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Author Topic: 12oz. or 14oz. popper??? Dan Chilton Expert Film Handler Posts: 191 From: Springfield, MO Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-24-2005 02:56 PM                        I have a small single-screen theater (73 capactiy) that needs a popper. Our equipment dealer quoted us $1,325 for a 14oz. Cretors Profiteer and $498 for the bag in box system. However, I happened to meet a gentleman today who has an antique 12oz WhizBang popper that came from a theater that was closed down in the late sixties. It's a very nice looking popper, with brass bars along the side, decorative crown, wood accents, and a newly replaced 12oz. kettle. He quoted me $895 for the whole thing. That price includes him taking the entire popper apart, removing the glass, stipping all the metal, refinishing the wood, and replacing all the bearings, kettle pieces, bulbs, and electrical wires. Not a bad deal, I thought. My question is two fold: 1. Will 12oz. be enough to service a 73 seat theater? How much difference will a 2oz. reduction in kettle size equate to in popcorn output? 2. I've never dealt with a popper that didn't have an automatic oil dispenser. Will the additional hassle be worth the savings? Will there be that much of an additional hassle?  |  IP: Logged Floyd Justin Newton Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 559 From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 02-24-2005 03:44 PM                     Dan-- A 12 oz. popper would be more than enough for a 73 seat house. Considering that the seller is willing to refurbish the unit prior to your possesion, it appears to me A GREAT DEAL. Charging the kettle with oil (coconut) by hand is no-big-deal. Good luck!  |  IP: Logged Dan Chilton Expert Film Handler Posts: 191 From: Springfield, MO Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-24-2005 04:06 PM                        Thanks Floyd!  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 02-24-2005 04:09 PM                     quote: Dan Chilton I've never dealt with a popper that didn't have an automatic oil dispenser Just make sure that you set the dispensing timer for the correct kettle size. The proper oil/seed ratio is 3 to 1. A 12oz kettle would then take 4oz of oil. And this goes for any size of kettle, big or small. -good luck - Monte  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-24-2005 05:14 PM                        You can buy "oil bars" from any concession supply dealer that you just drop in the kettle. Agreed that you'll have no problem serving your crowds with that size machine.  |  IP: Logged Justin West Master Film Handler Posts: 271 From: Peoria, IL, USA Registered: Jul 2001 posted 02-24-2005 08:31 PM                     Say, Dan...where is your single-screener located? It wouldn't be Seymour, MO by any chance? There is an old single-screener (long closed) still standing there and I think it dates back to the silent era.  |  IP: Logged Dan Chilton Expert Film Handler Posts: 191 From: Springfield, MO Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-24-2005 09:58 PM                        Justin, our theater is in Springfield, Missouri, but we're not far from Seymour. I've never heard of a theater being there. Do you recall the name?  |  IP: Logged Jim Bedford Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 597 From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer) Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2005 09:10 AM                        I'd be leery of any "antique" popcorn machine. After a long history of trying to fix machines that were the problem of others, we've decided that modern and efficient is better than funky and interesting. Size does matter for bigger houses, but if you shop around for a while you should be able to find a nice used 12 oz. machine that should work fine.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2005 12:53 PM                        "Whiz Bang," isn't that a Gold Medal machine? I would call the company and ask about parts availability before buying it. Just how 'antique' is it?  |  IP: Logged Justin West Master Film Handler Posts: 271 From: Peoria, IL, USA Registered: Jul 2001 posted 02-25-2005 11:41 PM                     A couple things... First, Dan, the theatre was called the "Owen" and is on the downtown square in Seymour. The owner still runs a small drive-in theatre on the edge of town, by the same name (Owen Drive-In) and the owner's name is OWEN (gee, imagine that!). As for the Whiz-Bang, Mike is right, that is a Gold medal product. You might also check with a place that repairs old theatre equipment (including antique popcorn poppers) called Sonic Equipment in Iola, KS.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 02-25-2005 11:50 PM                     Whiz Bang popper manual This may be a re-creation version of the classic Whiz Bang, but worth checking out.  |  IP: Logged Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 02-26-2005 11:11 PM                     I've had a Gold Medal Antique Citation for 9 years with a 14oz kettle for my two screen theatre (302 seats and 138 seats). Have never run out of popcorn yet. So I agree with the others that 12oz kettle is plenty for your theatre. It would be a good idea to check with GM on the parts. All my dealings with the techs in Cincinnati have been very good. They so far have always had parts for my popper in stock.  |  IP: Logged John Hegel Expert Film Handler Posts: 166 From: Lake Mills, Iowa Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-27-2005 05:52 PM                        Speaking of old parts. Has anyone seen or heard of any Manley kettles on the market?  |  IP: Logged Justin West Master Film Handler Posts: 271 From: Peoria, IL, USA Registered: Jul 2001 posted 02-28-2005 12:05 AM                     quote: John Hegel Has anyone seen or heard of any Manley kettles on the market? John: Check with Sonic Equipment in Iola, KS: http://www.sonicequipment.com/  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 02-28-2005 12:25 AM                     Manley's can cook circles around Cretors, in my book. I've never seen a better built popper, especially the large cabinet versions. Granted, they were a toughie to work on, but can they cook! - Monte  |  IP: Logged

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