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« on: April 15, 2013, 02:59:32 pm » |
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A description for NOVICES of pre-1960 VENDO Co. business.
UPDATED May 19, 2013
Updated or added text is italicized for easier locating.
I’m a retired novice myself out in WA State. My livelihood was all based on machines.
I struggled a lot with the info available on the web when researching my friend’s latest buy, a Coca-Cola vending machine. His turned out to be a Vendo 159 Top (without the Basket) mounted on a Westinghouse Standard chest with a L-25-S cooling unit. I gave him a date of 1947. On March 26th I had posted a couple pictures on this site.
During my research it appeared that a lot of the info on the web, relating to chest-type only machines, was confusing. I couldn’t find a clear definition of Vendo’s business in the pre-1960 era. I contacted the State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center - Kansas City. They explained to me what it would take to get access to or copies of their file ‘KC0084’. This file has 21 folders, around 1,000 pages, about the Vendo Co. from 1938 through 1981. I’m unable to do either at this time.
I think it’s important to define Vendo’s business from their conception through the pre-60’s. Through my research I found that their business was founded in 1937 and was based on the manufacturing of coin operated Tops and Baskets only for mounting on the 1,000’s of Westinghouse Coca-Cola coolers that were already out in the market place. Their products turned ‘honor-pay’ coolers into ‘pay-first’ vending machines, 5 cents to 10 cents, for a 6½ oz. bottle of Coca-Cola.
On a 1938 Vendo brochure or advertisement it states, ‘The New 1938 VENDO for the exclusive use of BOTTLERS of Coca-Cola’. ‘Available For Any Standard Cooler – Ice or Electric (with flat coils only)’.
On an advertising brochure for Model 123 (Junior), 139 (Standard), 159 & Master (1941 - 1948) Vendo states that their Tops will fit on any Junior, Standard or Master Coca-Cola cooler, ice or electric. The ‘Specifications’ for each model give dimensions if mounted on a ‘(Cooler)’ and ‘Weight, Vendo only’ for their Top and Basket assemblies.
Vendo’s customers were the Coca-Cola Bottling Companies. The bottling companies were providing the coolers and Vendo Tops & Baskets to their customers - the stores, gas stations, other businesses and organizations. This is why you may see somewhere on a machine a metal nameplate, or evidence that there was one, stating that the unit was property of a bottling company. My friend’s machine just has the evidence, 4 screw holes punched with a nail-punch.
In 1946, after WWII, Vendo started their journey into the offering of complete vending machines with the V-83 vertical unit (not a chest-type).
I created an Excel spreadsheet to cover Vendo’s pre-1960 chest-type Coca-Cola machines and recorded data from the Vendo Parts and Service Manuals only. I also used the Vendo published ‘Serial Number Chart’ (for ‘Dry’ coolers only from 1946 through 1959) for some models manufacturing date ranges. I’m assuming (I know the definition) that the chart came from the KC0084 file. The Historical Society referenced it in my correspondence. I did not rely on any other web published material.
The year ranges ( ) and ‘Vendo Parts and Service Manuals’ used are listed below;
(1937) Business established. Perhaps manufactured some all round tops.
(1938) The New 1938 VENDO brochure or advertisement. The Top, pictured on a chest-type cooler, had a 29 bottle vending capacity with a center mounted coin mechanism. (Pat. No. 2099557)
(1939 & 1940) ‘1939, Junior, Standard & Master’.
(1941 - 1948) ‘Model 123 (Junior), 139 (Standard) (Pat. No. 2250816), 159 & Master’.
(The above manuals cover Tops and Baskets only. No chests or coolers were offered.)
(The below were complete machines called ‘Cooler’s offered by Vendo.)
(1946 - 1955) Model V-83, vertical.
(1948 - 1951) ‘Model V-59’ DS (Dry Standard).
(1948 - 1956) Model 6-CV, vertical.
(1949 - 1959) ‘Model V-23A Standard, (1950)V-23B Deluxe & (1954)V-23E’.
(1949 - 1957) Model V-39, vertical.
Let’s clear up the ‘Master’ confusion first. The term Master related to the width of the cooler chest. It was about 7 ½” wider than the Standard version. The Vendo spin-tops, except the Junior or 123, would fit on either one. But, because the Master was wider Vendo also included a separate cover lid and accessories to be mounted over the open area of the wider Master. Therefore, Vendo offered their (1939 & 1940) Standard, (1941 – 1948) 139 or (1941-1948) 159 units with a Master conversion lid and accessories.
Prior to 1949 there never was a V-23 offered by Vendo. It was a Model Junior or 123 Top & Basket that was sold separately, to be mounted on other manufacturer’s chests & coolers by the bottlers.
The only place that I’ve seen Model V-39 used by Vendo was for their complete vertical unit, which they started offering in 1949. If there was a V-39 chest unit it was offered after 1947 and it was still a Model 139 Top with a ‘Dry’ Basket mounted on the Vendo chest manufactured for the 1948 V-59. (The 1946-1959 Vendo Serial Number Chart did not include a V-39 chest type unit). Prior to 1948 the Model Standard, Master, 139 or 139 Master Top & Basket were sold separately, to be mounted on other manufacturer’s chests & coolers by the bottlers.
Prior to 1948 there never was a Model V-59 complete unit offered by Vendo. It was a Model 159 or 159 Master Top & Basket that was sold separately, to be mounted on other manufacturer’s chests & coolers by the bottlers. From 1948-1951 they offered a complete machine called the V-59, Dry Standard, Cooler. They called their complete machines, chest or vertical, ‘Cooler’. They did not offer a V-59 Master Cooler nor any ‘Wet’ Coolers. Now, they did continue to offer a ‘V-59’ Top and basket, and Master assemblies to be mounted on other manufacturer’s chests & coolers by the bottlers during this time.
Near as I can tell, 8 oz. bottles weren’t around until sometime in the early 60’s. They had the same outside dimensions as the 6½ oz., the glass was thinner to get more fluid in it. That’s why they weren’t returnable. They would break too easily when they tried to refill them. The vending machine couldn’t tell the difference, except maybe for the price the retailer needed to charge.
Instead of using date ranges from late 1930’s to mid 40’s, etc., I have tried to pin down actual dates that should be accurate within +/- 2 years. It’s important to collectors to be able to state a near date that their machine may be. This is just an important part of any collection. Hopefully, the reader will use the ‘latest’ date of the possibilities and try not to mislead anyone. The factor here that’s most important is the manufacturing date, not the sales or use date which is rarely known.
An important point to make here is that when a manufacturer has their production lines set-up, they don’t make changes easily to those lines, costs big bucks to do so. When they do make major changes to a model they most likely run a quantity of the old model to carry them over till the new model can become available.
I know I’m making some pretty bold statements and that some people will say I’m full of horse-puckie, or this or that part is incorrect, or where is he coming from? I don’t mind. I just ask that if you can backup your knowledge with info that came from a Vendo publication (no hear-say) please let me know. I have no doubt that some statements may need to be corrected or clarified which I did in this update. I’d like this post to develop into something that future novices can depend on to help support the future of collecting.
We need your feedback.
Thanks and have a good one.
Ted
Updated May 19, 2013
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