Popcorn Museum Features Amazing Machines

Popcorn Museum Features Amazing Machines AG WORLD 33-4-23 The Holcomb & Hoke popcorn machines in Jim Fentress's popcorn museum don't just pop corn. Gates open, signs rotate, conveyor belts roll, and finger-like devices spin. Rube Goldberg would love the machines and so did Fentress when he bought his first machine from a friend. Then he bought a few old popcorn boxes to match, then another machine, and another. Today Fentress has 35 popcorn machines and is a sought after expert about Holcomb & Hoke Mfg, the Indianapolis, Ind., company that made them. His museum in Holland, Ohio, attracts visitors and collectors from all over the U.S., Canada and England. "I always fire a machine up for tours, just because they are neat to watch," Fentress says. "The appeal is universal for kids and adults." In their day - from 1913 until 1934 - Holcomb & Hoke popcorn poppers were on the expensive side, at about $1,000 or the same price as some Sears and Roebuck pre-packaged homes. Besides popcorn - and an optional peanut roaster - H&H machines were well constructed with mahogany and oak wood, lots of shiny nickel, and glass that allowed customers to view the machine in motion. "This was a dry pop machine, so there's no odor from lard and no smoke," Fentress explains. "It made very clean popcorn since it was never touched by hands. It's all enclosed in glass. Butter-Kist popcorn machines - so named because every kernel was mechanically and uniformly æKist' with pure creamery butter - became hugely popular in theaters, five-and-dime stores, hotel lobbies and numerous other local businesses." Prior to the late 1920's, popcorn machines were outside of theaters because of their smell. Machines like the H&H made it possible to bring popcorn - and high profit margins - inside the theater. Most of the machines ran on electricity, though there were also gas options. Because they were expensive, H&H offered payment on credit - only the second company ever to do so. Fentress purchased company literature and the prototype of the popcorn machine invented by Dan Talbert to add to his 2,000 sq. ft. museum. In addition to machines, he has 300 popcorn boxes, 200 popcorn tins, burlap bags that hang from the ceiling, 100 advertising pieces, and peanut roasters. About 95 percent of the items are from H&H. "My goal is to get each model and each variation. When I bought the old advertising, I found there were machines I didn't have," Fentress says. One of his favorite poppers is a 1919 H&H that he believes is the most complete model in existence. "It has a rotating sign, an optional peanut roaster and vendor, the original franchise agreement with it and official store sign. It's 100 percent original," Fentress says. Fentress, a semi-retired construction worker, offers tours by reservation. There is no charge, but he accepts freewill donation. And yes, popcorn comes with the tour. "Everybody likes it," Fentress says. "It's similar to air popper popcorn. Most people comment on how tender it is." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Fentress, 7922 Hill Ave., Holland, Ohio 43528 (ph 419 308-4812; www.antique popcornmuseum.com).

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