Is the End near.............???

[cormy]

Seems to me that its becomimg much harder to find our stuff anymore, at least in the wild. Response to newspaper ads is almost nothing anymore, or if you are lucky enough to come upon something (gas oil soda) the owner thinks they can retire by selling it. Also seems to be alot more people on the look out then there was a few years ago.

Looking at some of these posts I started to think about something: I forsee a day not to far in the future when all the "old timers" with their gas station/soda stuff will be gone. The day of buying a nice sign or two at "just take it away" prices will be no more. No more stumbling on a stash of forgotten items in the back garage of an old station that you happen to stop at. Not that I have ever had this happen in any great degree, I have picked up a couple things this way.

But think about it, how many old stations are left, along with the original owners? How many years till all the stuff we love to collect is no longer in the "wild" . Maybe already?

With the eventual loss of the "old timers" and thier stuff we will be faced with the only option of buying from other collectors, which I would rather not do as compared to a "regular" person that's not really involved in the hobby.

I would be interested in what others think about this situation..

[Eric]

You're right... the time of stumbling onto an old station or bulk plant is
about gone.
What will be next is finding someone that bought it to restore and never got around to it and needs the money for their children's college.....
Enjoy it while you can, keep running ads and search... never give up.
Signguy stumled onto a couple high $$ pumps still in use and Joey hit a
gold mine a few months back in Arkansas... It's all out there still just in differnet hands... just need to beat the bushes a little harder...
I can't wait to see what everyone stumbles onto this coming summer.
Auction time is here!!!!!! Bring on the Quikolds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! '>

[sodaworks]

It has slowed down but their still out there.

[SIGNGUY]

I agree it's slower but that was bound to happen and yes SOMEDAY the only way to find stuff is from collectors and guys who have been stashing stuff away, in order to sell in the future.
There still stuff is out there in the wild, like Eric just said, I did stumble across 2 Wayne 60 pumps out on the Back Back Roads... and I'm sure there is more out there.. just gotta go out and ask.  I recenlty bought a vendo 81 from a guy who calls himself a "PICKER". He travels on all the backroads and just stops into places that look like it might have some old stuff. He'll knock on the door and ask to see if he can look around and of course he'll always have cash in hand!  This is is FULL TIME JOB!!! but he still finds stuff. says people have picked all the obvious and easy to get stuff up already, so we have to Dig deeper, drive the undriven roads and not be afraid to ask to snoop!
Have Hope ... our Hobby is not dead... just changing! '>

[cormy]

I hope that "picker" doesn't live around me!

[cormy]

(cormy @ Mar. 02 2007,4:22)

QUOTE

I hope that "picker" doesn't live around me!

But then again, if he sells his "finds" cheap, then I might want to be his best friend!

[MoonDawg]

The future of antique soda machines is swayed by the availability of  proper size bottles.

[Pat Pixley]

Well like everything There are changes, And our hobby is not excluded from this .  yeah there may be the Picker
or Joe blow who thinks he going to retire from that sale.

But there are deals still happening   like signguy and his hit , two Gas pumps and Joey's hit in Arkansas and Johnie friend in the Detroit area  and I may or may not come out with something  from two of my insured's That Vendo 80  &  that cooler out at that farm .  So we may also have to dig a little harder for some these
treasures.

Plus here is something to think about, All these machines that are out there in use now , you know in the malls and at stores,   they could be the next big  thing      Oh lord help us '>

Pat   '>

[davethebirdman]

Pat is right.... The future of this hobby is in what is around us now. In my humble opinion (what do I know I don't even live in the US) if you are in this hobby to make money you should be looking at square tops.

One day soon those with the money won't be wanting roundtops. (They were from a long gone era) they will want what they took a bottle or can of coke from when they were a kid (70's & 80's).

I love everyone of my little treasures but I know that I have probably lost money on them. I got in at the wrong time and don't sell. But the pleasure they give me is well worth it.

I love the tales best. The sleepless nights before you secure the deals. The showing off once you've got it. The pictures. So you guys carry on hunting its what keeps me going.