Vendo 39

[BrianS]

What do you guys think of this 39?  It is pretty filthy on the inside, few minor dents, and missing the vending crank handle.  Been sitting in a shed for a long time and full of spider webs and mud dobber nests, but the body looks pretty solid and the Owner is confident it cools even though it has been years since it has actually been running.  Liner doesn't look too good on the bottom, but the beltline doesn't show any external bubbles on the metal.  Paint would be great except for a couple of fairly good size scrapes and it looks like someone redid the embossed lettering at one time and did a fairly average to below average job.  Wasn't really looking for a 39, but would probably clean up.

[Jim]

I think it will clean up nice!
With the exception of the cap catcher and crank handle, it looks complete and original!
Does it cool down to temp...? I read the seller states it was cooling, so assume it may not and go from there...
How much is he asking...?

[Kilroy]

I regret letting go of my 39. Looks to be a good machine

[BrianS]

He is asking $950 but is open to negotiation if nobody meets his price.  Was one of the most genuine individuals I have ever met.  He is willing to make sure the unit cools properly before making a deal.  The wiring actually looks ok.  It has been in his shed for close to 10 years and the guy he got it from apparently had it in his kitchen for many years before that so it has not seen much outside time.  I think 950 is a bit high -have seen some estimates here ranging from 750 - 900 based on condition.  This is the earlier model of the 39 with ICE COLD embossed and the plainer coin bezel.  Is there a more desireable version of the two or is is just personal preference?

[bcharlton]

I still like you in the $750 range.  The crank handle may cost you upwards of $100

[Kilroy]

I guess it depends on the market you are in. A 700- 800 v39 in  my neck of the woods are very very far and few.

[RC kid]

If the machine is real nice, and located nearby, it may be worth a slightly higher price. Nice machines are few and far between in my neck of the woods. If it got real cold likes it's supposed to, I'd offer $800.00 and be ready to go to $900.00. If it were priced at $750.00 it would already be sold.

 

[BrianS]

On January 2 of 2011 I bought my first two machines.  Looks like I just bought my third on January 3, 2012.  Man, I'm already excited for January 4, 2013.  By January 12, 2021 my wife should be ready to kick me out of the house.

[SIGNGUY]

SHe'll catch on and by January 1st of next year , she'll put a virus on your computer so you can't search Craigslist or get motiviated by all of us encouraging your purchases!

Conrgrats on the machines so far.. you'll have a great collection started... I think a 44 or 110 is next in your Vendo Line up!

[bcharlton]

Congrats Brian on your recent purchase.  My wife has be "dealing" with my addiction for 12 years.  The best thing to do is to find out what she likes (like an Eco 98 air meter) and then retore it for her.

We have had some "testy" times over the last decade but if you are smart about it, you can pull it off.

Just my .02

[BrianS]

I'm guessing if I suggest an air meter for her next birthday I better be prepared to duck .  I wasn't really looking for another machine just yet, it just happened to pop up a couple miles from my house so I went to look - no harm in looking, right?  I'm really not ready to start another machine yet, but since I had been working on a couple other machines he wanted me to make an offer.  I actually encouraged the Owner to hold on to it and that he could probably get a better offer.  He called me back later and said he wanted to make sure it went somewhere where it would be restored some day.  Didn't want it sold for parts on Ebay and my offer was fine.  So surprise,surprise, I have another machine.  It will be a while before I can do anything with it, but I am thrilled to have it.  Right now it needs a bath and a vacuuming.  I'll dig into it a little at a time from there.

And yes, I now need to get something nice for my wife.

[bcharlton]

Go on Curtis's website (http://www.retrovending.com/about-us.php)  and do a little surfing with your wife.  She will indubitably find something she likes.  Then promise to find one in rough condition and restore it for her.  This really may work.  Curtis must have 1000 pictures and she is bound to like something.

Your biggest problem will be trying to make your stuff look like Curtis' stuff.  It has taken me over 10 years to copy Curtis and I still have a long way to go.

It has worked for me and just might do the trick.

BC

[BrianS]

Well I picked up the machine on Saturday.  Had to squeeze it in between a couple of the kids basketball games.  It has a few issues.  The paint is not original.  The red was redone pretty nicely but its seen several scrapes and scratches, enough that it would need to be repainted anyway, so the fact that its not original is not a big deal.  The vending drum has been taken apart at one time or another but appears complete and just needs some screws to reattach the back plate.  Inner liner has rust in the bottom of the pan but does not appear to be rusted through.  Needs a vend crank and cap catcher.

Now the good - beltline looks solid. probably a bit of rust on the inside, but no obvious exterior blemishes.  No significant dents other than a few surface scratches.  Plugged it in and let it run for 30 minutes.  Cabinet temp got down to 31°.  I think this will turn out to be a great machine with a bit of elbow grease.

For those of you who have redone a 39 before, are there any significant items to look for in the mechanism or any pitfalls to be aware of?  Is this an easier or more complex restore than an 81?  On the surface, it seems to be much simpler than a bottle stack, but looks can certainly be decieving.

[MoonDawg]

       When putting the back plate on the drum, there are 3 positions it could be installed in. Because of the counterweight........only 1 is correct.