Title: Vmc 44
Post by: vendobaldtops on April 30, 2005, 09:31:53 pm
I just picked up an incredibly straight, no dings (even on the chrome) no rust VMC 44! It's super cool and will post picks in the coming days.
I got it for a reasonable price but I wanted to let everyone know the rest of the story:
The seller knew that the machine was a collectible but also realized that he would be making a profit at any reasonable price and wanted it to move on from his possession.
When I caught up to this machine lead and contacted the seller last week, we agreed on a price and scheduled a meeting. In the meantime, a local collector tried to trump me by offering 50% more...sorry, the deal had already been negotiated with me. The seller held to his word.
Anyway, when I saw the machine today, it met the description and I was really happy. The seller picked it up a few weeks ago and asked me "How much would you say I paid for it?"
I knew he got a deal and I said $150, hoping that he paid more actually. He looked at me and said,"50 bucks."
So there are still opportunities out there!
I am really happy with my machine and the price....and the greatest part...his wife invited me in and cooked up a country breakfast before I hit the road again! If they come across this website, I just want to say thanks again and I appreciated the hospitality and integrety. It's rare to have a transaction go this smoothly in the era of eBay with people are demanding 2000 for a beat-up square top...or a dealer or restorer making you feel like you need to take a shower after you hear all the BS about a machine..."Hey, check out my rare 81 Crush machine...I had it signed by the grandson of Vendo's founder while he was on his deathbed..." type of stories. Well, today was a day that made me appreciate the small soda collecting community that we have and this great resource here. Cokes all around on me tonight...sorry to carry-on so long!
I got it for a reasonable price but I wanted to let everyone know the rest of the story:
The seller knew that the machine was a collectible but also realized that he would be making a profit at any reasonable price and wanted it to move on from his possession.
When I caught up to this machine lead and contacted the seller last week, we agreed on a price and scheduled a meeting. In the meantime, a local collector tried to trump me by offering 50% more...sorry, the deal had already been negotiated with me. The seller held to his word.
Anyway, when I saw the machine today, it met the description and I was really happy. The seller picked it up a few weeks ago and asked me "How much would you say I paid for it?"
I knew he got a deal and I said $150, hoping that he paid more actually. He looked at me and said,"50 bucks."
So there are still opportunities out there!
I am really happy with my machine and the price....and the greatest part...his wife invited me in and cooked up a country breakfast before I hit the road again! If they come across this website, I just want to say thanks again and I appreciated the hospitality and integrety. It's rare to have a transaction go this smoothly in the era of eBay with people are demanding 2000 for a beat-up square top...or a dealer or restorer making you feel like you need to take a shower after you hear all the BS about a machine..."Hey, check out my rare 81 Crush machine...I had it signed by the grandson of Vendo's founder while he was on his deathbed..." type of stories. Well, today was a day that made me appreciate the small soda collecting community that we have and this great resource here. Cokes all around on me tonight...sorry to carry-on so long!
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: Jim on April 30, 2005, 10:12:37 pm
Those are the memorable experiences that keep us all going!
It stories like this that you remember a long time!
And congrads on a great deal!
Thanks 4 the Coke!
It stories like this that you remember a long time!
And congrads on a great deal!
Thanks 4 the Coke!
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: Eric on April 30, 2005, 10:25:11 pm
Great Score! Yeah... let's see photos!
I love these stories! AND finds... Hope this is just one of many for you.
Eric
I love these stories! AND finds... Hope this is just one of many for you.
Eric
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: Creighton on April 30, 2005, 11:17:32 pm
What a great story and find!! Sounds like the machine has had a good life.
Creighton
Creighton
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: Bob K on May 01, 2005, 10:37:22 am
Way to go - that keeps me inspired!!
Post those photos, brother!
Bob
Post those photos, brother!
Bob
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: MoonDawg on May 01, 2005, 11:27:17 am
You're killin' us, how much did you pay for a nice better than expected original 
? 
? Title: Vmc 44
Post by: vendobaldtops on May 01, 2005, 01:48:28 pm
I'll get those pics as soon as possible...the machine is dent and rust free but it will need to be repainted...I tried waxing it a little yesterday and some shine comes out but eventually, it will need a repaint.
My payment was alot more than the 50 bucks that the seller paid for it but I was content forking over 950 for a really solid round top. Of course, I am still on the hunt for my own 50 dollar round top find!
My payment was alot more than the 50 bucks that the seller paid for it but I was content forking over 950 for a really solid round top. Of course, I am still on the hunt for my own 50 dollar round top find!
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: vendobaldtops on May 05, 2005, 10:08:24 pm
Thar she blows....
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: vendobaldtops on May 05, 2005, 10:10:00 pm
Here are some more round tops from the ode schoo...sorry about the mess but at least the junk is not on top of the machines!!!!
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: Creighton on May 05, 2005, 10:51:10 pm
Very Cool, Nice score.
You ever need help "extracting" a machine from Bay Area weirdness area's please let me know. Have a cart and a couple of out of work engineers that would be more than happy to help. No charge. I'm guessing we swear in the same dialect :-)
Creighton
You ever need help "extracting" a machine from Bay Area weirdness area's please let me know. Have a cart and a couple of out of work engineers that would be more than happy to help. No charge. I'm guessing we swear in the same dialect :-)
Creighton
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: vendobaldtops on May 05, 2005, 11:52:21 pm
Thanks Creighton for the offer...haven't been to too many weird places to get a machine..but then again I am from Berkeley so every other place never phases me...I am usually out in the country..but hey, how dangerous can Napa county really be?
I am convinced there is a warehouse still in Oakland or Richmond full of these machines. I heard a few years back that there is a mint Cavalier 72 in a beauty salon in West Oakland but the owners would never sell it. I never went out looking for it either
Vallejo had a Coca Cola Bottling plant at one time and I picked up a straight 39 about a year ago from a Benecia gas station.
Here I go again, going to get Brian all nostalgic about the Bay Area...
I am convinced there is a warehouse still in Oakland or Richmond full of these machines. I heard a few years back that there is a mint Cavalier 72 in a beauty salon in West Oakland but the owners would never sell it. I never went out looking for it either
Vallejo had a Coca Cola Bottling plant at one time and I picked up a straight 39 about a year ago from a Benecia gas station.Here I go again, going to get Brian all nostalgic about the Bay Area...
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: Creighton on May 06, 2005, 01:15:07 am
That's very funny!!
Worse hazard in Napa is the touristas leaving the wineries. Gotta be a bunch of boxes in all the old empty stuff around here.
Had a good laugh in Berkeley, settled in for lunch close to some friends house and noticed "Good Vibrations" was doing a landgrant amount of business. There's a market for everything. Bay Area is always interesting, hate the traffic though.
Creighton
Worse hazard in Napa is the touristas leaving the wineries. Gotta be a bunch of boxes in all the old empty stuff around here.
Had a good laugh in Berkeley, settled in for lunch close to some friends house and noticed "Good Vibrations" was doing a landgrant amount of business. There's a market for everything. Bay Area is always interesting, hate the traffic though.
Creighton
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: BrianB on May 06, 2005, 07:03:36 am
Well, A.C.....Now that you mention it.... I bet the Bay Area would be a treasure trove of soda machines (not, pop machines! ) I know your langauge too!! I would also think that the Marin Headlands/Napa would be an excellent place to look. Probably the South Bay too...Maybe even Morgan Hill or Campbell.....Sigh...
Hey!? I'll bet the Winchester Mystery House has an old machine in it....You just have to find it!
Seriously though, that "new" 44 is awesome looking, what a find. Ode schoo, eh? Hehehehe
I bet the Bay Area would be a treasure trove of soda machines (not, pop machines! ) I know your langauge too!! I would also think that the Marin Headlands/Napa would be an excellent place to look. Probably the South Bay too...Maybe even Morgan Hill or Campbell.....Sigh...Hey!? I'll bet the Winchester Mystery House has an old machine in it....You just have to find it!
Seriously though, that "new" 44 is awesome looking, what a find. Ode schoo, eh? Hehehehe
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: sodaworks on May 06, 2005, 09:11:36 am
vendobaldtops,
Nice find, chalk one up for the west coast chapter!! Ha-Ha..
Nice find, chalk one up for the west coast chapter!! Ha-Ha..
Title: Vmc 44
Post by: on May 06, 2005, 09:22:53 am
Really great collection there vendobaldtops!