1970's/80's Sportscard Vending Machine

tmgrnzx9r · March 13, 2013 5:46AM

Here are a few pictures of my most recent purchase from ebay. Its a 1970's/80's sportscard vending machine. I have had a few requests to see some pictures of it in another thread, so instead of hijacking that thread I figured I would make a new one. I have been wanting one for awhile now. I just remember as a kid going to the local card shop and putting my quarter in it in hopes of getting something good. Well as a naive little kid I did not know that most of the cards were commons and the hopes of hitting something good were really slim. None the less I have always had great memories of going to this shop and dropping a few quarters in it.

My thoughts on the use of this thing is this. I figured when my kids get a little older I could always put a fresh vending box of like 83-85 topps baseball in it for them to mess around with. At least then they or whomever would have a fair chance at getting something decent for a quarter or 2. Or I could always put my fresh 1979 vending box that I just got in the mail today from bbce in it!!! Thoughts on this machine or my idea?? Does anyone else have one of these? Maybe an older one? newer one? Anyone else have any great stories with these type of machines?

Heres the pictures (sorry they are not that great) I took them with my phone

BenG76 · March 13, 2013 5:50AM

Cool a local antique/junk store has one with some cards in it. Ive never tried it though it looks like its got some super common 90's stuff in it. It should look cool set up with some cards in it.

ChiefsFan1st · March 13, 2013 5:51AM

Very cool! Of course, now I want one.

tmgrnzx9r · March 13, 2013 5:56AM

Thanks for the replies guys. The front as you can see in the pictures has a piece of plexiglass in it that can be removed and you can put whatever in it. If I throw the 80's vending in it, I will probably put a Mattingly,Strawberry Rookies on one half and maybe a Mcgwire USA,Clemens,Puckett Rookies on the other half.

ChiefsFan1st · March 13, 2013 6:01AM

I cant remember. Does it spit out like 5 cards? My uncle owns a gas station. I outta buy one and set it up there to get rid of my commons, err I mean my hall of fame football collection.

tmgrnzx9r · March 13, 2013 6:11AM

<< <i>I cant remember. Does it spit out like 5 cards? My uncle owns a gas station. I outta buy one and set it up there to get rid of my commons, err I mean my hall of fame football collection.

>>

The one I have you cannot adjust the amount of cards that come out, but it averages anywhere from 4 to 7 at most that come out. Its hard to tell from the picture but right above where its says 25 cents is where the cards come out.

BenG76 · March 13, 2013 6:22AM

<< <i>I cant remember. Does it spit out like 5 cards? My uncle owns a gas station. I outta buy one and set it up there to get rid of my commons, err I mean my hall of fame football collection.

>>

I am curious to know if one of these machines would still sell well today. Maybe with some shiny modern stuff in it?

thedutymon · March 13, 2013 8:59AM

Afternoon,

Ok, I'll share, this is the machine that I have for sale in my Store. It is from the year 1971/72 and is Brand New in the Box condition. It has had no restoration work done to it, and is still in the possession of the original owner (He has consigned it to me). It was bought Brand New in late 1971 or 1972 then stocked with 1972 Topps Presidents Packs and 1972/3 Wacky Packages Series III packs picked up a local 7-11. There were 46 Presidents packs and 48 Wacky packs in the machine when re-opened in 2010. The owner boxed it up and forgot about it shortly after filling it sometime in 1972/73. He re-discovered it 2 years ago in his basement storage and emptied the packs out, I sold them on E-Bay, we made about $3000 off the packs.

I have never see a machine in this pristine of condition, although I have seen several raggedy ones on E-Bay for $100-$300 needing $300-$800 in restoration. In fact we were contaced by the Original manufacturer, Folz, who was re-opening a similar business in 2011 and he wanted to purchase the machine as a display piece for the Company Lobby. We could not agree on a price. It is still listed on E-Bay in my Store.

This machine was designed to dispense 5 cent Wax packs and has all of the cover sheeting and empty packs you see. It would have been right at the end of the last of the 5 cent packs and actually was a little out of date when created, US Presidents were available in 5 cent wax packs then very shortly 10 cent wax packs.

Here it is:

Neil

DCanfield · March 13, 2013 9:23AM

I have one that is similar (stored back in NY). Mine looked exactly the same on the inside and it spit out 4 cards placed in a cardboard folder. It takes quarters and has a removable metal tray on the bottom to collect the money. Now here's the fun part, it came from Steiner Maunfacturing in Brooklyn(?) which I believe is the same Steiner that has morphed into the memorabilia business. Mine was purchased around 1990. It has two round pin locks on each side for "security"! LOL!

hhmag70 · March 13, 2013 9:30AM

I recently scrapped one of these machines because shipping would have been too much of a hassle. I still have a full case of the carboard sleeves that you insert the cards into prior to loading in the machine.

Stone193 · March 13, 2013 10:13AM

Congratulations on your pickup!

I have a 50s exhibit card vending machine.

I think you might try checking ebay from time to time for vending machine signs and perhaps you'll pick up something to put in the window.

The machine has been restored very well!

Ya know? If you're going to put some cards in it? I would recommend something more inexpensive like a 5 or 10 buck vending box - for kids to play with? Just a thought.

Thanx for sharing!

RynoandBo · March 13, 2013 10:18AM

Pretty cool piece! Would look very nice in the basement.

Aric · March 13, 2013 10:19AM

Very cool. Congrats on the pickup. These are very similar if not the same machines that dispersed the 1985 Jewel Prism stickers with the Michael Jordan. They had one at my local bowling alley.

lahmejoon · March 14, 2013 9:12AM

I love these. My family used to vacation around Santa Cruz, CA and there used to be a card shop called Collector's Corner in Capitola. They had this old red vending machine (not as big as the one pictured) that took pennies (can't remember if it was one or two). I used to love throwing the last bit of change in that machine and pulling random cards. Brings back good memories. The shop has been long gone, unfortunately.

Ripken · March 14, 2013 9:59AM

...and another baseball card vending machine with a story.

mgugs46 · March 14, 2013 10:03AM

Pretty nice pick up Eric. Now load that bad boy up

Griffins · March 14, 2013 10:31AM

great machines guys!

I've got a couple- one baseball and one postcards that I'm still trying to locate a header card for.

76collector · March 14, 2013 11:45AM

Not sure about refilling it, but it is a cool collectible piece. I agree with comments above. Would really look cool in the basement or man cave.

JustinsShoebox · March 14, 2013 11:54AM

<< <i>great machines guys!

I've got a couple- one baseball and one postcards that I'm still trying to locate a header card for.

>>

Anthony, awesome postcard machine!!

Justin

tmgrnzx9r · March 14, 2013 12:45PM

Thanks for the comments guys! Also great to see other machines as well. Those really old ones are killer. Did they actually make signs to put in the front of these? I always thought that you would make your own kinda sign or put some cards in the front to display what year or years you have in each side.

kenyonlake · July 7, 2013 1:40AM

hi i just picked up a steiner vending machine orig for vending wax pack.it had came with a few of the cardboard sleeves but they arnt the folding ones like the sticker/tattoo type. a pack actually slides in these perfect.now i plan on trying to do some wax packs i do have and want to do a section of random football cards & a section of random baseball cards being it has 3 coin slots.the mechs are vertical 8's.the slots to fill up take those cardboard i believe are 3x4 1/2 is there any way to vend single sports cards out or maybe sets of 5-10 cards at a time without it vending to many.trying to figure out the best inexpensive way for this i havnt even seen those particular cardboard slots for packs anywhere not sure if they are even made like that anymore,also could use any ideas if there are any prremaid nice display decals for the front ive somewhat made my own for now.thanks

RookieWax · July 7, 2013 6:32AM

<< <i>hi i just picked up a steiner vending machine orig for vending wax pack.it had came with a few of the cardboard sleeves but they arnt the folding ones like the sticker/tattoo type. a pack actually slides in these perfect.now i plan on trying to do some wax packs i do have and want to do a section of random football cards & a section of random baseball cards being it has 3 coin slots.the mechs are vertical 8's.the slots to fill up take those cardboard i believe are 3x4 1/2 is there any way to vend single sports cards out or maybe sets of 5-10 cards at a time without it vending to many.trying to figure out the best inexpensive way for this i havnt even seen those particular cardboard slots for packs anywhere not sure if they are even made like that anymore,also could use any ideas if there are any prremaid nice display decals for the front ive somewhat made my own for now.thanks >>

how about a pic of this machine?

1970's/80's Sportscard Vending Machine

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