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Wrigleys PK gum vending machine

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 12:59 pm
by runner
Just acquired this little lady, Wrigleys PK gum 1950s / 1960s era ? in working order. Never seen another, just need to get hold of some Wrigleys PK gum packets now... There is a company in Normandy that sell war memorabilia, including rations that had PK gum supplied. They also sell some other vintage brands of gum, site is: 1944supply.com The smallest I have come across at just over 29 inches tall, and a bit over 6 inches wide.

Re: Wrigleys pk gum vending machine

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:01 pm
by coin-op
I've one of these; though paintwork a little down from yours - as too the image. In fact, If you were able to take a more direct picture of the central image I'd appreciate that. Sadly, it's just lost its place on a wall and I'm trying to figure where I'm now allowed to site it!

Re: Wrigleys pk gum vending machine

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:28 pm
by runner
I have ran out of space to put any more on the walls in the room that they are in, I have now got 4 machines that I call floor hangers :HaHa:

Re: Wrigleys pk gum vending machine

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:29 pm
by coin-op
Machines are cheap relative to buying the bigger house to accommodate them. Thanks for posting that extra pic. If at any time you get a moment to take a sharper pic that would be appreciated - I don't have the skills or software to sharpen these things. But no rush and do appreciate you taking the time to post the image.

Re: Wrigleys pk gum vending machine

Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2020 5:25 pm
by runner
The camera that I am using isn't taking the sharpest of pictures at the moment, so I think that is the best image that I can get. Are you looking to get the image made for your machine? I have seen some adverts for OK gum that show a clearer image. I wouldn't say the print of the gum picture on my machine is 100% crisp anyway.

Re: Wrigleys pk gum vending machine

Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:41 pm
by coin-op
runner wrote: Fri Oct 23, 2020 5:25 pm Are you looking to get the image made for your machine?
I thought it would be nice to put a better graphic on the machine; but I've been happy enough to date with the poorer version which is present. It's the case that I'd insert a better graphic in the frame atop the original if chance provided.

Re: Wrigleys PK gum vending machine

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:44 am
by runner
Could you put a picture of your vending machine on here please.

Re: Wrigleys PK gum vending machine

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:24 pm
by coin-op
Apologies for slow reply. Here are pictures of my machine.

Re: Wrigleys PK gum vending machine

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:28 pm
by gameswat
Coin-op, if that was mine I'd just hand paint in the background blue of that art and will look so much nicer. Much better than a totally new print with two machines looking identical. Seems to be unique artwork made just for this machine, as a quick look online did not find anything exactly the same.

Re: Wrigleys PK gum vending machine

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 6:54 pm
by coin-op
I have to say, when I got to the machine it was actually better than I’d thought. So agree with you that just doing something with the background is the way forward. Then the crisis is just where I can find a place for it!

Wrigleys PK vintage vending machine

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:25 pm
by runner
Topic merged - Site Admin.

A couple of weeks ago I was the highest bidder on this vintage Wrigleys PK vending machine through Amersham Auction Rooms. Well what a disappointment it was. This was the first time I had bought from an auction house. On receiving the machine, I find the top of the machine had been forced back as someone had tried to force entry to it, the top two bolts are bent, and also the bottom of the machine was bent. This will now have to be taken to a specialist metal worker in the hope it can be straightened out.

What makes me angry is that there were three photos included that did not show the damage, and just the vague description that they give, obviously not mentioning the damage! Now I know that you can request a condition report which I have done recently on a pinball machine, that turned out not to be working (this was not mentioned in the description of the machine). It seems to me that they rely on people not bothering to request more information as they know that a lot of people won't bother doing it.

I had won the machine for £180 and had factored in to the price the auction house charge and vat and delivery cost, so I didn't want to be spending more than £250 all in, however the first lesson I learned was to get a delivery quote from their preferred courier before you bid! I had thought it would be around the £45 mark. It turned out to be £80 + vat (total £92), problem being that the auction house will not package up your item for you, so you then have to use a specialist courier rather than say My Hermes or other reasonably priced companies. Unbelievably, when my machine was delivered it was dropped off by DPD, who the specialist courier would have paid DPD about £30 so they have made about £50 for just putting my machine in a cardboard box!! Did I also mention the cost the auction house charge you for making the bid online £11 !! (Always read the terms and conditions). Better still, just use ebay.

Photographs from the auction house have the label on, included a picture of my other PK machine for comparison.

Re: Wrigleys pk vintage vending machine

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:38 pm
by treefrog
Just part of the risk in bidding partially blind I am afraid. Auction houses have every exclusion from any accountability and make this clear, even if providing condition reports.

Re: Wrigleys pk vintage vending machine

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:45 pm
by ilovemyjukebox
Oh dear. I did intend to bid on that machine and then forgot all about it.

I always ask for extra pictures of all sides top and bottom. I was once a victim of a very similar situation but in my case the bottom of the machine has completely rusted away where it had obviously sat in a pool of water for many years. No mention of that on the condition report.

I also can’t bring myself to pay the outrageous commission these places charge for little more than taking a picture and putting it on a website. Thieving Bast@rds.

Re: Wrigleys pk vintage vending machine

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:48 pm
by treefrog
I reckon it will straighten up quite well. I had a similar state machine and pressed them out, but the seam between them had become detached and needed brazing.

Re: Wrigleys pk vintage vending machine

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:10 pm
by runner
I think it will straighten out ok as well treefrog, I could get hold of the correct hammers and striking back plates and do a half decent job on it, it's just the sides which concern me, so better to take to a specialist on this occasion.

Re: Wrigleys PK vintage vending machine

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:45 pm
by ilovemyjukebox
Does it show when displayed on your wall??

Re: Wrigleys PK vintage vending machine

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2020 5:58 am
by runner
You probably wouldn't notice it if it was high enough on the wall, and depending on your height :D but I like to try and put faults right if it is possible, after all we are caretakers for these machines.