Pocket Guide to Coin-op Vending Machines

So disappointed when I opened the book. Some pictures are literally the size of postage stamps. Seriously. Many photos are out of focus and hazy. Also, many pictures are shown from odd angles and only one picture of each machine. There are lots of shadows and reflections, etc. Very amateur photography.The descriptions are extremely minimal and don't give much information. If you're looking for specific information about the operation, composition, construction, or specific dates of manufacture (this book just gives the decade) look elsewhere.Relatively very few machines per manufacturer are shown. Even restored, inappropriately refurbished machines are pictured. For example, an Oak 1960's machine is shown with an American flag motif. Red and blue stripes with white stars. I'm patriotic but I like to see original, authentic items in a guide.Although this was published in 2002, the prices for the more common, vintage machines are totally unrealistic. The author states prices in the $10 to $40 range for many of the newer (1950s and 1960s) machines in very good shape. You can't find anything for under $100 today and probably not 12 years ago when the market was just as hot. Example: a 1970s Beaver machine has a price range of $25 to $40 while a 1950s Toy 'n Joy is valued at $10 to $30. I don't think so.I could not print a return shipping label fast enough.

I have a gumball machine collection, and this book is the only timely one I could find anywhere. It's very well written, easy to understand, has pictures of every single machine, and has real-world values on just what you can expect to pay for antique gumball machines. I would recommend this book to any serious collector of vending machines.

Great book

I wanted to learn which companies produced the gumball machines I saw on line, and was delighted to receive my copy of the book from Amazon. It is a beautifully produced book with very clear photographs and excellent descriptions.I highly recommend it to anyone who has, or is planning to purchase, a gum ball machine. An extra bonus is that theauthor, John Carini invites his readers to contact him if they have questions, and is most gracious if one has the opportunity to do so.

Lots of color photos of all types of small vending machines. Mostly gumball, peanut, and gum but some others (cards, stamps tobacco etc). Easy to check pricing guide and even shows prices for variations of some machines. The only drawback, I think, is there is no index to make it easier to look up a specific machine but they seem to be listed alphabetically so not a big problem.

Good informative book for the novice collector such as myself. Gives good ballpark values of several types of coun op machines

My husband collects antique gumball machines, so I bought this guide for him. He has used it a lot, and has found it to be accurate and informative.

Very little information as a reference. It's more like a book of pictures of the author's collection and some machines his friends have.

Great book, very informative, lots of nice color pictures making it easier to identify machines.