Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Coke Machine Vendo V125

I'm in the middle of restoring a Tokheim 39 pump and an Eco Islander which will be placed in a room with a 50's diner/gas station type theme. One item I have been on the lookout for is a Coke machine. I've run across a Vendo V125 that I can get for (what I think is) a good price. It looks to be in very good cosmetic condition, but needs some work on the cooling unit. Its an "A" model and looks like the one at the top of this page http://soda-machines.com/machines/vendo/v125_5.html
Anyway, my question is: Would this look out of place? I would really rather have a Vendo 44, but finding one for a good price is rather hard. I only have several days to decide on the V125 as the owner needs it moved quickly. Any input is welcomed.

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Bobbie Martin

Bobbie,

Here's my opinion since I have a game room and gas stuff.

First off I'm hoping that you're getting the V125 pretty cheap. I have had the opportunity to pick up two of these for free and have passed because I didn't want to spend the $300-400. to fix the compressor on a machine that currently isn't worth that much. However I do own a can machine of similar vintage that came painted in a 50's color scheme and it looks great and works well in my situation (Did not want glass bottles in the game room).

If you really want the look of the 50's I would hold out for a Vendo 44, 81 or 80 or I think a 56 0r 65 (can't remember which #).

Long term these will hold their value better. The newer bottle and can machines may come around in time but so far, at least around here, they just aren't worth that much.

Let's see what some of the other Coke guys think???

My opinion is that the coke machine is a bit too new to match the 39. I would hold out for the earlier Coke machine. MY 2 cents Ted

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Ted Pam & Ethyl Roach
Lodi CA.
Home of Roach & Darnell Texaco 1952 -1963 & Richfield Arco 1963 - 1972
pca-west.org
vintage-logos

BOBBIE MARTIN, JUST MY OPINION, STAY AWAY FROM THE V 125. THEY ARE NOT THAT COLLECTABLE. TOO BIG, HEVEY, AND BULKY. LOOK FOR A VENDO 81 OR VENDERLATOR 33 BOTH NICE COKE MACHINES,AND THEY ARE NOT THAT HARD TO FIND. THE 44 IS NICE, BUT, PRICEY. AND BESIDES, THEY DO-NOT HOLD 12OZ. LONGNECKS LIKE THE 33, OR 81. LOOK ON E-BAY.
HAPPY HUNTING........
JOE

One of the best buys out there is a slider. Remember you put the money in slid the bottle over and pulled it out.
They are very easy to restore as they have very few parts.
For a cost of parts for just about any machine check out: http://www.thesodajerkworks.com/
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identificastion book www.crspub.com

Just my .02 worth, I agree with the consensus, not that old,big and not really an attractive design. 40-50.00$ in working condition. I left my last 125 on the parking lot at the last Goodguys swap meet I attended, and it worked! I had sold everything else and just didnt want to drag it home.

Thanks for all the replies. That is what I was thinking, but sometimes it helps to hear it from someone else. I'll keep looking.

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Bobbie Martin

Bobbie,

Here's what you need to get. It keeps my rodeo pop cold and it serves as a nice frig for keeping potato salad and stuff cold at family get togethers.



Mac

Mac,
That looks great. Is that a repo or a restored unit?

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Bobbie Martin

That's the real deal! (Nice job too).

You can tell by the embossing on the Coke Script, etc.. I also have a cooler in my Texaco gas station outside. Mine was more generic than Macs and I had it painted and added the Fishtail coke logo and a sprite boy decal. Cheap resto and easy to get a coke out of (just lift the lid). I didn't even put the compressor back in it, I just use ice when we want to cool the drinks.

Here are some pictures of my Coke machine and boxes.

First the can machine, which is like the one you are looking at. This shows what you can do with one of these square can machines. If I would have had to pay for the paint job, etc. I would have had too much money into it, but I got it as is for a decent price and I prefer the cans in the game room.



This is my Coke chest in the service station which was just a generic cooler that I added some vinyl graphics and Coke decals to.



Here is the smaller version of the script box like Mac shows. This is a nice size if you don't have a lot of room. Can be filled with ice when you want to use it rather than running the compressor all of the time (which can suck a lot of electricity). Bought this with some signs recently and needs a restoration.



That's probably more Coke machine info than you wanted.

The chest type coolers may be just what I need and be more practical as well. I have seen the reproduction Westinghouse Jr. units and they look very good in the photos. Anyone have one?

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Bobbie Martin

[This message has been edited by bobbiemartin (edited 08-29-2005).]

[This message has been edited by bobbiemartin (edited 08-29-2005).]

if you want a upright round top machine the Vendo 39, 44, 56, 81 are the ones to go with at this time I have 9 machines. if you have any questions oe locate a machine missing parts feel free to email me. I know a ton of people who collect, restore, and actually who have made their careers in these machines. That Westinghouse Junior repo is a excellent little chest I plan on buying one in the near future for my kitchen. Heres a couple pics of my Vendo 81D me and a buddy just finished the paint work last night. It still needs alot of work but its gonna be a killer piece when its done.





Joey

Bobbie...bearing in mind that my catalog sells the New Westinghouse Jr's, I will try and be objective. THEY ARE REALLY NICE!!
I've had several restored & unrestored originals, and though I'm sure an "expert" could tell the difference, I can't. They come in both refridgerated & ice-chest models, they have the bottle opener & catcher, they are completely embossed, the liner is spot-on...there's really nothing bad I can say about them. As for the performance, we've sold 50+ of the ref. units with no complaints as of yet. I own one personally and my whole family really digs it. For some folks, new reproductions just don't fit with their scheme of things, but I can tell you for the cost ($695 + $75 s/h) you will be hard- pressed to by an unrestored original, let alone one that you can plug in & enjoy right away.

...my best Christmas ever was 1983...age 15, I woke that morning to hear The Police's latest album 'Synchronicity' playing on a brand new JCPenney console stereo! Lasted me through college, and the last thing to break was the 8-track player!!...anyway, after the general unwrapping and chaos (see 'A Christmas Story' for visuals) my Old Man tells me to get Mom a glass of OJ...so I take the long way around to the kitchen, and return the same way. Upon my return, Dad frowns, and says "now go get ME an OJ, and go the OTHER way, through the dining room"...I go, somewhat confused...


....until I see a VMC 33 Coke machine - purring away - full of 6 1/2 oz. Cokes, with a yellow Coke case half full on the floor, and a large Coke Santa Claus standing next to it, that Dad had gotten at the local bottler...HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA...wish I had a picture of the expression on my face at that moment...

...found out later that the folks had gotten the machine, all original and working (to this day!) for the princely sum of $165 - and from a antique store right on US 301 no less!!

...best Christmas EVER...!