red pepsi 81

[vendo_81]

I can't get my pics to attach.  Says the file is too large.  Did it like I always did?

[Slapshot42]

Pictures

[MoonDawg]

         No doubt it is original orange paint.

         Here is where it started out 

[Slapshot42]

Sweet picture!  Where did you find that?

Jared

[Eric]

Love that picture... would like to see all the other machines color schemes they had....
Nice 81 you have there....

[cohammer]

I have to believe that some how these machines that are painted red have some thing to do with the fact vendo merged with vendorlator in 1956 and were just painted red not ment to be public.

[collecture]

I tend to go along with Vendo 81. The early 56 ST's were red, white and blue and I think this was a transitional trial scheme/color.
I wouldn't value it any higher though - I personally think the blue with white lettering looks better.

[vendo_81]

I'd like to see one of those early squaretops and see if you can see the unfaded red inside anywhere and see if it matches the orangish red on mine.  If it matches, I'll bet they are transitional machines.  I collect a little music/guitar gear and I've got a Fender amp that is a transitional model.  On a Fender Champ, the old chassis design had the knobs on the top and tweed fabric covering, through the 50's and early 60's.  In 63'  they made a small # with knobs on the top and switched to black tolex covering, which is what I have.  Then they switched to the new chassis with knobs on the front with black again and kept that design for a long time after that.  I'm thinking that if the s/n's of the Red Pepsi 81's are at the end of production of the round tops, the transitional paint theory makes sense.  I don't know if it makes them worth any more?  Probably not.  But I think it is cool!    

[Kilroy]

I am leaning toward a way to get a customer thinking they are walking up to a  Coke machine. If it were a mistake in painting, they would have sent them through again.

If I found one, i'd have it redone in Pepsi blue, Rare? yes, more valuable? Doubtful

[Creighton]

Any year Fender Champs are top notch. Still upset that I traded my tweed 1956 for a Princeton Reverb and then sold that.
Can't afford to replace either now. Live and learn. I play badly so the SS Marshall and Fender amps with pedals are good enough :-)

What guitars are you liking of late? My Fender Lone Star Strat and Alvariz Dana Scoop get the most play. The Dana had the typical carbon fiber neck meltdown so I replaced it with a strat neck, fun.

Your red 81's are interesting and very cool. Hope someone can help with the "rest of the story" :-)
Creighton