AboutRodger Knutson Expertise I am an expert on old coin operated machines, slot machines, trade stimulator's, jukeboxes, old arcade machines, etc. I have been identifying these for people who respond to my web site listed below, for a few years now. In almost all cases I am able to tell them about their old coin operated machines, the year, the value, and other general information about their machines. I do not know much about soda vending machines, coin banks, or scales, but I will try to help you with these if I can. Please email photo's to: jackpot7@ix.netcom.com My web site is at: http://www.coinslots.com
Experience I bought my first slot machine, a .50 Cent Mills Black Cherry in 1969 and have been hooked from that time, I still have that Slot machine! Before that I found a open barrel full of old scraped jukebox wall boxes behind a restaurant, I wanted them all but never took a one of them. Anything that took a coin drove me nuts!
Question I have a vendo 100 coke machine. I know the history and values of the machine but what I have not been able to find out about is the bottle return rack on the side of the machine that is still on it. Are these non existent or simply no one wants them?
Thank You,
Keith
Answer Hi Keith,
If you read about me in my profile, I am not an expert on soda machines so please don't rate me for answering, as I do always try for the 10, best rating possible. Now as for advise, here are my thoughts on it. Things like this rack got dumped, either bent, or rusty, or the owners were not interested in saving something like this rack. So, I bet these are really quite rare and worth a lot of money in added value for your machine. The original accessories that are rare, would make your machine much more desirable over others of the same model, without the original side rack, so cherish that side rack until you know more about how rare they are. Some slot machines had side vendors on them that gave you a pack of mints, this was a gimmick so the machines could be used in areas that were illegal, it vended mints so it was a vendor and not a slot machine under the law. When collecting them first started back in the 60's, people took these off and pitched them in the junk, they thought the machines looked better without them, as they were mostly an add on. Well, now these side vendors bring about $400.00 to $700.00 each, without the slot machine. Could you imagine how you would feel right now if your were one of those early dealers and maybe junked about 10 or 20 of these side vendors on you own? This is how I feel about you side rack, by all means save it, and restore it, if it needs to be restored, if it's nice, keep it as it is. Enjoy the fact that your machine has something almost every machine like it, is missing! In my book that makes those other machines incomplete.
Thank You
Rodger Knutson Http://www.coinslots.com
