Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 12oz. or 14oz. popper???

This is topic 12oz. or 14oz. popper??? in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=001366

Posted by Dan Chilton (Member # 2288) on 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?

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 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! [Smile]

Posted by Dan Chilton (Member # 2288) on 02-24-2005, 04:06 PM:

Thanks Floyd! [thumbsup]

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 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

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 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.

Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 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.

Posted by Dan Chilton (Member # 2288) on 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?

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 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.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 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?

Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 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.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 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.

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 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.

Posted by John Hegel (Member # 628) on 02-27-2005, 05:52 PM:

Speaking of old parts.

Has anyone seen or heard of any Manley kettles on the market?

Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 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/

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 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