Please help me id this machine.

[Gary Kramer]

I have a coke machine with a small metal tag attached to the left upper side way to the back edge.  It shows the specs for the machine.  The model # is 27-A.  

I have checked SodaMachines.com pictures and information showing the Vendorlator 27 and the Vendorlator 27B/Dual 27 and the machine I have is an exact duplicate of the 27B/dual 27 except the decals are different.  I have more decals on other areas of the machine.  I haven't opened the back up for over thirty years so I don't remember what it looks like.  The machine is in near perfect codition.

Can anyone explain this to me.  The reason I ask is I am thinking of selling it and I would like to be able to explain it to the buyer.

I have had the machine since I purchased it in the early seventys when I paid $1200.00 dollars for it from a reputable dealer. At the time I plugged it in and it worked fine.  I played with it for a while then unplugged it and it has been sitting in the bar for display only ever since.

I plan to pull it away from the wall eventually and check it out to see if it is in good working order but at the moment I am waiting for cancer surgery on the 12th and am not in the mood.  

If everything works fine I have been told it is worth at least $3,000 out here in California. Is that a fair price or too high/low?

I also wonder how long these machines can run before needing service?

I would appreciate any help you could give me as I need the money.

Thanks for your time...

Gary Kramer
script11@cox.net

[joesquid]

Gary,
Welcome to the forum!  There's tons of expertise at your fingertips on a wide variety of topics dealing with soda machine brands, models, styles, parts suppliers, and restoration companies.  If you can think of a question concerning soda machines, I can almost guarantee, someone here has an answer.

Now concerning your machine.  You think it's possibly a Dual 27/27B?  Post a picture and let us see what you've got.  If you want a ballpark idea on value then post both internal and external pics showing as much of the machine as possible.  It might be easiest to do this on the gallery page (link on the homepage for this site) and set up a photo album with pics of your machine, then post a note here in the discussion area letting everyone know you have an album so we can see what you've got.  

Also there are a couple of great value guides out there; one written by Jeff Walters, the other by Steve Ebner.  Both are noted experts in this field.  You can order these books via e-bay, Funtronics (a sponsor of this site, phone info located on the parts vsuppliers page) and a variety of other sites.  One thing to note concerning value; it changes with the blink of an eye on some days.  It all depends on what a buyer is willing to spend on a machine.  Also, certain models are more popular than others and will always sell well, look at E-bay for awhile and you'll get a feel for the market.  Vendo 27s are generally popular, sometimes more than others.  As always, value is affected by demand/supply.  Too many people think they have a "rare" machine and post it on e-bay with some ridiculously high starting bid thinking they have gold but don't notice that there are five other machines identical to theirs all on auction also.  So much for "rare."

Anyway, food for thought.  In the meantime, post some pics (you can even do it in this discussion if you so choose) and let the guys and gals in this forum see what you've got! '>

Welcome aboard!!

[Jim]

Gary,

The first generation Dual 27, or 27B, often had ID tags identifying them as 27A models. Almost every early 27B I have seen or helped identify has had a 27A ID tag. Why, I don't know exactly; perhaps VMC was using up parts from the 27A and retrofitted them on the early 27B models...
The model pictured in the Soda Machines Section under Vendolator is actually a machine that has the 27A ID Tag when in fact it's a 27A/Dual 27...