1952 Vendo V-39 Coke Machine

[74-911]

Decided to resurrect my old Vendo Coke Machine. Wife gave it to me in1986 for my birthday and it was in constant use from then until the early 2000's. Since then it has been in garage covered by a heavy moving blanket. The machine was completely original except for a new compressor and new door gasket installed in 1995 or '96.
During storage I did plug it in somewhat regularly and let it run for a while to be sure it still got cold.

This past week I cleaned it up as best as I could, replaced all the gaskets in the door and cabiniet, put new insulation in the door. insulated the copper tubing and replaced all the screws with new SS screws. I will eventually replace the insulation in the cabinet but that is a major operation. It now at the second lowest thermostat setting keeps the temp. at a nice 38-40 degrees F and is producing very little condensate.

Replacing gaskets, door insulation:



Ready to close up:



Final product:

[Scott Douglas]

That's cool, both literally and figuratively.
Nice work.

[Bill Douglas]

It shows the quality of the engineering to have lasted that long.

Plus it sure is cool 'n groovy.

[rusnak]

They were a local Fresno company. I think the Japanese bought them in the 90s. I sold a custom house to the guy who managed the Vendo plant, probably around '97 or so. They invited me over for a beer.

[pete3799]

I remember that machine. Coke's cost a dime.

[stevej37]

After paying, does the bottle emerge standing upright?....I don't remember.
Trying to figure out how it would from the first two pics.

[RWebb]

a beauty!


can it dispense beer bottles?

[Sooner or later]

back in the 70's I had a round top one that dispensed for a nickle.

Filled it with beer.

[asphaltgambler]

I'm so jealous....

[74-911]

Originally Posted by stevej37

After paying, does the bottle emerge standing upright?....I don't remember.
Trying to figure out how it would from the first two pics.

If you will notice in the 2nd pic, there are 3 holes in the door liner. The bottle holders in the rotating drum are all offset in a pattern. As the drum rotates, one of the bottle holders in the drum will line up with one of the holes in the door, you just open the outer door and pull out the bottle by the bottle cap. You can see 2 other bottles but they are not lined up with the holes enough to pull out.

The drum rotates purely by the weight of the cokes as loaded in the drum via a ratchet mechanism. There are specific instructions on how to load the machine printed on the inner door liner . When you insert a dime, you push down the handle by the coin slot which operates the ratchet mechanism which allows the drum to turn one click to dispense one bottle. Really a very simple yet ingenious system.

I remembered these from when I was a kid, they were everywhere. This machine takes a dime but per the manual, there was also a kit for taking nickels. When I first got the machine I was buying the 6 oz returnables directly off a Coca Cola truck. When they no longer were available in our area (don't remember just when) I used the 8 oz non-returnables which is what I still use. It only cost a dime now to get a bottle of coke which costs around 90 cents.. such a deal.

Unfortunately will not take beer, only the small coke bottles....

[stevej37]

Ok...thanks! Very cool!

I remember a local store in the 60's that had a Coke Cooler that was a chest type.
After inserting your money...you had to slide the bottle along the neck carrier to release it.

[Zeke]

I have the exact same one. Got it about 10 years ago along with a 1964 Wurlitzer jukebox — stereo and the last year for twin tube amps if I'm correct.

Paid $500 for the Coke machine. It had been repainted and the color is a tick off as well as a little too much orange peel, which I could easily correct but run the risk off over correcting as they weren't show pieces to begin with. The hand lettering is not as good as the original.

To see one today done with 2-stage paint is just awful.

All original inside and working with I assume the old ammonia refrigerant. I did put a proper grounded power cord on the thing as it would buzz you lightly if touching in bare feet on concrete. It probably wouldn't work on a GFCI.

We don't use it as I think it's a power hog.

Incidentally, I have seen specialist do the hand painted highlights of the white
coke logo with a striping brush. That's correct restoration.

[gtc]

Originally Posted by 74-911

...
Unfortunately will not take beer, only the small coke bottles....

Have you tried the 7oz Corona bottles?

[Zeke]

The small Coke bottles (real glass) are available widespread. They aren't a bargain, for sure, but what's a Coke machine w/o some Cokes in it?

[billybek]

I had a RC Cola sliding bottle machine for quite a while. Had a coin mechanism that took quarters.
Held bottled beer very well and kept my friends from drinking my beer without compensation.
Your Coke machine is way cooler!

[plain fan]

Originally Posted by 74-911

...Unfortunately will not take beer, only the small coke bottles....

Couldn't you brew your own beer and bottle in the appropriate size bottle?