Picked up a Vendo 44

[mznb1u]

Details and pictures to follow.

Tim

[vendo39]

Welcome to the club!     Is it a keeper or Flipper?

[mznb1u]

This one is definitely a keeper. I was beginning to wonder if this machine was still on my list but when I went and saw this one, I had to have it.  I think this will end up being my wife's favorite.  Finding a coin mech will be my first order of business.  It is a nice original survivor.  I am going to start by cleaning it up as most of what you see is dirt and not surface rust.  The cabinet and chrome trim are in great condition and there are only a few small dents on the back.  Also need to order a key from Fun-Tronics but I need to check the ones that I have as I may have that key already.

Here are the pictures.  I will post a few more when I get it cleaned up.  I will also have to take a picture of it next to the big brother VMC-144SA that I have.

  Tim

[mznb1u]

A few more.

[mznb1u]

and two more!

[Eric]

Let's hear the story... where you found it, how you found it.. history?... Great machine! Congrats!!

[tkaz]

Nice one!  Looks like it has a change giver mech in it, so that's a bonus.  I had one in very similar condition and did a buff on the paint and it came out awesome.  Looks like yours will do the same.

[BONOVOX]

Nice pick up Tim!!!

But your got to get it's big cousin.... a Coke 88 

The 44's to me are great!  They take up SO little floor space, and I have spots all over the mancave to put more 44's!!!  AND the fact that the Mrs in all our lives all seem to like these little pocket rockets 

 

[HowDueYouDue]

Nice pick up, congrats

[mznb1u]

The full story?

Well, I was driving through Hillsdale, MI on a business trip and traffic was being diverted down a side street due to construction.  This detour took me past an older warehouse building and I noticed something red and white near the dumpster.  I discovered the shell of a Vendo V-44 but it was missing the rack and coin door.  Later that afternoon, I stopped at the local antiques mall and found all of the missing parts except for the key sitting under a table of telegraph line insulators and old glass milk bottles.  Honest, it really can happen!

But seriously, I have not been buying much or even looking lately but I tripped across the listing for this machine on CL.  It was an older listing so I was surprised when the guy called me back and told me he still had the machine.  The seller was located just outside of Toledo.  Sorry to the OH guys for venturing into your neighborhood but this is the part of Ohio that was originally part of Michigan until The Toledo War (really! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War).  I figured all is fair in love and war and I was visiting a customer in MI just north of the MI-OH line so I scheduled a trip to see the machine.  The seller is a real nice guy--also named Tim, it must be the name--and it sounded like he had a few people calling him trying to buy it and ship and he did not want to mess with shipping.  He mentioned a guy from Canada--sorry Ed if that was you--and another guy from TN--again, sorry if that was an SMC member.  In any event, I must have been the first person to stop by and see the machine.  He said that he had the machine for a long time--I believe he said 30 years.  He is in the used auto parts and used car business so I am assuming he took it on trade.  He told me he always wanted to get it restored but never got around to it and it was just sitting in his basement game room.  Now he is in the process of down-sizing and selling a lot of items.

I made him a fair offer and he accepted.  The mech was pretty much dismantled by whoever decided to put it to free-vend and it is likely beyond saving so I am in the market for a replacement mech and can hopefully find a change giver like the original.

Next task, move it into the house and get it cleaned up.  The seller told me that the compressor had been disconnected so I was worried that a line had been cut and the system evacuated but it looks to me like the cord was removed and the wires were disconnected at the 3 in 1 switch.  So when I get it cleaned up I will put everything back the way it should be and see if she fires up.

That is about it for now.  I have wanted one of these for a while but figured I would never find one in a price range I could afford.  Sometimes you get lucky and this was one of those times for me.  I may have to change my name to VendoTim.  I now have 2 V-39's, a V-44, a V-81D and a V-110SD

  Tim

[Jim]

Congrats Tim ! ! !
I'm sure the V-44 will polish up just nicely!

[Pat Pixley]

Congrats Tim  ,  So I'll be seeing it in Sept. for the restoration  right .  just joking  a good polishing and buffing of the chrome
 and it will look great.

 

[BONOVOX]

No Tim..... That wasnt me he was talking about.....there are more Ed's in Canada than just me lol.

And don't ask me if I know Fred in Moose Jaw lol..... we do have over 30 million people up here 

Post some "after" pics of the machine!  Always interested in how a survivor turns out

 

[Jeffmon]

Great score Tim, and I'm the guy from Canada lol... he is in fact a very nice guy, we just never really could come to a agreement but that was some time ago, had actually forgot about it lol, I'm glad you got it, I know you've been wanting one for some time, let me know if I can help in any way, I have lots of spare parts for that machine except of course a change giving coin mech Let me know what number lock it is I can pretty much guarantee I have a key for you, anyhow enjoy it, they are great machines !

Jeff !

[sc1101]

Congrats. I just love the size of the 44. It is truly the perfect size machine for any gameroom.

[BrianS]

  I may have to change my name to VendoTim.  I now have 2 V-39's, a V-44, a V-81D and a V-110SD

  Tim

Looks like your going to have to start searching for a 56!!

[kbareit]

Nice pick up Tim,
Don't worry about getting machines in Ohio, if we're sleeping and don't see it it's fair game. If you ever see something in my area I'd be more than happy to pick it up for you.