..-. ..- .-.. / .- -. -.. / -.-. --- ..- .-. - . --- ..- ... / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . .-.-.- / .--- .. -- / .. ... / .- / ... .- .. -. - / ..-. --- .-. / .--. ..- - - .. -. --. / - .... .. ... / .- .-.. .-.. / - --- --. . - .... . .-. / ..-. --- .-. / .- .-.. .-.. / --- ..-. / ..- ... / - --- / . -. .--- --- -.-- .-.-.- / .. / .... .- ...- . / ..- ... . -.. / - .... .. ... / ... .. - . / -- .- -. -.-- / - .. -- . ... / ..-. --- .-. / .- -.. ...- .. -.-. . --..-- / .... . .-.. .--. --..-- / --- .-. / .--- ..- ... - / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. .-.. -.-- / -.-. .... .- - - . .-. .-.-.- / .. - / .. ... / .- / --- -. . / --- ..-. / .- / -.- .. -. -.. / .-- . -... / ... .. - . .-.-.- / - .... .- -. -.- ... / .--- .. -- / ..-. --- .-. / . ...- . .-. -.-- - .... .. -. --. --..-- / .- -. -.. / - .... .- -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- / - --- / .- .-.. .-.. / .-- .... --- / -.-. --- -. - .-. .. -... ..- - . / - --- / -- .- -.- . / - .... .. ... / ... .. - . / - .... . / -... . ... - / .-- . -... ... .. - . / --- ..- - / - .... . .-. . .-.-.-

As my friend Anthony (aka Santino Marella of the WWE) would say;

BOOK OF FACES

I'm not into apps, in fact, I still have a flip phone (as some of you have even seen it lol)  but I do think that apps are the way of things right now, and using a laptop or computer are the same as me using a flip phone.
Not sure what we could do different though.... I think this site is great the way it is.  Although I realize that for some it's just another tool for picking.

Agreed... I'll try to share more as well, was just kinda thinking people where sick of seeing machines worked on , but if not I'll be glad to post as I post a few times each week to my own webpage showing progress on a customer machine.
lot of standard machines that weve all seen restored , V81's 39's 44's and such.. but I have a few odd ducks coming up I'll share.
good point!

Translation:

What's a Facebook?  I still use a telegraph.

SMC is a great site with helpful and courteous people.  Jim is a saint for putting this all together for all of us to enjoy.  I have used this site many times for advice, help, or just friendly chatter.  It is a one of a kind web site.  Thanks Jim for everything, and thank you to all who contribute to make this site the best website out there.

 :biggrin:  I guess no one knows Morse code.

Larry, Thanks for translating.

I see this as a common issue with almost all on line forums.

Seem to have peaks and valleys, as with almost everything. The heyday of buying/selling these machines is gone (for now).

I have to admit I was away for a while but came back lately since the soda bug seems to have bitten me once again.

How many restored 81's or sliders can you see without it becoming tired?

Perhaps a "buys of the week section" to put anything that may be of interest to the members, I know I have alot of other interests

Yeah... would love to see what other interest are on here a Buy of the week or month would be cool.. I've seen other sites that do that.
Cool to see what all folks collect...

I like the idea on "Buy of the Week"

I'm a newbie here, but an older-fart collector at 55.  I've been into 'stuff' of this nature for 40+ years.  Restoring another Glascock cooler is what brought me here and NOT being into social media is what will keep me here.  My collecting interests are a bit varied--i.e. I don't collect just machines and only have five.

One of my main collecting interests is Hasty Bake charcoal grills (have 30+) and I'm essentially the archivist/curator for the company.  So much so that they gave me the keys to control their forum, which I believe uses the same software as this board.  I experienced EXACTLY the same thing there.  They now have a booming FB group, but I won't go there even though I'm probably missing out on some buys.

It's probably a good thing as storage space has become a real issue and I'm getting sick of paying $220/month for a climate-controlled storage unit.   :darn:  Of course that isn't preventing me from going to an auction on Saturday that has a Cavalier 55D in it!  My wife asked me where I'd put it if I got it and I told her that it's a SMALL machine, lol!!

I think it will all come back around at some point--I just hope that I live long enough to see it!!

I too have noticed the slow down on the site.  I've also noticed a slow down on opportunities to buy machines and coolers in my area.  Its not for a lack of trying, believe me.  I consider myself a small time collector/hobbiest restorer, not in it for the money, just for the unique fun of it all.  In years past I'd be able to buy 3 to 5 vending machines or coolers a year.  I'ts now been over a year since my last purchase.  :down:

I've refused to become part of the facebook croud , but I've always wondered what opportunities I'm missing thru FB.

Like a few members said .THIS is the Site !!! Jim goes all out and makes it great !!!

I have made countless friends on this site . There are aways some slow times but it's picks up .

I have been on FB. I don't like all the crap that happeneds when you start getting the news feeds .

I'm just like Larry I don't need social media . I like it here   :tounge: :smile:

And don't plan on leaving !!

I'll try to post more Finds AFTER there in my garage . Don't want to let the Machine out of the Bag so the Lurkers jump on it

I'm about 99% just here to be reading the site. I don't always read all threads. But I read because I feel I'm kinda getting an education. Sometimes. I would be one who would leave if it cost me to be here. I've often sent people from Facebook groups here when they have questions about getting a machine repaired or finding a key or a part. I wouldn't send anyone here if they had to pay to join. It's just not fair.

Another thing I noticed was there are hardly any items in the for sale section. Other forms I'm on have daily items that come up and probably draws most of the members back day after day. Not a knock, just an observation.

I think we could save ourselves some money and help each other out selling on here verses eBay. Maybe it's me but stuff seems high priced on FB? Is it just me who thinks that, plus stuff goes so fast you have to be on it almost non stop to buy anything..

Next month will be 4 years that I have been a member on this site.  I remember mentioning on oldgas that I collect coin ops and "some guy named Jim" told me that if I like coinops I should check out this site. 5 days 6 hours 7 minutes and 1250 posts later I am still grateful that he reached out.

I havent made friends on this site, per se, but I like to think that we're all respectful in that fact that we collect, we want to share knowledge, and want to admire our finds.  Yea, there's some "trolls" and some "unfriendly" members but I don't see it as a deal breaker for me.  

It's been slow finding machines for me as well. Like to think it's because it's winter and should pick back up once flea market seasons starts up again in the spring.