Vendo 23 tear-down

[90grad]

All,

Over the weekend, I tore down two Vendo 23s.  I think I can make one complete machine from both.  Anyway, I will have a ton of questions, so here are the first two....

1. The manual talks about the top disc riding on "rollers".  I only saw the disc (from both tops) riding atop some L-shaped brackets.  I saw no rollers or places to install them.  One part of the manual mentioned the rollers only for the A and B models, and I believe I have E models.  However, in the 2nd part of the book, it makes no distinction and just talks about the rollers.  Anybody ever fool with these?

2. There were no data plates on either machine.  Is there anyway to tell at least the year from the compressor?  

I took a bunch of pictures and may create an album for all to look at.

Wayne

[90grad]

Here is the first photo (and my favorite).  The diligent worker is my 15-month old daughter. '>

With a helper like that you will be done in no time at all.  Good luck, I'm sure someone smarter than me will be able to help you.

The addiction starts young. Soon she will be doing soda machine swap meets at her preschool!

[joesquid]

Wayne,
I have a Vendo 23E also and it has only the L-shaped brackets you described.  Maybe the rollers described were on the Deluxe model?

By the way, very cute little girl.  Mine likes to "help" me too!! '>

[90grad]

Thanks for the info and comments.  My little girl and her big brother (almost 3) are my pride and joy.  He loves to help me too, and it is a treasured assistance.  I took the metal to my body work/painter guy yesterday, along with my airline cooler.

Two other questions for the group:

1. Does anyone repro the bottle basket?  One of mine is complete, but the other is missing.  The Funtronics catalog either says "coming soon" or "inquire".  I can't recall which and I haven't called them yet.  But, I thought there may be another place or someone with an old one they want to sell.

2. Anyone know where to get replacement coin mechanisms?  I just don't mean the slug rejector, but the whole thing.  And speaking of slug rejectors, any leads on those would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[sodaworks]

I have a partial drum for the 23. It is missing some of the bottle tubes. I also know a guy in Texas (Jack) that is the king of 23's. I will get you his email address.  

[90grad]

Thanks, Terry.  I'd love to have his email address.  I'll also keep you in mind for that partial bottle stack.

Also, one other cool thing about the tear-down.  In one machine I found a somewhat worn, but nice 1945 Mercury dime!

[BrianB]

That's a sweet find!! It's always nice to find old silver in a vintage soda pop machine! One of my Cavalier 55D's had a 1945 Micro S Mercury Dime stuck in some soda gunk inside the coin door!

Since I'm also a pretty avid coin collector, that was an awesome find!

[BrianB]

Keep us updated on your restoration, I've always been fascinated by those 23's! Great to see that you have helpers too! '>

[Jim]

Several years back, I was tearing down a V-83 (late 40's version) and found almost $2.00 in Mercury dimes!
As stated previously, it's nice to find the old coins of days gone bye...

[BryanH]

I'm not a coin collector but would be interested in seeing what is a collectable coin...In case any of my machines happen to come with gifts.  Any pics?

[MoonDawg]

Look for 1964 and earlier dimes and quarters. They are soild silver, no copper.

[davethebirdman]

Hello Chaps

I have been admiring the Vendo 23 for soemtime now. As soon as I can convince "The better half" that I need another Soda Machine then something similar to a Vendo 23 is what I'd be after. Small and light (good for Intl Shipping). My question is this

Was the Vendo 23 only made for Coca - Cola??
What sort of money would I be looking at for a restored/Good Original condition one??
Anybody care to recommend something similar??

Cheers

Dave

[BrianB]

The most common collectable coin that you will probably run across in an old soda pop machine is the Winged Liberty Dime, AKA: The "Mercury Dime". This dime was produced from 1916 to 1945 but widely used into the sixties and early seventies. You might also keep an eye out for pre-1964 Washington Type Quarters as they are .900 percent silver in content. Here's a picture of my favorite Merc Dime books:

[BrianB]

Just one more book pic! (sorry to get off of the V-23 topic!) If you guys need a reference book to help aid in the ID'ing/pricing of any old coins that you find, The Whitman Redbook, is the best out there and isn't very pricey. It can be found at almost any bookstore in the collectibles/antiques section for around $11.95.

[90grad]

Dave,

I like the 23s too.  I believe they were only made for Coke.  However, only the Deluxe model had embossing, so others may have been repainted to other brands.  They only hold the small bottles of soda.  I would imagine some brands of bottled water would fit, and I know the small Yoo-Hoo bottles also fit.

Price-wise, 23s in average condition are probably around $400-$500.  Restored ones are in the $1500 range.  I am speculating, as my price guide is in my car.

[davethebirdman]

Hi Wayne

thanks for the info. I only have Ebay as a guide and , as been mentioned here many times before, it ain't always a true reflection of what the item is really worth.

Cheers

Dave

[MoonDawg]

Dave, you need Jeff Walters book "Classic Soda machines".

[davethebirdman]

Hi Glen

I have one on order but for some reason it seems to be taking forever to arrive.

Dave

[sodaworks]

Hello Wayne,
 I sent you a PM with Jack's telephone #. He's the man on 23's.

[90grad]

Thanks Terry!  I'll give him a call.