“Bares for Rares”: Iconic chewing gum dispenser triggers a bidding war

“Bares for Rares”
A cult chewing gum dispenser triggers a bidding war

Sven Deutschmanek didn’t like the chewing gum from the old dispenser. Instead, several dealers bit at “Bares for Rares” and offered the machine.

Sven Deutschmanek examines an old chewing gum machine in the expert room of “Bares for Rares”. When Horst Lichter enters the studio, Deutschmanek offers him a red ball. But the moderator refuses: “I’m not allowed to.” In response to the astonished question of his counterpart, Lichter explains: “I have third teeth. They are not fixed yet.”

So the chewing gum disappears into Deutschmanek’s mouth, but only for a fraction of a second. The expert spits it out straight away – a good decision. Because when Julia Völpel, the owner of the machine, enters the room, the two gentlemen learn that the chewing gum is probably 60 years old. The 38-year-old teacher from Ammerbuch bought the device 20 years ago at a classic car festival in Hesse.

“Bares for Rares”: Great interest in the dealer room

As Deutschmanek explains, the machine was originally filled with candied peanuts. It is a US model, made in Texas, and raises money for two non-profit organizations: the Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club. The expert dates the time of origin to the 1950s.

Völpel would like 350 euros for their rarity. But the expertise brings a small damper: Sven Deutschmanek estimates the value at only 200 to 250 euros.

The saleswoman still wants to try her luck in the dealer’s room – and is rewarded: the chewing gum machine is actually met with great enthusiasm there: “Cool,” exclaims Julian Schmitz-Avila when he sees the device. He also starts with 50 euros, but is clearly outbid in the next step by Christian Vechtel, who triples it to 150 euros.

Almost all dealers bid, and so the price climbs to exactly the amount that Julia Völpel wanted: Vechtel ultimately paid 350 euros for it. The seller now wants to use the proceeds to go to a festival – “and let it rip again”.

source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library

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