Pepsi Vendorlator VF-81. Newbie with Soda-Machines. Any input appreciated!

[gforloney]

Hi All,

I'm new with soda machines, and collecting in general. I've been helping my grandfather get rid of some of his stuff at his old business. One of the things I came across the other day was a Pepsi Vendorlator VF-81. It is actually working and cooling properly. It's in decent shape cosmetically.

Through searching the internet I can't seem to actually find a value for these things, what year they're from, if they're rare, etc.

Could anyone give me a value on one of these machines? I've been offered $70 and $200 so far. Are these fair numbers? Too high? Too low? I'm really in over my head with this one.

I tried uploading pictures but it was causing me some issue, so I've linked the craigslist add directly. Let me know if I need to provide any more pictures etc. Any input is appreciated!

Also, as a side note, I was actually able to clean up the machine pretty nicely with some cleaning product so it does look cosmetically better than what it does in those pictures. Thanks again!

http://providence.craigslist.org/clt/2940661440.html

[johnieG]

It's not an uncommon machine, produced in the late 50's , this was the last inception of the V81 line of machines
( before they were replaced by the V90 machines of the 60's ) It has a smaller brother , the VF56, both are the color shown with the "be Sociable, have a Pepsi" slogan on the sides. I often refer to them as the "Eisenhower Era" machines, it shares parts with the electric & manual round-cornered & square-cornered transitional V81's , shelves, the (electric) coinmech, compressor & bottle gate, the main (rear) chassis of the transitional machine (being that it's also square-cornered)  

What's missing on this one is the hard to replace yellow, 3D plastic marque...see the picture below...

$70 is way too low, $200 is in the ballpark if it's in working condition, maybe a little lower due to the missing light-up signage

PS; Also whats important to this model is the condition of the ribbed aluminum coindoor trim panel, if it'd dinged & dented up, it a big negative when trying to sell on of these.

[cokecolaman]

If its got the sliders in the shelves, you can part it out and make more $$$$. I sold my last set of shelves for $300 and the rack will get you another $100 or more.

[gforloney]

The slides are still in there. So you think it makes more sense to part it out as opposed to selling the entire thing together? Did you go through craigslist or you knew people who were interested?

[cokecolaman]

Knew people and answered posting on cocacolamachines.com