Largest Collection of Vintage Cola Machines in the World: Come with me to the Electric Cola Cafe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ม.ค. 2025
- Allen Huffman bought his first vintage Coke machine over 30 years ago. Huffman now has the largest collection of Cola Machines in the World. He opened up a Cola machine museum but it seemed to get little attention until he changed the museum into the “Electric Cola Cafe”. Come along with me to Granite Falls, NC and meet the King of Cola Machines.
NOTE: Allen said after watching the video he realized that he had told the wrong manufacturers name on the Pepsi with the see through doors. It is made by United and not Pelco the elevator company that he said.
You can contact Allen at 828-962-9783 and you can find The Electric Cola Cafe on google maps for directions but he does not have a website or Facebook as of now.
John Ward
The Appalachian Channel
#coke #countrystore #cola #theappalachianchannel #cocacola #vintage
![I Restored this 1958 Vendo 81 Coke Machine [Part 1: The Teardown]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/b9FuccrlFtM/mqdefault.jpg)
![I Restored this 1958 Vendo 81 Coke Machine [Part 1: The Teardown]](/img/tr.png)
Soooooo many great back stories to these machines.
Glad you like them!
Allen was so interesting. I loved this video. More of his stories please. Fantastic.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I remember a lot of these coke machines when I was a kid this is so cool to see the old drink machines again
yes they bring back a lot of old Memories from the past.
I went to this place when he was making this video and I am in it it’s such a good video and you guys should go to the place it has so many old-fashioned drinks
Wow John this vlog was amazing John fantastic John I the reason why I love your channel. Is your find such interesting places to visit safe travels Watching in the UK
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching from the UK my friend..
Wow! Now that's history, John.
Still remember the coke machines here in Australia.
Nothing beats a solid glass coke bottle .
Hello in Australia thanks for the comment and watching my videos. John Ward
Interesting place!! I enjoyed your video thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
If I"m EVER even near NC, I"m THERE. Fantastic collection!...and yes, NOTHING beats a soda OUT of a solid GLASS bottle.
Always fun great video! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for watching!
Awesome show Thanks. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it
I could listen to this Man all day long. He’s amazing and very knowledgeable. Please have him back on again. Really enjoyed this video and tell him thanks for his expertise. Thanks John, Great Video!
Working on going back in May. thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Man this was a great episode. I cannot wait to see the next one there when he is repairing some of the machines. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it and i hope to return one day to make that other video.
i worked for coca cola in late 70s-how cool it would have been to have worked for them pre 60s-love this video
thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Its great to see someone who really care about their collection, amazing the amount he has
yes he sure loves his machines and thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Wow! Americana at it's best❗.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 👍👍👌👌✌✌
thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Having a Coke right now, ...crispy, refreshing, relaxing.
Oh my! such great history of the coin operated vending era. Another beautiful find John, and the guy really knows his product. Keep them coming.
Glad you enjoyed it thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Great video. So interesting! Mr. Huffman's knowledge of drink machine is outstanding ! Thank you for sharing it with us. God Bless Y'all 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow! 😮 My kind of Museum. Thanks John for uncovering another hidden Gem for all of us to enjoy.
Glad you enjoyed it thanks for the comment my friend
. John Ward
We can't wait to see this place!! Great video as always John!
Yeah you and Adam will have to visit it sometime. I plan on going back there and maybe have a meet and greet there one day.
@@theappalachianchannel It looks super awesome!! Glad you had a great time!! That would be fun, make sure you have your autograph sharpie lol!
I will let you all know when we are going next time.
@@theappalachianchannel Sounds like a plan!
I LOVE THIS PLACE! This was wonderful! Thank you from Seattle. Near Granite Falls in Washington State! 😊❤
P.S. My granny never put butter in the refrigerator. Always in a butter dish, on the table.
thanks for the comment and watching my videos. John Ward
That is a bad ass collection of machines & a man full of knowledge. I’m impressed, it’s a lot of money there & machines I knew nothing about or if they existed.
I like this the piano, jukeboxes and alot of coca-cola machines I like to go there someday. Like the video. 👍🏻😁
Thanks! 😃
Watched from start to finished John, brought back a lot of childhood memories.
Fish and chips, bottle of coke and a game of soccer.
yes the place brings back a lot memories as a kid for sure.
What an awesome video. I wish Allen the best of luck as that was one engrossing tour of his museum.
yes the Allen tells some interesting stories thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
If I’m ever down that way you better bet I’m going to check it out cause that set up is awesome he’s definitely got a good thing going wow!! Nothing like drinking soda pop out of the bottle ❤
For sure!!
Alan this is Amazing ! Your knowledge of drink machines is very impressive. Thanks for finding and sharing this place .I’d sure love to see it someday 👍
he sure does know the history of his machines thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
This guy is definitely very knowledgeable and passionate about his machines
Thank you so much for the comment and watching our videos here on TH-cam. John Ward
Allen I have to ask… Coke or Pepsi ? 😂Amazing collection! Great job John 👍
He works fir Dr Pepper so I would say He would have to go with Dr Pepper. I guess Allen is a soda machine Dr. Since he keeps them going.
I could listen to him tell stories/explain things all day. What a wealth of knowledge!
John, Thank you for this great video....A truly amazing collection. I remember 5¢ Cokes.....and when the price increased to 6¢ requiring a penny and a nickel.
Glad you enjoyed it
Man that was a great video. Allen is a walking encyclopedia of vending machines. My mom and dad ran an old country store in the 60s and I remember some of those machines in there store. Good memories. 👍
Yes he knows the machines very well. I hope to return to make anther video in May.
When I was a kid, the Coke machine at the barbershop my mom took me to, the machine was filled with ice and Coke bottles. You would put your money in the slots and then, the lid would be unlocked and you reached in to get an, ice cold, wet, Coke.
those are Great memories for sure. thanks for the comment.
It would probably never work nowadays because someone would put the coin and and then just take all the bottles :( people seem to have gotten a lot more selfish
He’s like listening to my dad . Dad was everywhere. Sometimes next week or maybe later. He would just start telling you something we was talking about a month before. It would twist people’s head back . They be so lost . Lol
If you didn’t pay attention and be a good friend. You would be lost . My dad could tell you the rotational of Earth and the atmosphere and the different levels of moisture. He was in the military and he had to know that. 102 airborne. I love hearing this guy talk
Glad you enjoyed it and its an Awesome place for sure. I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
When I was young, my dad picked up a chest type Coca Cola refrigerated machine. The bottles were held vertically by the neck. You put your money in and had to grab the bottle by the top, slide it over to one end and then pull it out through a gate that would only open if you had paid. A bottle opener with catcher was on the front. It held a lot of drinks. Seems like there were 8 rows, but I'm not sure. Later he took out the grid holding the bottles. We had family get togethers and he would put crushed ice and drinks in, plus a watermelon. Good times!
Great education! This man knows his stuff! Thanks J&J. Anouther great video!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing your collection of soda machines, you bring back many memories using machines from the 1950,s and forward.
Wow what a place! That guy doesn’t know it but you just put him on the map! Show him what you did for R M Brooks! You are one of favorite channels keep up the good work!
yes people will want to come visit the Electric Cola Cafe for sure.
I remember back in the 60''s how terrific bottle pop was. It was hard to choose from Coke, Hires Root Beer, Orange n Grape Crush.
i got a grape and Dr.Pepper while there in the bottle.
Great video with amazing stories! He should set up a corner for customers to type letters on vintage typewriters on paper with “Electric Cola Cafe” letterhead.
Thank you
A fasinating history of Coca-Cola vending machines and dispensers!! Thanks for posting this!!
I have known Alan for many years and have seen his business grow. His museum will do even better now that you've featured him in one of your excellent videos. His knowkedge of his collection is absolutely amazing. I wish I had known you were in Granite Falls as I would have enjoyed meeting you.
Wow John. What a unique place. Allen is sure knowledgable on those machines. He's got some very rare ones for sure. Thanks for the tour. You and Jodie take care and God bless.
Glad you enjoyed it and I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
Wow! Very interesting for sure.👍
Glad you think so!
This is interesting. I live 30 to 45 min away from Granite Falls and never heard about it. Im goin to have to check this place out. Thanks for the video 👍👍
You should! Great place for sure
That lunch-O-Mat is awesome. I’ve got a buddy that is into retro stuff. He built out his garage into a 50-60’s diner. He has restored a machine kind like that machine that makes a cup of coffee. He took an old tv box and put a newer one inside, he has an old working ice cream machine with a blender I believe. He’s also got a 55 Chevy all rebuilt and an old truck that he left with all the patena (msp) and rust. Not sure what the truck is but it’s a big farm truck kinda.
Awesome to see a vending machine that serves real food and not instant coffee and soup. But yeah, you'd have to clean it and stock it daily. Reminds me of the concept of eateries where you have premade foods ready to eat behind doors that you pay to open, kept warm in an oven like a buffet. They'd restock them during the day as needed instead of made-to-order.
Amazing collection.. I'm absolutely blown away.. I use to work for coke as a full service vending machine guy filling and servicing coke machines. I have a 1956 V80 with stainless panel front. Had 11 different machines at one point. Your knowledge of all the machines is awesome, I could listen to you all day about all the different machines.. wow
Going to check this place out........
i hope to return in May
Love this video. great collection
Glad you enjoyed
WOW, that's quite the collection - I'm impressed!!!
Wonderful video very interesting
Glad you enjoyed it thanks for the comment my friend. John Ward
WOW this is amazing and the guy has such a love for what he does.🙏🇺🇲❤️
Wow! Allen is the soda vending machine guru. Seen many of the machines from my youth in the video. A pizza place at the end of the street I grew up on had a Pepsi machine, sold a 10 oz. bottle for $.15. Other places were getting $.45.
Machine was probably from the 1950s. Great memories, Thank you for such a great presentation and interview. 👍
all i i can say is wow keep doing what your doing john
This was Awesome ! , always enjoy your adventures !!
thank you for sharing . just another roadtrip
Wanted to say that I enjoy most of your videos, but I think this is my favorite so far. I wish we had a place exactly like that near me. For some reason I find the history of soft drink companies fascinating and when you put that together with machines I am all in. Would love to see some of the bottles, signs and other memorabilia highlighted on the channel.
Glad you enjoyed it and its an Awesome place for sure. I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
Impressive collection.
Also happy to see Pretty In Pink soundtrack and Pet Shop Boys on the wall!
Very fascinating; keep up the great videos!
Thank you very much!
EXCELLENT ❤
thanks for the comment and watching my videos. John Ward
My uncle had a pop machine in his garage - the only flavors I remember from it was Nesbitt orange & grape sodas at a nichols each. There was a glass door on the left & the bottle was laying on it's side, cap out, & when it was released with your nichol you pulled the bottle out. The color was red on it. This was in the 50s & 60s when pop went up to a dime.
Here in Oregon ALL carbonated beverages have a 10 cent deposit that you get back when returned to a state ran return.
PS. I still buy glass bottled pop, but I get it out of the "specialty pops" section of the store or even from Dollar Tree. You buy it by the bottle & it comes from Mexico. NO CORN SYRUP, just good old sugar from the original recipes.... including Sasparilla pop.
The pop in the regular sections of stores I can't drink... Allergic to corn (corn syrup) & nearly all cane sugar substitutes. So I was super happy to find the pop/soda from Mexico that I can drink from glass bottles.
This man is amazing 😊God bless you for your tour Awesome 😎 Collection 😊
Thank you for watching
I was born in Edenton North Carolina. We moved to California when I was 1 . We went back for a visit in 1956. I remember having a coke and some had a. RC Cola. We put peanuts in our drink. In 1960 we moved to Edenton , not for long. One little market across our house
was 5 cents for a sm bottle around the corner 6 cents for a tall Coca Cola. When we were
traveling to NC I Remember my sister and I went across the street they had a square coke machine in 1960 like the last one you showed after the story of the machine with the antler
, anyway we had a bottle opener lifted the top lid opened the drink and used a straw to drink. I had a grape drink. It was late at night. I no bad. It’s going to be a nice place you have.
I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
Wow what an amazing collection and a trip down memory lane for me❤. I love how knowledgeable he is, how he displays them, they sure are treasures of the past
Thank you for watching The Appalachian Channel! John Ward
(This is Tom, not Sandra.)
WOW!!!! What a FANTASTIC collection on drink machines!!!! Thank you for making this video and presenting your vast collection of drink/food machines to us all. I was really impressed with all of the pre-1970's drink machines you had. Those pre-'70's are my favorite machines. (Really, anything pre-'70's was waaaay better anyway.) (IMO) Thank you again for the GREAT tour through your large collection of Americana. I really hope this museum last a real long time so everyone will have a chance to see your collection, sir. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!! Happy 4th of July to you and yours!!!!
Brought back so many fond memories! :-)
Great video, so much information. Thanks for sharing, Awesome place!
Glad you enjoyed it and its an Awesome place for sure. I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
This is the Best Video Yet, Absolutely Amazing Collection and wonderful Stories. I would drop down to 9 Years old just being in that Environment. Lol
I also think it was a interesting place to document .
what a wonderful collection, my dad had a swaunnee store in monticello fla with a coke ice box he would put drinks in and chip up ice around them best cold drinks in town back in the 50s and 60s
yes he has them all in his collection for sure.
Very interesting!
I think so too!
ANOTHER GREAT ONE
Glad you enjoyed it and I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
I was 29 in 89 I remember most of th 10cent machines from 68-75 awesome video
Nice!❤ I have 50/55 years of Coca-Cola memorabilia. One of these days I’ll look into selling…I’m getting elderly. Still drinking Coke occasionally!
Fantastic stories and info! What a guy!
Annother excellent video
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow what a collection!! And the owner’s knowledge of Coca Cola machines, and others is amazing!!!! Made me want an ice cold coke in a bottled. The kind that’s chilled enough for ice to form when opened. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it and its an Awesome place for sure. I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
You know we gotta keep these running. More efficient than today and continues to serve the community.
I loved this vid I can't believe I watched the whole thing ty.
Allen keeps you interested the whole time . Thanks for wdtching
Gauging age by machine 😅👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻old enough to remember the glass bottles, young enough to remember they were at least a quarter 😂🙌🏻💞
Thanks for the comment and the support by watching what I do here on the Channel my friend!! John
Thanks for another “Brother “
thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Omggggg ! 🤩
What is the electricty bill for this place ! ? ! ? ! Maybe he should buy his very own Power Plant next ! 😋
Thanks for sharing !
😇❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Great video! very knowledgeable with the exception about butter. My butter stays out.
Yes he knows the machines very well. I hope to return to make another video in May.
Awsum video 💪💪
thanks for the comment and watching my videos. John Ward
As the Sundrop brand manager in 1983 I can tell you the first Sundrop bottler was in Gastonia, North Carolina. And probably still the largest volume Sundrop bottler in the country. Huntsville, Alabama was also a very strong areas as well as all of middle Tennessee.
I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
Fantastic guided tour!!!
That was flipping awesome Jhon I need to go there a little over a hr from my house.
Glad you enjoyed it and its an Awesome place for sure. I hope to return to make another video in May. thanks for the comment. John Ward
I knew Alan before he had grey hair. Glad to see my posters on the wall--for a young fella he knows a little something about soda machines!
Wow! As a former Employee of Coca-Cola I certainly loved this video. You took the time to give him enough time to explore the subject. Looking forward to visiting this place. Donnie & Sue Ellen @ JUDEA Roams
yes this is the longest video that i have ever posted because I didn't want to cut out anything. Allen knows his machines history.
Best episode ever!
Thank you so much for the comment and watching our videos here on TH-cam. John Ward
Would love to see it up and running
i hope to rerturn in May
When I was 9 we got a Coke machine for our patio; loved it. Later on I discovered it was a Vendo 63. Hope to find exact replica of it in original not restored condition. This was great video; gotta visit it one day. Also remember a Teem Machine kinda rare.
I have a 1950s vendco cocacola machine red with white top..takes 5 and 10 cents.. would love to know its value or sell I have pictures
Speaking of Coca-Cola machines: On 11/22/63, as a route salesman for a Dallas/Ft. Worth vending company, I was filling the Coke machine in the Parkland Hospital cafeteria about a half hour before the motorcade rolled in. I was planning to stay and have lunch but the Friday special was liver and onions, and I NEVER order organ meat in a hospital cafeteria. If roast chicken had been the special, I would've been there when Kennedy arrived. By the way, I had filled the Coke machine in the lunchroom of the Texas School Book Depository that morning. That means that if the conspiracy theorists are correct and Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed in the cafeteria drinking a Coke moments after the assassination, it was placed in the machine by Yours Truly.
This gets better. The company I worked for was closed on Saturday, in observance of the national tragedy, so over the weekend, I had to make up the stops I didn't get to - including the Dallas Police Headquarters. I had just pulled my truck into the parking garage on Sunday when I spotted one of my regular customers, Jack Ruby -owner of the Carousel Nightclub where we had a couple of machines. He waved to me as I drove past. He was on his way on foot to somewhere in the garage
Wow! 👍🏽👍🏽
Wow that is something! You were close to all the events that week. Were you by any chance the man in the grassy knolls? Just messing with you. I live in Dallas and was born in Parkland back in 78. Do you still live in Dallas
That dude knows his drink machines, he reminds me of one of my history teachers...if he says it twice you better write it down, lol.
he sure does know the History of them thanks for the comment and watching my videos. John Ward
I really enjoyed this video, I watched the whole thing but it stopped 3-4 times for some reason and I had to restart it 😊
Glad you enjoyed it! Maybe the internet was running a little slow I. Why it stopped. Thanks for the comment
my son had a oval coke machine he sold it about 15 years ago . You open the the door and
I guess it was like a refrigerator . I can’t remember if it was su to be that way or it needed to be remodeled. It was a nice one. I wished I would have bought it myself. I will pass this channel to my son . He will enjoy it. Ty
I hope to return to make another video in May.
I would love to see those Coke machines. Coca cola is my favorite soda.....it tastes better out of a bottle ❤ .......My husband, the kids & I went to a mcdonald's in Williamsburg, VA on our way to Norfolk for vacation and they had an old coke machine in there, a 50 something chevy, and an old wooden telephone booth. I enjoy seeing old things.
❤ the older one way cooler than now
That must have been a margsrinethpe product and not real butter. Does make you think! Lol
He’s very knowledgeable! What a neat thing he’s done. Thanks for sharing.
We had a Coca Cola bottling plant in our town in Bogalusa louisiana. My grandma would take her wood crate and bring empty bottles back for a refill each week. We didn’t drink soda except on special occasions as a kid. Im mid 50s and it was a great. I remmber when 2 little bottles came out in the grocery stores.
I still have some very old sort of pressed glass coke bottles that say Bogalusa on bottom.
It was a bottling company , not a plant I guess. It was a very fancy building in the day.
If you ll it up, Coca Cola bottling company in Bogalusa la you’ll probably see old photos. Last time I was there, it was still there.
thanks for the comment my friend and watching my videos. John Ward
Ready to come and visit!
Thanks for comment and watching my videos..John