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OK, So I've been collecting soda machines and many other things for about 5 years now.  I only went after square tops mostly because of the price and availability.  I finally decided to go after a round top.  Now I can count on one hand about the number of Vendo 81s that I've seen posted on KC Craigslist in the last five years.  There was one earlier this year for $1600 and in years past I've seen a few in the over $2k price range, some of them were really nice.  I picked up this one for $1000 because it was close, mostly original and...well...I was the first one to call for once.  According to the seller it was in a bowling alley that her parents owned in the 50s and then sat in her basement from the late 60's until I retrieved it this morning.  The machine is complete and it works.  Has a change giver mech and all of the spring loaded shelves are present.  The thing that bothers me is the really crappy paint job that may have been a coca cola bottler repaint from the 60's.  The seller says she's never had it painted.  The paint in some places is coming off and is sticky.  Since I'm new to round tops, I'd like to know if I did OK on this one?

More pics...

Any possibility that the "sticky" is dried up Coke?? Try warm water wipe. (Can you tell I'm no expert?)

Great pick up and even better price. Yes, I think you did ok.

Close ups.  Assuming it had a bottle rack at one time.

Interior pics...

Congrats!!!!  At 1000.00 you did Super Well!

Great Buy! Congrats!

Awesome score! Congrats!

Awesome find ! ! !
Especially for your first round top!

Homerun, congrats

Yep, a very good deal. My first 81 cost me 275.00 in the 90's. none have ever come around even close to that price.
It must be beginners luck for both of us.

Thanks for all the comments guys.  Can anyone speculate on the age of the bottle caps I found in the machine?  I have never found crowns with cork in them before.  The machine only had $1.00 in dimes in it and none of them were newer than 1970.  Only the Pepsi and 7up crowns had cork lining. 

They look like 60's - 70's. were any of the dimes silver? It's always cool finding old coins in these machines.

The oldest dime was 1965, not sure when they were silver but it was probably before that.  :(   Hard to believe but this machine may not have been opened since I was born.  She had lost the key and could not remember the last time they used it.  "When she was a kid" she said. 

last year for silver dimes was 1964

Nice one! Congrats!