How old is this?

can anyone tell me how old this machine is or a way finding out from the tag?  it is a vendorlator 56

[johnieG]

This machine is what I'd call a transitional style, it's marks the begining of the move to the square-corner models, it's around the mid-late 50's, they still used the coin door/vending mech.'s off of the round corners, but now the manufactures were getting the idea that it would be cheaper to start using a light-up sign instead of expessive embossing dies. This also had the advantage of using a "one-size fits all" machine and just change the Logos/signage to suit the end-user brand of soda. so now they could sell fewer models and yet still offer the machines to multiple clients. (ie:cheaper) as to the worth, well take into consideration that the run of these models with the external coin doors wasn't very long , so few were produced before the "flashier" light-ups hit the scene! I'd give a range of $500-1500 depending on Brand, if it's just a "generic" with labels & sticker's on the lower end, as opposed to an embossed version.(I've seen a 7up in this style with an embossed logo where the light-up sign would go.) Hope this helps...JohnieG