Going Local Series-Vending Machine Museum

We usually post a Garden Friday item most of the year.

With the garden sleeping,

it seemed like a good time to take a field trip.

You game?

We heard about the Antique Vending Machine Museum

on a local PBS show that features local attractions.

Located in downtown Granite Falls,

the museum is open most days,

but it's suggested to call the owner if you want a free tour.

The address is 30 S Main St, Granite Falls, NC 28630

and Alan Huffman can be reached at (828) 962-9783.

Started in 1989,

the owner began his collection with just over a dozen machines.

The most common machine advertises Coca-Cola,

but there are over 40 different types of sodas housed here.

Some are the cooler-type machine
with the flip or slide top,

and some machines displayed 
their captivating inner workings.

This machine feeds one bottle at a time through,

until it reaches the dispensary.

This Pepsi machine advertises a bottle for 5 cents.

Oh, those were the days, huh?

The more common multiple-bottle machines

allowed you to choose from an array of sodas.

Remember grape and orange NeHi?

Here's another machine that needs only a nickel

to give you a bit of refreshment.

This was the only pizza making machine we saw.

Remember when drinking soda was a once-in-a-while treat,

like going to the ice cream parlor or the five-n-dime?

I remember getting a soda and a burger every Saturday
after horseback riding lessons.
My diet's changed a bit since then.

This machine gave instructions on how to easily get the goodies.

Each machine was so unique,

and it was fascinating to see how they changed over the  years.

Not all of the machines are in working order,

but Mr. Huffman has a lot of experience in repairing them.

With over 700 vending machines,

this has to be one of the largest collections to date.

We enjoy seeing these quirky kind of places,

and reliving part of our earlier days.

Good to know that someone is keeping the past alive.

More in Our Going Local Series:

ReSettlers Antique Mall

Grier Truck Museum

The Mundy House