Help with purchase

[sodaworks]

Welcome aboard butchershop joe,
  If you are looking for a machine that accepts coins I would consider Josh's C96 or maybe a sqaure top. If you decide on a V110 self serve I have one that I could restore for you.    '>

[Creighton]

Welcome to the board Joe!
I'm sure Josh will have suggestions, but I don't see how you could lose on this one. Close/Works/Complete, no worries about buying from Josh. Restore/Repaint the door and it should look great. Only you know what is best for the new shop.
Creighton

[dr galaga]

Go with a gently used one to put in your shop - you really don't need a restored one.  You can also set the price on the machine for what you want, so you don't have to loose money on the deal. More modern coin mechs (that will fit in the older machines) will even go up to a few dollars.  Since you are close, you could drive a few hours next month to the Chicagoland Show and check out the machines there - but most are restored.

[butchershop joe]

Thanks for the advice guys...I should probably email Josh...worst case it would look great in my garage (wonder what my wife would think of that! '> )...he is less than 2 hours drive from me here in Indy...it's hard to tell the condition from the ebay site...it says no rust but you can see what looks like rust at the bottom of the coin door and inside tray...can't tell if the dark spots on the bottom below the coin door and on the top are just dirt or wear and tear..

Dr. G....tell me more about this Chicagoland show...when is it? Where? Website?  If I drive up will I be able to bring back a reconditioned 96 for $3000 or less?

[BrianB]

Hey Joe,

Are you up in Indy? I live just south in Good Ole' Bloomington. There's a few of us down here in the southern region that could help you out. Myself, MCarter and Dr. Galaga is up north.

As far as the Chicago show, it's official start is Friday, November 11th. For more info, go to SMC homepage and click on "Event Calendar" fast forward to November and click on the Chicagoland Show link.

Josh is a great guy and won't steer you wrong if you decide to go the 96 route. Keep us updated and oh yeah...

GO HOOSIERS!!!

[butchershop joe]

Brian...thanks...yes, we are close...went to IU myself...nice to see a program with a winning attitude again down there...even if they don't win another game this year has been a good one becuase of the attitude...

Back to the soda machine...I looked at the Chicago show, very interesting..thanks.

I looked out on ebay...what do you guys know about an ebayer named Sleepwalk...the machines look beautiful...

What is going to be my best value?  You guys have me sold on trying to get a C-96 or 72...can I get a great one for under $3000?  
Any other websites other than ebay?

[butchershop joe]

This looks nice...but no idea on the price...does it seem reasonable?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VENDORL....iewItem

[joesquid]

Joe,
Welcome to the group!  The guy "sleepwalk" is Carl Coates from Elyria (probably just slaughtered the spelling) Ohio.  He's been doing professional restorations for probably 15 years at least.  I don't think he knows how to produce a bad restoration.  Granted, a little more expensive, but worth every penny.  He's provided alot of guidance for me on several of my restorations.

Now for the really odd part.  I'm active duty Navy and have a crewmember on my ship that started asking me about my restoration work.  As we talked he started telling me about his next door neighbor back when he was a kid growing up in Ohio.  He went on and on about the beautiful coke machines this neighbor was always restoring etc. etc.  When he said "Ohio", I asked him if this neighbor's name was Carl Coates.  The floored look was priceless.  It ends up Carl's neighbor's son is one of my crewmembers.  Truly a small world!

Honestly, you won't go wrong with one of Carl's machines.  If you talk to him tell him Eric from USS FARRAGUT says howdy!

To echo what others have said, go with the Cavalier 72 or 96 for both the aesthetics of the 1950s as well as the ability to set your selling price for sodas.

Hope this helps!
Eric

[butchershop joe]

Great story Eric...thanks for sharing it, thanks also for your service to the good old USA...my wife's cousin is a Naval Inteligence Officer for a group of Seal teams, he can't share a ton but he assures us that they are getting the bad guys...

Like I said Carl's machines look awesome..I just dont' know if I want to shell out $5500 for the best....

Did you see that restored 7up machine on ebay I posted?  Can a VMC 81 use a new coin mechanism or is it just like Vendo's?  Not that I'm cool to a Cav 72 or 96...either would be great...again, just after scanning the net seems like my dream of spending at or under $3000 for something restored or "used" restored  is just that.. '>

[90grad]

Joe,

The 7-Up VMC 81 on eBay has a mechanical coin mechanism, not an electrical one like Cavalier 72 or 96 the folks are talking about.  Plus, I would imagine that 7-Up machine will go higher than your $3,000 budget.  To echo what the others have said, a 72 or 96 would be good if you want to set the price of the soda.  There are suppliers (www.retrosoda.com) who sell all kinds of sodas in the 12-ounce bottles, too.  Josh's machine is a nice one.  If there's surface rust in the bottom of the tank (interior part), that's easily fixable with some Hammertone paint.  Plus, no customers will see it, as the door will be closed.