VMC 81 Orange Crush Machine

[dmrhyne]

Fairly new to the site and love it.   Is the Orange Crush VMC 81 that is listed on Ebay for 12K a legit machine?   Does anyone have any info on these machines?   Thanks for your time.

Dave

[johnieG]

I think not, it's probably just a "fantasy" machine cobbled together from an Orange-crush chest cooler & a generic VMC81, the only way to tell if it's even possibly "real" is to remove the inside door liner & insulation & see if it's had a panel MIG-welded onto it, & even then I'd insist on a magnetic-dye test to see if there is a hidden seam that's been ground down.  but  I doubt the owner would even consider just removing the liner for a "peek" at the backside of that door.

But there's always a chance it genuine... for that kind of cash, I'd have to be convinced by a thorough inspection.

it does look wicked cool though! just not $12k cool. 

[Gumbo]

Hey- welcome to the site. Lots of info here. We had this discussion back in 05. Take a look-
http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php?topic=3616.0

[sodaman]

I've seen several of them, I think it's mostly Jack's work and none of them are genuine.  If someone wants to buy it just to say it's real, then that's fine.  Jeff Walters and his associates got so mad at Jack for making Mission Orange, Dad's Root beer and Orange Crush machines but as long as you tell the original purchaser that it's not real, I guess that's ok.

[Eric]

I think the sadest part is the rare, hard to find coolers that got chopped up for these.
I guess if I collected OC and wanted a 81 bad enough and had a rust out or a pannel from a cooler
that was embossed it would be alright, to me... but to say you stumbled onto a warehouse of
one of a kind 81s and go on and on with no proof...silly... He'll take it all to his grave and I think
he enjoys the pot he has stirred...