When I worked at the Nathan Hale Homestead (located in fairly rural Coventry, CT), the organization kept an old-fashioned, working soda machine in the barn we used as a combination admissions, shop, and historic recreation space. The machine and the soda sold was from a local maker and visitors loved it. It was pretty much the only refreshment you could get within a couple of miles. Since the soda was old fashioned (cream, birch beer, ginger ale) it seemed "ok" that it wasn't that healthy. However, the old fashioned machine broke constantly and staff learned to get pretty good at fixing it. Plus we had to keep a supply of coins to give change (it didn't take dollars) and to reimburse people when the machine at their change. (The company would then give us back the money the machine "ate" when they restocked.)

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Sheryl Woodruff

Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

>From: beth <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Vending Machines?
>Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:31:09 -0400
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Received: from plantain.ease.lsoft.com ([209.119.0.163]) by mc7-f28.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.211); Fri, 24 Jun 2005 16:31:37 -0700
>Received: from home (home.ease.lsoft.com) by plantain.ease.lsoft.com (LSMTP for Windows NT v1.1b) with SMTP id <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:31:32 -0400
>Received: by HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM (LISTSERV-TCP/IP release 14.4) with spool id 66312079 for [log in to unmask]; Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:31:32 -0400
>Received: from mta10.adelphia.net by home.ease.lsoft.com (LSMTP for Windows NT v1.1b) with SMTP id <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:31:12 -0400
>Received: from T2984 ([24.54.35.143]) by mta10.adelphia.net (InterMail vM.6.01.04.01 201-2131-118-101-20041129) with SMTP id <20050624233111.BLME19267.mta10.adelphia.net@T2984> for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:31:11 -0400
>X-Message-Info: +va6sINXO+91lTSEvLzL4jCsxU9qrbDco+mi+W7WiY8=
>Approved-By: [log in to unmask]
>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1506
>X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1506
>Precedence: list
>Return-Path: [log in to unmask]
>X-OriginalArrivalTime: 24 Jun 2005 23:31:38.0034 (UTC) FILETIME=[DDF95920:01C57914]
>
>Hi,
>
>We're a small shipbuilding museum on the North Shore of Massachusetts and are thinking about beverage vending machine services.
>
>Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences they'd be willing to share? We'd prefer to go with a service that offers healthier alternatives (quality juices, waters, etc) to soda. Any pitfalls we should be aware of? Would appreciate any info!!
>
>Best Regards,
>Beth
>ESSEX SHIPBUILDING MUSEUM
>Essex, Massachusetts
>http://www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org
>
>-----------
>"...the ships may be gone but I see 'em just the same." Larry O'Toole
>
>=========================================================
>Important Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).