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SALES AND RESTORATION OF ALL BRANDS AND MODELS OF VINTAGE SODA MACHINES -


"sell the best and service the rest"


In their role as the world's largest manufacturer of coin-operated machines, the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago, Illinois, played a significant part in the evolution of Coke machines. While the other manufacturers were busy building chest coolers, Mills signed an agreement with Coca-Cola to produce a standing dry vendor for bottles around 1935. Their first machine, the Model 47, was the first stand-up dry automatic cooler for Coca Cola. This machine dispensed bottles with no lever manipulation, knob turning or handle pulling whatever. Like the other products they built, the Mills coolers were an engineering achievement incorporating design features of unparalleled excellence. The frames were handcrafted of walnut shrouded in twenty-two gauge sheet metal. Their compressors were designed to do the stiffest job of commercial refrigeration, possessing the qualities of excessive strength , accuracy of performance and interchangeability of parts. Rather they spent a half million dollars to tool their own plant and built the best, regardless of cost.


The Model 47 and subsequent improved models, 47A, 47B, and 47N, all used a dispensing mechanism consisiting of a motorized conveyor having two endless chains on which were hung the bottle cradles. The Model 47 actually has a bottle capacity of 104 bottles in conveyor and 22 bottles in pre-cool. The Model 98 is the same as the 47 except for a sub or precooling base which accommodates 106 bottles in reserve. Both of these models are characterized by their "cathedral" crown which housed the compressor unit and their distinctive red and green Duco baked enamel finish. Production of these two models ran from 1936 - 1939.


The model Mills 98A is similar to the 98 with one notable improvement. The Model 98 used a dual expansion refrigeration system which improved freezing one coil in a 20 pound block of ice to aid the other coil from the condenser. This system was replaced by the now conventional single coil system on the 98A. Production of this model ran from 1939-1943. The Model 47N and the 98A are the same machine - the only difference is the sub or pre-cooling base on the 98A. The compressor is housed on top of the machine in the "cathedral" crown. Production of this model ran through the war years until 1945.


The Model 47A, 1938-1941, was smaller than it's predecessor holding only 60 bottles in conveyor with the same 42 bottles pre-cool capacity. The compressor was moved from the top of the machine to the bottom. The Model 47B picked up where the 47A ended. Because it is the same size as the 47A, but also has all the design improvements of that time, it is the most collectible of the model 47 series.


Probably the most sought after and desirable of all the pre-war Mills vendors is the Model 45. Made for only two years, 1941 and 1942, the Model 45 is commonly called the "baby Mills." It has a small capacity of only 26 bottles with 26 more in pre-cool. Unlike the earlier conveyor style mechanisms, the 45 uses two gravity feed rotating drums to dispense the bottles. The compressor unit is located in the bottom of the machine and easily serviced by removal of the lower front panel. The curved front door to the machine is often found dented, due in part to the coin mechanism used. A coin jam required another coin to clear the mechanism which resulted in several swift kicks to the machine in the event the customer did not have a second coin.


The end of WWII saw the beginning of a new era for Mills Coke machines. First, the company changed their name to Mills Industries, dropping the Novelty part. The second change was a switch to the more simplistic all red color scheme being used by the other manufacturers on their machines. Two models were built by the company from 1946 to 1953. The Mills Model 120 was certainly one of the largest Coke machines of its day. It stood 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 620 pounds. The Model 65, on the other hand, was a mere 67 inches high. Unlike the pre-war machines, the model numbers of these two indicate the vending capacity. Early 120 models have a distinctive Coke bottle displayed through plexiglas in the front cabinet door. Some very early 120 models also incorporated and unusual circular glass window on the outside cabinet door in which nickels would drop into view as they were deposited. Undoubtedly, this feature was a design concept borrowed from the slot machine division but quickly dropped from production presumably due to vandalism. For unmatched excellence in design and workmanship, the Mills machines are especially noteworthy. From a historical standpoint, they are a pioneering achievement in automatic vending, years before the industry came to realize its potential. Above Description Courtesy Steve Ebner ~ Fun Tronics.











"!!! CLICK THE COLORED TEXT BELOW TO VIEW EACH PHOTO - THESE PHOTOS ARE CLEAR AND CRISP !!!"




"!!! COCA COLA COKE MILLS NOVELTY COMPANY - MODEL MILLS 45 WEB PAGE !!!"






1. Back side of Cast Metal Bottle shute - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - CLICK HERE !"






2.The cabinet of this machine is wood - This photo shows the wire junction block after being rewired - the original relay's and switches were restored and returned to the machine because this vendor is so very rare. RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills "- CLICK HERE !"






3. Shows one of the original inside door latches after restoration - One of these handles was missing from the machine when we restored it so we has a new latch hand fabricated to match - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






4. Original Hindges on the left were chromed - Original door schematic was recreated exactly from an original and returned to the restored wooden door - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






5. Because this Coin Mechanism was so very rare - It was not plated - Each piece of the Coin Mechanism was removed and polished out by hand to its original new finish - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






6. Main Door hindges were chromed and returned to the wooden door with stainless screws - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






7. Hindge to far right was fabricated and installed to support outer shell of machine RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






8. We were able to save this original wooden cabinet door hindge - When machine was found the hand hold was broken off and missing - using a complete handle as a pattern, a local metal working shop - hand carved a new hand hold out of identical metals and secured it to the original left side of the broken bracket to make this customer a complete handle which is over 70% original to the machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






9. The lower part of the Cabinet is wood and was refabricated at a local wood shop for this machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






10. Shows lower left of cabinet which was refabricated out of wood - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






11. The original bezels for these Mills machines were gray from the factory- We had these outer bezels chromed - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






12.Locks are no longer available for the Mills machines - this machine was missing its door lock completely - Funtronics produces a cam lock which we purchased and mounted in a hand fabricated chrome cover plate - the rear cam was also fabricated by hand, and now this cabinet door locks and unlocks fine and has two keys for the door. RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






13. Yellow script was screenprinted on the lower door - Original Stainless coin entry bezel was polished out - It has a 5 cent embossed in it - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






14.Shows main door of machine - Drink Coca Cola was screen printed back the front in white and black - which was requested by the customer - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






15.Shows cabinet before restoration - Sides were removed from the machine and refabricated - Photo shows wooden framework behind metal panels - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"







16.shows bottom of cabinet after rack was removed - the metal bottle catcher in the center of the machine actually has a glass mercury switch attached to it - When the coin is dropped in the slot - the rack motor starts its rotation - When the bottle drops in to the lower cradle the mercury switch stops the rack motor - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






17. The Old Casting was cleaned and Chromed - These old castings from these early mills are unlike the castings of a westinghouse 42t or Vendo 81 - the primitive casting method used in the 1930's shows yields a casted piece with small imperfections - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






18. shows the old hard fiber-glass insullation found in the back of the machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






19. RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






20. Cool photo of the unrestored refrigeration system of a Mills 45 - These refrigeration systems were produced by Mills in their own factory - I was told that it cost Mills around 39,000 dollars in the 1930's to tool up a plant and produce their own refrigeration systems - the compressor is embossed MILLS on the side and the condensor fan it turned by a belt driven motor - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






21. Shows the side of the machine in red and Green with the screen printed Drink Coca Cola on the front of the machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






22. Front view of machine door with screen printing - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






23. New stainless door hindge was installed on this machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






24. The rack drive motor of this machine requires oil every 6 months - we included a new oiler for this customer and instructions on how to properly care for his vintage vendor - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






25.The inner walls of this malls came from the factory painted a brown tan color - so we replaced the panels with a new metal liner and then created copper inserts to cover the inside walls of the metal liner - The copper inserts were clear-coated so they will always retain their beautiful shine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






26.Shows new Copper liner and original and original hand run refrigeration evaporator - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






27.Shows lower portion of Mills 45 with main door and wood door open - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






28. Shows restored Empty lens - this lens is available from fun tronics - your source for COCA COLA BRAND DECALS - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






29. Great photo of restored Mills 45 - this photo show why these 1940's vendors are in such demand - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






30. shows front of machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






31. Front View RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






32. Front View RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






33. Shows Door open - bottle oil rest in door for rack drive motor - every 6 months - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






34.Coin Mechanism - Polished to new finish - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






35.Shows the Door schematic recreated for this machine and placed on the wooden door behind the main door - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






36. Shows machine wooden door latch handle RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






37.shows front view of machine with metal outer door open RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






38.Shows front view of machine with outer metal door open and inner wooden door open RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






39. Notice the reproduction metal back applied to the inner metal door RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






40.Shows restored evaporator fan motor - square motor - we decided to save it since it was so rare and it was square RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






41.Check out this screen printed logo - NO DECALS - NO HAND LETTERING RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






42. SHOWS CLOSE UP OF FRONT DOOR RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






43.back was missing for this machine - we had an original back to copy - and we decided to put perforated metal inside it - instead of chicken wire which was found in the original piece - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"







44. Shows back of unrestored Mills 45 RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






45.Shows inside of unrestored rack of Mills 45 RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE -Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






46. Great Nasty Photo of what this Mills machine looked like before we restored it - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






47. Shows same photo after the copper liner was added and the original hand turned evaporator was hung back inside the machine RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






48. Wooden Cabinet after restortion - New Copper inserts are added to cooler - and lower mechanism is installed RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






49. wire block before restoration RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






50. Inside the cabinet before restoration - Old brown metal lines the inner cabinet - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






51. Top is removed from unrestored cabinet RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






52. Killer photo of machine stripped down to its wood frame - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






53. Hey Baby! - THERE IS NOTHING LEFT! RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






54.Reproduced panels are test fitted to the wooden shell - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






55.Unrestored Mills 45 - painted red by some local bottling company in Charlotte n.c. RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






56. Unrestored Mills 45 inside - notice the lower handle is broke off - this handle was later hand restored - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






57. unrestored photo RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






58. unrestored photo of coin mechanism RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"








59. Coca Cola Script - everything done with paint by a screenprint -no hand lettering - no decal - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






60. close up of Coca Cola RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






61. Close up of Coke Logo RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






62. Shows back side of new sides before liner was installed and copper was installed RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






63. Rack close up - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






64. Inside liner close up - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






65.Check out the tag on top of the motor - this motor also was produced by Mills Novelty Company - It is priceless and should never be separated from the machine - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE -Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"






66. Front door has just come from the paint shop - RARE MILLS MODEL 45 COCA COLA MACHINE - Red and Green Coca Cola Coke Mills 45 produced - produced 1941 to 1942 termed the "baby Mills " CLICK HERE !"




67. Chrome Hindge on Wooden Door on Rare Mills model 45!




68. Reproduced Stainless Surround for Mills Model 45 to accomidate Reproduction Lock and Key from Fun-Tronics- Click here!




69. Rare Model 45 Mills Our Company Restored- NO DECALS!




70. Rare Model 45 Mills Our Company Restored and Shipped with Oiler and service manual - All inside painted parts are Wood and Copper as seen in photo"




71. Sides were reproduced exactly like original sides and reattached to restored wooden frame of Mills 45 for painting- Click here!




72. Mills 45 Logo restored using original process- NO DECALS!




73. Mills 45 Logo restored using paint only - same process as 60 years ago"




74. Extremely Rare Vending Motor on Mills 45 was restored down to the tag and returned to the machine - Click here!




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