Hi everyone

[Goldmine]

I am new here. I hope to learn a lot from this forum. I just recently (like 2 months ago) got into collecting and restoring vending machines/gumball machines. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm pretty good at figuring things out. What turned me on to this was the show American restoration and a friend of mine GAVE me 2 gumball machines, 2 toy machines, and a stamp machine. The very first thing I bought was a Mutoscope card vending machine. I have been working on it when I can. It's pretty big. The second thing I got was a gumball machine from another friend. I traded him an old compass for it. He paid $25 for it. It's a northwestern gumball machine. Found out that it was a one cent machine. I liked the fact that it had a glass globe and not plastic. I turned it into a reese's pieces machine. I only need decals for the sides and it will be done. Just the other day I bought a strength tester. The very first time I saw one I fell in love and told my wife I have to restore one. I don't have it yet but hopefully by monday it will be here. I know it needs a coin mech. Not sure what else yet but I got it for $76 dollars.

Before I got into this I was heavy into collecting currency. I have learned a ton from the PCGS currency boards and I have been a member there for 5 yrs. I hope to learn a ton here too. I am 29, married, no kids at the moment but my wife and I are licensed treatment foster parents. Just a little background on me, hope I can learn and maybe one day be able to pass on the knowledge.

-Tom

[Nextelcherp1]

You got a great deal on that strength tester. If you ever want to sell it or trade let me know.
Abel

[coppinpr]

this is a great forum but u might like to join www.pennymachines.co.uk as well ,its UK based but with lots of US members and is a much faster moving forum with a lot of skilled collectors always ready to give practical advise, get the best of both worlds,use both, i do

[Goldmine]

Thanks I'll check it out