"!!! www.antiquevending.com : info@antiquevending.com : phone 828-962-9783 : "
SALES AND RESTORATION OF ALL BRANDS AND MODELS OF VINTAGE SODA MACHINES -
"sell the best and service the rest"
THE VENDORLATOR 27 PIPESTAND EDITION
VENDORLATOR is not to be confused with the Vendo Company. The Vendorlator Manufacturing Company (VMC) was located in Fresno, California. They emerged from WWII as a strong competitor to companies such as Mills and Jacobs, with their upright Model 242. While advertising by the company, dated 1948, claimed that the Model 242 was "backed by 13 years of field testing" it is their post-war machines that are collectible today. Large models like the 242 were good sellers for the company, over 4,000 units were in 1946 alone.
The year 1948 saw Vendorlator introduce one of the smallest Coke machines ever. The VMC 27 measured 23" x 27" x 19" deep and weighed less than 100 pounds. It was advertised initially to sit on a counter or hang on the wall. A progression of stands was later made for the machine to sit on and offered as an option (a tube-type was available from Vendorlator for $12.50). Also optional was a coin changer kit for returning a nickel change when a dime was used. The immediate popularity of the 27 prompted Vendorlator to open a third plant in Picqua, Ohio in April, 1949, in addition to the two plants they already had in Fresno. Vending only 27 six ounce bottles arranged in a rotating drum, two bottles in each of fourteen compartments less one, this machine ws best suited for low traffic areas. The fact that the cabinet of this machine was made of aluminum (although steel versions were also made) helps to explain why this model is often found with dents, particularly around the bottle chute where someone tried to coax out a stubborn bottle.
It was right about January, 1950 that Vendorlator began selling the VMC Dual 27. This extremely small upright machine used the same vending mechanism as the countertop Model 27 but had a 27 bottle pre-cool capacity, hence, the designation "Dual 27." It also used a more conventional arrangement for the refrigeration unit with the condenser housed in the bottom of the machine. Its new found popularity led to the discontinuance of the 27 about a year later. Subsequently, the Dual 27 was dropped from Vendorlator's line by 1954 and replaced by the Model 33, with a slightly modified bottle drum allowing for six more bottle capacity. The physical size was he same as the Dual 27 with the only outside distiquishing feature being a one piece coin door, although two piece "split door" versions are also known.
1956 was the year of the white-top color scheme for coolers and Vendorlator was no exception. This was the year that was "out with the old and in with the new." All of the previously mentioned models had been dropped and replaced by, among others, the VMC 340, advertised as "the world's largest and fastest coin-cooler," and the VMC 44, certainly one of the smallest ever. The only real distinquishing feature is the absence of the chrome coin bezel which was part of the Vendo model. In fact, there are serial plates on some of the machines stating that they were being made under license to each other.
It is interesting to note that while the Vendo Company only made machines embossed (for the most part) with the Coca-Cola logo, Vendorlator did not follow such exclusiveness. Their machines are found with the 7 UP as well as Pepsi-Cola logo, among others, giving them broader collector appeal
" VENDORLATOR COCA COLA COKE 27 PIPESTAND SODA MACHINE RESTORATION "
42. MOVIE of the restored Coca Cola / Vendorlator 27 on a pipe stand - Click Here !"
43. MOVIE of the restored Coca Cola / Vendorlator 27 on a pipe stand - Click Here !"
Why do we Chrome what we Chrome? These machines came from the factory 50
years ago with galvanized inside parts. Galvanized parts tend to pick up dirt
and turn black over time. When a machine is restored you can
1). Leave the parts in their natural state.
2). Paint the parts with a Hammertone spray paint. This will wear off
over time and look worse than the unpainted galvanized parts.
3). Plate or Powdercoat the parts in a dull hammertone finish.
Powdercoating is better than painting because it is harder to scratch.
4). Powdercoat the parts in a chrome finish instead of a hammertone. We
like this better, because the chrome powdercoat seems to be even slicker than
the hammertone powdercoat finish and easier to clean.
5). Chrome the parts. We love this and prefer it! Chrome is harder to
scratch and looks a world better than powdercoat. Chrome will outlast plated
parts behind the coin door. We figure chrome was invented in the 50's and
powdercoat was not. Given the choice of powdercoating a galvanized part or
chroming a galvanized part, We like Chrome!
Victor, Westinghouse, Cavalier, Etc all had different versions of their
vintage soda machines. You find chest coolers with chrome handles and black
plastic handles. You find Victor bars with stainless doors and black doors. You
find chest coolers with stainless steel kick plates and some chest coolers that
were shipped without them. The reason these machines were produced with extra
chrome and extra stainless on them was to make them more desirable. Get the
customers attention and get more sales!
We understand that it cost more to chrome these Parts. Our company
maintains a low overhead and we can include this in the restoration of our
vintage soda machines and still manage to keep our Best Restoration Price below
our competitor's price.
Does Chrome increase the value of a Soda Machine? Chrome is the most
expensive finish you can put on a metal part, unless you plan to have it gold or
silver plated. Chrome is durable and out shines all the rest. Go try to buy a
Chevrolet or Ford Truck and tell the sales person to toss in the Chrome package
for the front of your new Vehicle for free. You can't buy a Lincoln Truck for
the same price as a Ford F150. Nine out of every 10 callers that contact our
company to have their vintage machine restored, always choose the chrome
package. The Automobile industry knows that more chrome increases sales and so
do we! Our customers also prefer our real reproduction stainless molding over
the plastic chrome 5/8 inch chome stick on tape. That is why we use the real
stainless on our machines.
