Do you remember

[Pat Pixley]

Do you remember when you got your first machine , and
  what it was. Then think how long ago that was,
   for some  it been some time !  for other's  not that long .
    To me  we all have something in common we love
     to bring these  great machine's of the past  back to life.
      
   My First machine  was a Cavalier CSS 64 Sq. top
   that I got in the spring of 1996  a friend had owned it
    prior ,I had told him if he was ever going to get ride
    of it to let me know, I received a phone call on a sunday
    morning in April . Then I was Hooked.    '>

My first machine was an Ideal 35 slider(7-up non-embossed). Doesn't seem that long ago, but I guess it's been ten years. It was in an estate auction on a Friday afternoon. I had to leave work early to look at some signs they were going to sell, saw the little machine, and had to have it. I've still got it, and it STILL needs to be restored.

Jay C

[Jim]

I bought a Vendo 39 sometime in '88 to go with our ever increasing advertising collection. By '89, I owned a few more machines and had a part-time business in restorations of Soda Machines and Gas Pumps! '>

The first soda machine I picked up was a Vendo 6 case verticle.  I found it at an antique store about 6 years ago for $160.  I was so excited to finally have a Coke machine.  As I took it out the back of the antique store a familiar shape caught my eye and after loading my new treasure I took a look.  Low and behold what I had spotted was a dirty white VMC 81 with 7 up decals.  Since, at the time, I did not have any more cash I took the chance and left without the VMC.  Luckily, 3 months later it was still there and I bought it.  The funniest part of the story, I had to hide the 7up machine from my wife because the $250 I paid for the VMC was a fortune to us!  Of course she found it and I was in the dog house for awhile, but it was worth it.  She has learned to cope with my soda machine / gas pump addiction!