Hello Everyone,
First of all, awesome forums guys! Let me introduce myself, the name is Karl. I've learned alot about machines built long before my time by browsing threads... I could never post, a year of lurking and it wouldn't accept my login name and password!
I'm in my later 20's and most of this stuff is long before me, but I have an appreciation for things of old and am an avid coin-op collector. In my collection I have well over 40 video arcade machines, 3 pinball machines, 4 electro-mechanical arcade machines, a Wurlitzer 3700 jukebox and a bunch of other random junk you guys wouldn't care about!
Basically, I live inside of an arcade that fills my house.
Dr. Pepper being my soda pop of choice, I knew I needed a pop machine in the house... Found a non-working Dixie Narco 276 last year on CL, Dr. Pepper of course, and had originally tried to get a membership here to ask questions but it never went active. I ended up getting it fixed really easily and was drinking cold pop by the end of the next week.
I think my coolest and oldest machine so far is a 1948 STONER Junior 6-pull Candy machine! It was pretty dirty, some mechanical problems, but had alot of potential, an original petina, and sexy curves that were to die for! I did a trade deal with a local E.M. collector and brought her home... I got to work immediately and she's looking beautiful now! I'd restore it to look mint, but I like the character of a worn machine that isn't beat to crap!! I've finally got 4 of the 6 selections picked out, but can't seem to settle on two non-chocolate sweets to toss in the Stoner.
Lately I've been getting into more oddball coin-op machines, since I'm mostly out of room and just trying to fill in some gaps in my collection to cover all of coin operated goodies! Looking for more gumball machines, I have a couple but would like a nice variety in all the rooms of my house. Also very interested in finding an old bottle soda pop machine so I can put the good beers and oddball cola's that don't come in cans.
Looking forward to hanging around here more and getting to know you guys! And of course, swooping some deals from CL and fellow collectors on some vintage "real" coin-op machines!
Here's a few pics so you can get an idea that I am too in the group of crazies that over collect!
