Got question regarding the westinghouse

cooler model. Im not sure if its a standard or master (its actually at my dads house and Im waiting on measurements) Anyways, we know nothing about this unit other than it was sitting at my moms for YEARS and we plugged it in....it ran for a few minutes, shut off and then came back on. My step mom asked me if I could find out how this thing works...its got a water fill line....a big metal tub with a drain hole minus the drain plug...and the metal casing around what I would assume is the cooling device in the far left corner. Do you put water in it? Up to the fill line? That would seem like the obvious answer, but my dad said he doesn't remember reaching in to get a cola and getting his hands wet....we don't want to ruin it....my step mom has wanted one for years and since my mom decided to move she "sold" it to them for next to nothing (along with "selling" me a vendo39 with a 6 cent price and the cord cut ( so we want to fix these great models up and any help would be appreciated!

[johnieG]

Hi & welcome, first, yes you must fill the chest machine with water to the line, it can't chill without water, unless you convert it from a "wet" (water-circulator)cooler to a "dry" (forced-air)cooler, not impossible but not too costly. second the V39 is a nice upright machine! very popular with lots of reproduction parts available, check out the suppliers here in the Parts suppliers section, also I've had nice dealings with Maria from vintagevending over at Ebay (and I'm not easily impressed by Ebay stores either) heres a link to the page @ ebay you'll find her listings at, just open one & click on her Ebay store & email her: copy & paste this into your browsers address bar  http://listings.ebay.com/pool1/plistings/list/all/category13734/index.html?from=R0
you should be able to find a replacement wiring harness for the V39 no problem, & they're not that difficult to work on.
again congrats! & let us know if you have any more questions '>  PS if you put your hand on the compressor motor (Carefully) does it feel like a motor's running or it's just "humming" then clicking on & off? also does the coil/casting in the tank get cold? & does it's motor spin the little paddle/propeller thats suppose to circulate the water one way to find out is to fill it up a suppose :'>