Popcorn was first made by the indigenous peoples of the Americas thousands of years ago. Maize, from which popcorn is made, was first grown in Ancient Mexico.
The first working popcorn machine was invented and patented by Charles Cretors in 1885 and since then, popcorn has become one of the world’s most popular snack foods.
Which brings us to the matter of the modern day popcorn machine. In this article, we will look at, and compare, two popular models, the Nostalgia Popcorn Maker and the Olde Midway Vintage Style Popcorn Machine.
Both of these machines look like vintage machines for commercial street vendors, although the promotional materials show each of them in a domestic setting. They are primarily designed to be used in the home, particularly by someone who is into popcorn making, although they could be used in a commercial setting, e.g. by a commercial vendor who wants a colorful, attention grabbing machine to perhaps sell popcorn as a side product; for a full- time commercial vendor, a larger, more powerful popcorn maker would be needed.
Features
First of all, the generic features of both machines. Both are available in black and red, both of them have a “retro” or ”vintage” look to them, the Olde Midway more so in my opinion. Both machines have 8 ounce kettles, but the Olde Midway gives a choice of other size kettles, see below.
Here are the individual features of the respective machines:
Nostalgia Popcorn Maker:
Only an 8-ounce popcorn kettle;
Is supplied with a measuring cup, an oil measuring cup and a popcorn scoop, all made of plastic;
Only one side shelf;
Measures 53.5” H, 17.5” W and 24.5” D.
Has two control switches, for warmer and kettle;
Power lead is plugged in under the kettle, which looked a bit awkward and unsafe, especially if the kettle is still hot;
Door is fitted on with screwed hinges, and is opened with a handle;
Expensive if bought new; can get lower prices if bought used.
Olde-Midway-Vintage-Popcorn-Machine:
Gives you a choice of 6, 8 and 10- ounce popcorn kettles;
Is supplied with a set of stainless steel utensils, a scoop. Small spoon, measuring cup and a salt shaker with a handle.
This model has two side shelves, giving you a bit more space for preparing the popcorn after roasting
Measures 60.5” H, 27” W and 15.75” D.
Has three control switches, for warmer, kettle and stirrer;
Power lead is plugged into the inside top of the cabinet, which looked easier and safer;
Door can be easily lifted on and off of slotted hinges, and is closed with a magnetic latch;
A plus, this model has instructions on the front of the door in case you lose the instruction booklet;
Overall, I thought this model was a bit more user friendly, instruction booklet seemed good, easy to set up, door is easy to open and close.
Also expensive if new, but I thought better value for money due to ease of assembly and use, and extra features.
Who should buy it
Families, particularly parents of children who love popcorn; most children would, I think, be delighted with the look of either of the machines. The Olde Midway particularly has a vintage cinema popcorn machine look;
Excellent for people who want to invite friends around for a mini film or sports event night in their home in front of a big screen TV, helps to create a cinema atmosphere;
Designed as a novelty item for the home, but could I think be suitable for a commercial vendor who wishes to sell popcorn only as a side product, e.g. a vendor who mainly sells candy or ice cream. I think it will be better if the vendor is working in an enclosed shopping mall, I don’t think these types of machines would be good if exposed to the elements, though I did think that the Olde Midway looked a bit more robust than the Nostalgia.
May also appeal to individuals or groups organizing social events, e.g. charity and fundraising events.
What do people say on Social Media?
No reviews on Facebook, mostly adverts or links to Amazon videos.
Amazon reviews are really mixed, some customers seem happy with this model, other customers have issues with it. One customer described it as awesome, another reported problems with the assembly and handling; one customer said it worked like a charm, another reported that it arrived with scratches and dents. An Australian customer noted the power incompatibility. (110 volts)
There is a short video dated 30th January 2022 that shows a customer, Ricardo Camargo Ortiz, unpacking, assembling and using this model.
There are two videos on You Tube, the Nostalgia Popcorn Maker Review by Tailgating Challenge, 2 minutes plus long, and the Nostalgia 8 oz Popcorn and Concession Cart (Review) by Check This Out Cooking and More, this second video is really good, 17 minutes plus long and goes into a lot of detail.
The reviews that I read on www.bestbuy.com were nearly all positive, only a couple that I came across were negative, one customer said that the unit was difficult to clean and that the light didn’t remain on when taking out popcorn.
Again, only links to videos on Facebook, no reviews.
Generally, very good reviews on Amazon, most customers seemed to really like it, the negatives were minor, e.g. one customer thought it was expensive considering the slide down tray, which she didn’t think was good.
Another customer stated that the after purchase customer service was bad, no response to a complaint about a cracked glass door.
There is a good video on YouTube, A Vintage Style Olde Midway Popcorn Machine by Rick Mammana, 17 minutes long and goes into detail, showing the unpacking, setting up and operation. This shows that it comes well-packaged.
- POPCORN CAPACITY: Whether movie time or snack time, this vintage popcorn machine stand pops up to 32 cups of...
- KITS AND SUPPLIES: All Nostalgia popcorn kits work with this popcorn popper machine. Try the Theater Hot Air &...
- LARGE KETTLE: The stainless steel kettle holds 8 ounces of popcorn kernels and is designed with a built-in...
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
Researching these machines has given me an insight into how popcorn machines work, and it was very interesting.
In the end, after reading all the reviews I could find and watching several videos, I was left with a preference for the Olde Midway popcorn machine, especially after watching the Rick Mamma video; it just looks more robust than the Nostalgia, and more user friendly to set up. I would definitely go for this model if I was going to get one of these machines for a fun cinema or sports night in with friends.
Both models retail new at around the same price. I would personally regard the Olde Midway as better value for money; but that is only my opinion.
- Convenient cart & stainless steel accessories: Cart features large 16", bicycle-style, ball-bearing wheels for...
- Top quality: Fashioned with authentic antique style updated with modern features, this attractive popcorn...
- Easy, 2-switch design: Operation is simple with a 2-switch design, making popping fast and convenient....
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
