VMC-81 Manufacture Listings & Paint Schemes Sought

[mojorob]

Howdy Gentleman,
This is my first post here on SMC and I'm also a total Newbie to the hobby.
I really like the looks of the mid to late 50's Round Top Machines: Vendo 81D, VMC 81's and was hoping to
start my collection working on these.
Since late last year, I've been able to find a decent restorable Vendo-81D Coke machine which I'm working on
presently and a VMC-81 Pepsi.
I was just wondering if there was a listing of Machines and exact paint schemes that VMC used back in the day?
I've seen the Warehouse picture where all the VMC's are lined up as far as the eye can see: 7UP, Pepsi, Royal Crown, Dr. Pepper etc.
Is there a web site or book/publication that covers the VMC-81 models in depth at all?

Thanks for any information anyone here might be able to lend in that regard.
I really do appreciate it.

Kirk





 

[mygoose101]

Hello Kirk, Welcome to the site. As far as I know the only publication on these machines is Jeff Walters price guide that came out I believe in three editions but the latest addition is probably at least 15 years old. however still be used as a great reference guide. I've been dealing with machines for over 20 years and I still use that book.

it doesn't have any color schemes but it has much useful information. I haven't looked for a while but I'm sure that book can be found on ebay and there was also a member here selling some copies a while ago.

[mojorob]

Thanks for the advice on the Walters Book.
Well it doesn't look as if my original question is going to garner much play as maybe this kind of information is just not out there.
It certainly wouldn't surprise me if that were the case.

Can any one here add to this list of VMC-81 Original Painted Machines?
Were there any others besides these?

Pepsi
7UP,
Dr. Pepper
Royal Crown

[Jim]

Hello Kirk,

Welcome to the Site!

Vendo 81's came in all red for early versions and then switched to the "white top" paint scheme in the mid/late 50's
VMC 81's for the most part were painted solid colors: Pepsi solid blue; RC - solid yellow; 7-Up - solid white; DP - solid light green and other brands use other colors. Generally speaking, it was cheaper to paint a machine one color. I have seen several variations of paint schemes that are old but not factory original.

[mojorob]

Thanks Jim!

In this VMC Factory Picture you can see a Royal Crown Red Vertical Stripe Version.
Has anyone else ever seen this particular paint scheme in person, as it looks pretty nice.

[mygoose101]

VMC also made a generic version, non embossed. I'm sure the RC machine you are referring to was one of those.  I agree with you, it does look very cool. I have never seen one.

[cokecolaman]

I had one...it was a rusty bucket and I sold it....I think it would look good and if I had a few generic 81's laying around, I would use that scheme. I also purchased a generic that looked like it was originally Orange (Mission was the brand).

[BONOVOX]

There was also a generic Canada Dry 81.  Colour was similar to that of the Dr Pep.

[mojorob]

OK Guys, thanks for the additions.

We've got:  
Pepsi *  Blue
7UP *  White
R C Cola * Red & White Version
RC Cola * Yellow Version
Dr. Pepper *  Dull Light Green
Canada Dry *  Bright Light Green
Mission *  Orange

Cokecolaman,
On your Rust bucket RC Cola Red & White version, I take it there was no embossing .... and did the sides have any graphics that you can remember
or were they just the plain white?
Thanks a lot!!

[cokecolaman]

Too rusty to tell...I think it was just a solid color.

[mznb1u]

Here is a shot of a generic Canada Dry VMC-110 that I used to own.  I sold it to Ed (bonovox) so he could take it back home to Canada.  I suspect that a generic 81 probably had a similar paint scheme.

  Tim

[mojorob]

Hey Thanks for the nice shots of that Tim!

Here's one I ran across last night in searching the net.
It looks to be a RC Cola Red Stripped / White verson with out the decals.
What is odd, is that that it does not match exactly the VMC Warehouse Paint applications as the red area appears a bit wider
on this one, but it's close.

[BONOVOX]

That Canada Dry 110 machine is actually with Custom Soda Works (Pat) waiting in line to live it's next life as a Orange Crush Machine.
But yes, that machine was a CD 110 from day one from what I was able to tell.

 

[MaineT]

What is odd, is that that it does not match exactly the VMC Warehouse Paint applications as the red area appears a bit wider
on this one, but it's close.

It depended on how many fumes the painter sniffed before he did it. They were utilitarian items, not the collectible perfection we expect today. I doubt the quality standards were very high.

[mojorob]

It depended on how many fumes the painter sniffed before he did it. They were utilitarian items, not the collectible perfection we expect today. I doubt the quality standards were very high.

That's very true Tim ..... I do need to remember that.

[SIGNGUY]

I had one...it was a rusty bucket and I sold it....I think it would look good and if I had a few generic 81's laying around, I would use that scheme. I also purchased a generic that looked like it was originally Orange (Mission was the brand).

UH RON... you Sold that Rusty Bucket to me!     I still have it and I'll get some photos if I can dig it out.. Or it may be too rusty to move... 

[SIGNGUY]

here is one photo of it that Ron sent me before I bought it..
Yes its rusty on the top, but not too bad... I have thoughts of making a Dr Pepper out of it.. I have three nice original DP porcelain plates for it .. we'll see.

[mojorob]

Gosh, Sell me a Rust Bucket Like That Any Day!!! 

So John, were the sides all white or were there some decal graphics applied?
Thanks for the photo.

[coke_and_stuff]

I really like that paint scheme, I've seen the pics of it at the assembly line, and the one posted earlier. That's sharp!

[cokecolaman]

I miss the rusty bucket...I can't find any generics out here anymore, let alone any 81's. I want to make another fantasy machine and I'm thinking about buying a decent 39 and cutting out the lettering and making it a rootbeer machine or mt. dew...just something different. Anyone have a generic 81 for sale?

[coke_and_stuff]

Just cut up a coke, a lot more easier to find than a generic. Find you a embossed VMC square and VMC bezel and your in business.

[coke_and_stuff]

Here is another neat paint scheme

[SIGNGUY]

Gosh, Sell me a Rust Bucket Like That Any Day!!! 

So John, were the sides all white or were there some decal graphics applied?
Thanks for the photo.

The sides are just white... I don't recall if logos, and its' buried away now... won't have access to till spring when I can back out the Vette.

[mojorob]

Just cut up a coke, a lot more easier to find than a generic. Find you a embossed VMC square and VMC bezel and your in business.

Please excuse my ignorance on this as I mentioned above, I'm a total newbie at this.
Only been at it, for about a month now.

So are you saying that you can find a Coke Vendo-81, cut the Coke Embossing Section Out and replace it with smooth sheetmetal,
then find a VMC logo and cut that out and weld it on to the lower front?
Do I have this fairly accurate?
Thanks guys, for putting up with these questions, I appreciate it!

Coke_and_stuff,
Great Looking Machine!!
Is that an example of welding an Embossed Dr. Pepper Name Plate on the front?

[coke_and_stuff]

No I am not saying cut in a flat piece of metal and making a coke into a generic although I guess It could be easily done.

What a lot of restorers are doing is getting generic 81s and putting embossed panels off of other coolers onto them. My question is why not just use a coke? Yes a little more welding but a coke 81 is a lot easier to find than a generic.

The DP I posted is original unrestored, sign on the front is porcelain.

[mojorob]

No I am not saying cut in a flat piece of metal and making a coke into a generic although I guess It could be easily done.

What a lot of restorers are doing is getting generic 81s and putting embossed panels off of other coolers onto them. My question is why not just use a coke? Yes a little more welding but a coke 81 is a lot easier to find than a generic.

The DP I posted is original unrestored, sign on the front is porcelain.

Well .... like I said, I'm a Total Rookie on this stuff.
Thanks for the explanation and patients.
I appreciate it!

[Blind1968]

Here are a few examples:

http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,14513.0.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VMC-Orange-Crush-81-Vendo-Coca-Cola-Coke-machine-Pepsi-RC-Cola-7UP-Professional-/151136688573?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item233072d9bd

[mojorob]

Thanks Blind1968.

I'm a custom home designer and builder by trade, and after breaking a Vendo-81 machine down this past week for restoration
I am honestly a bit taken back with all the parts, pieces etc. that will need to be addressed.

In looking at that Absolutely Gorgeous Orange Crush machine and where that started from and where it ended up
and the "Journey" it had to travel to get there .... I honestly don't know quite what to think.
I really don't.

I've only really been exposed to this hobby a few months now, but when I look at the process it took to rebuild that
Orange CRUSH machine all I can think of is that "someone" ultimately got a Tremendous deal on it.
I mean REALLY !!!!!
5,700.00 for that piece of Art Work and ebay takes roughly 10-11% so the seller ends up with a hair over 5K.
The original machine itself has to be worth 2Kish and you throw another 2-3K in it with materials as he didn't scrimp
on anthing, as its absolutely beautiful.

What am I missing here?
A machine like that, has to be worth 7.5K minimum, doesn't it or shouldn't it?
Sorry guys, I'm just kind of scratching my head over this.

So when you do a Fantasy machine like this ...... is it just a total money burn?
I pose these questions, as I really don't know the answers and I certainly mean not one ounce of disrespect to the member
that did such a very fine restore on this piece.
Had I been in the hobby back a year or so ago, I probably would have been all over this machine.
In my mind, it's absolutely gorgeous and had to be huge bargin for someone!
Wasn't It?

Apparently, I have a lot more to learn here.
Oh well, all part of the fun.

[MoonDawg]

      Like you, we all admire this creative artwork but ...............we do not see this as investment potential.

      Most guys will search for years for just 1 Vendo 81 to keep their pop and beer cold.

      But then comes the challenge of collecting the entire set of embossed 81's and that's sort of like trying to outbid Donald Trump.

      Fantasy machines may all hold a place in collecting, but pricing will never be as solid as the original embossed versions.

[mojorob]

I guess the part that I'm having trouble reconciling is that you take that same generic VMC-81
and make a Dr. Pepper Machine out of it, now all of a sudden you can ask double what the CRUSH Machine sold for, because it actually
did exist in real form.
It just seems to me that the final value of the two is a bit out of portion, because neither one .... really started out as original
to begin with.

Just attempting to understand the thinking and philosophy behind the hobby here a little bit on my end.

Moondog writes:
"we do not see this as investment potential."

I can certainly appreciate that. Not really looking at it like that either.
I guess my main concern would be, to go to all the work of restoration and then have the finished product possibly be worth less
than what you have into it.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I guess that is a very real possibility that always has to be weighed, unless you
are lucky enough to have obtained your original machine at a bargin price.

Again I apologize, if I'm perhaps veering a little too far off the original topic here.
Bottom line:  I just don't know squat about this stuff!

[MoonDawg]

       Was referring to embossed machines.

[SIGNGUY]

I guess the part that I'm having trouble reconciling is that you take that same generic VMC-81
and make a Dr. Pepper Machine out of it, now all of a sudden you can ask double what the CRUSH Machine sold for, because it actually
did exist in real form.
It just seems to me that the final value of the two is a bit out of portion, because neither one .... really started out as original
to begin with.

I think where your getting mixed up is the one OC fantasy machine he's asking 12k for , He'll never get it.. it's just not worth that.

the other one that actually sold for 5700 was done in Orange crush, but the restorer (who is actually a member here on this site) did not go through all the extra work of cutting up a machine... the 5700 machine is done in decals on an original 81 generic... hence why I dont' think he was too upset at his final price... I'm sure he wanted more but it sold regardless.  but it was not a machine that required all that extra work of cutting, welding in a panel (that is hard to find I the first place) and such..

as far as the dr pepper... That is how they came from the factory,, they just used a generic non embossed 81 and put 3 porcelain signs on the machine and painted it up the dr. Pepper green... in itself the Generic VMC 81 is worth more than your standard embossed coke 81, and the original Dr pepper signs if mint are worth around 1000 as well. so that is why you sometimes see Dr peppers being priced around 9-11k

It's complicated , I know and it's just us goofballs who have been collecting buying and selling this stuff for years who understand it... but don't worry .. you'll get there!

Welcome to the club... and by the way... this is John.. the guy you've been talking to about your Coke 81D!