Operating a route

[davethebirdman]

I appologise if this topic has been up before. I have had a look back ad can't find it.

Whilst I was reading back I saw the thread about the chap that allowed the kids in the neighbourhood to buy a bottle or two from his machine and it set my mind wondering whether anyone actually puts vintage machines out on site selling soda. The machine i'm sure would act as a novelty and ensure good sales. Even allowing the operator to sell at a higher price than the average "vendo".

From a collectors point of view you would always be worried that it would get damaged but from a bussiness point all you'd really need to do was be close enough to constantly stock the thing.

I think it would work well here in the UK as any sort of vintage machine is rare. Maybe if I win the lottery and have a couple of hundred thousand floating around I'll give it a go.

Jus a thought

Dave (Cold today but no rain)

[firemun]

Dave,
Alan Huffman runs antiquities vending and that is what they do.  I think he has sevral hundred machines out on a route in grocery stores, antique shops etc.  He is the guy I mentioned you should try to visit while on this side of the pond.

Warm and sunny here near Charlotte NC, mid 70's and   Pepsi Blue sky.
jeff

[davethebirdman]

Hi Jeff

nice to see that the weather there is great. Having lived in England all my life I don't know how i'd feel about having sunshine most of the year. What about those dark cold rainy winter mornings where the sun doesn't rise until you get into work and its set before you leave.

I'll keep my eyes open when I'm over in the Summer for those machines onsite.

Our grocery stores over here are a lot different to yours. I was thinking more like office blocks, bank headquarters etc. Where all the rich boys go to work. Great advertising as well for a side line in selling machines.

Inital outlay would be fairly large and I don't know what you'd pay to Coca-Cola etc for permissions etc (if anything)

Which vintage (40',50's) machine would have the largest vend? No good with a v39 I'd be there three times a day filling it up. I wonder what cut the site owner would get??

Ha well, perhaps something to do when I retire.  

Cheers

Dave

[loman4ec]

It is a great idea. You could use a Vendo 144 or a Vendorlator 88 because they can be modified to vend cans.

[aspbear]

If you are looking for volume you cant beat one of the old mills machinse like the 120 or 240. The problem would be they weigh a bunch, in the 700 lb range. But because of the way they are built it would take a fair sized tank to damage them...

[Creighton]

Dave, Great to have you aboard!!
Slug rejector/vend mech. may be a bit of an issue. Doubt you would want a vintage machine to jam after a football match, could get ugly :-) Haven't made it to England yet but if you go for it please put a few across the channel. I haven't been able to find a cold or hot Mountian Dew in Italy or Germany after a few trips. Sure weighs down the luggage just for required medication. Warm Cokes available all day long though. Maybe machines at the tourist traps???
Creighton

My guess is that a Quid would get stuck in the coin mech too. '>

[davethebirdman]

Creighton

Not sure if its possible to get Mountain Dew here in Vending machines. I have never seen any. The supermarkets stock it though.

Kito, you maybe right about the Wuid getting stuck. I was thinking more along the lines of £2 coins.

To buy a 500ml bottle (plastic) from a vening machine will set you back at least a pound. ($2) If you want a can then that'll be at least 60p. Don't know how that compares to the US.

I remember going to the States at the beginning of the 90's and buying "Mega Gulps" from 7-11 for next to nothing.

Dave

[Eric]

There's an antique store in Ozark Missouri, a 6 case vertical, embossed Coke,
that they sell plastic bottled soda and water out of  pretty cool to see.