Pepsi vendorlator 3d-33

Hi.  My brother just bought this Pepsi machine.  It's very clean and from what I can tell the only thing that's ever been touched on it is the small front door (probably due to crow bar damage).  I haven't seen any machines that look quite like this.....specifically the pepsi trim pieces on top.  Are these original?  At first look I might have guessed that this was a coke machine that was turned in to a pepsi machine.  I don't think so though.  I see no evidence of red anywhere and it just looks too good to have been touched.  Jeff Walters book says that the pepsi 33's were embossed but if this is it's hidden below the trim.  

One last question....one of the plastic pepsi emblems is broken on the front.  Does anyone reproduce there or are they any originals around?

thanks, Doug
(on behalf of John Lyle)

[johnieG]

Neat looking 33! I guess the only way to find out is to "peek" beneth the trim, ( I know I'm curious!) it looks like it's only screwed on?  I betting a nickle it's a "converted" Coke 33, that plastic medalion was also on a Pepsi VF56 square-corner late 50's machine I had,(sold it to a friend and it's still in his game-room) and the "the Light refreshment" is also from the late 50's era too. (you'll also see "be Sociable have a Pepsi" from the same era machines, usally light blue with yellow contrasting paint & aluminium ribbed trim panels) again nice machine!!!  

[johnieG]

Found the photo of the machines medalion! here it is, same-same!

The thing is that there is no red paint anywhere on this.  Would they have blasted it and then repainted it?  Also the pepsi logos are painted on.  I would have tried to take the cover off but it's rivited or screwed from the backside (plus I don't think my brother wants me to take it apart.  This also has a white sold out flag....the Walter's book says the coke ones were yellow.    I'm with you though...the trim looks like an add on item....but the restorer in me says the machine is an original pepsi one.  Here's another close up of the sign.

thanks, Doug

yeah, you're right.  Looks like the aluminum plate behind it is the same too.  Thank you.

[Jim]

I have seen variations like this before but could never substantiate if these machines are factory or modifications since I never owned one myself...

I would like to point out that the ribbed background appears to be behind the bottle chute bezel which would leave me to believe that some extensive modifications had to take place to accomplish this... I could be wrong but from the photo that's the way it looks. Doug will have to confirm this for us...

I also didn't see the familiar VMC logo embossed square usually centered below the coin door where the square pepsi decal is currently is. I can't recall ever seeing a 33-3D without this; not that it means anything Or that it could be a late production model and it cheaper to stop embossing machines and just add this type of advertising...?

I'll double check and see what the bezel looks like....If it looks professional.  If you look real carefully at the bottom of my first picture you can see that the bottom of the machine is a darker blue and the word Vendorlator is spelled out (not sure if it's embossed) in the lighter blue.  Again to me this looks too detailed to be on a converted machine.  Also has the silver tape that seperates the dark/light blue like on a CS51.  I'll get a picture of it and see if it's embossed.  I'll also get the serial number to pinpoint the approximate build date.

Doug

[MoonDawg]

It looks to me as you have an embossed 33. The coke 33's  bottle chute bezel's were square on top, round on bottom.    Pepsi, 7-up and Dr Pepper had equally rounded corners on their chutes, as well as all having white flag decals.
      
          This was probably a late production model, adding the sign at the time of assembly, if it screws on from the inside.

           But we haven't answered Jim's question- where is the VMC dimple on the front of the door?         Glen

I'll get a close up of the vendorlator script at the bottom....and I'll get the serial number.  Doug

Hi all, the serial number on this machine is 51306B33. The Vendorlator on the bottom of the machine IS embossed. I rechecked the machine and there's no red on this at all. The platform that the compressor is on is in the red family....but it's not code red. I have to clean it up a bit more. If I can clear some space around this machine I'll try to take the front door apart a bit and that might reveal more. Anyone know where one might get one of the plastic Pepsi signs that's broken on this machine? The bezel looks perfect.....not like it was a late addition or afterthought. It is a nice machine ......Thanks! John

HI all, I was gonna start taking some of this machine apart....but it looks like the screws heads take a strange type of driver. Does anyone know what kind of driver is needed for these screws? Thanks! John

[Jim]

There're called "Clutch" and they come is different sizes too.

HI,I might have the plastic pepsi emblem you are looking for.It has a surface crack.I bougt this Pepsi machine for a buck at a rummage [and I was late]!!It turns out to be a coke machine,a Cavalier [no guts]not sure of the model yet.I'm new at this.Anyway one of the plastic emblems might be what you need.Next week I'm going to take the time to learn how to use my dig.camera and I'll post a pic.if you want.

[johnieG]

You can get the "Clutch" head driver bits at Sears Hardware
stores, you'll have to look for them as the general sales help
doesn't know what your talking about when it comes to this type of driver bit. mine came in an assortment of phillips & hex driver bits, (it had all three sizes too!)

Here's a picture of the embossed vendorlator logo at the bottom of the machine.  As you can see the paint is a bit off center which to me indicates an automated paint application.  This embossed logo might explain why it doesn't have the usual square VMC logo in the botoom middle area.  Am I correct in this thinking?

Thanks, Doug

[MoonDawg]

Wow this is a new one to me. I've never seen small embossed Vendolator letters before.  Now you have to peek inside to let us know if the top letters are raised or not.

Quote (jwd18 @ April 30 2003,11:15)

HI,I might have the plastic pepsi emblem you are looking for.It has a surface crack.I bougt this Pepsi machine for a buck at a rummage [and I was late]!!It turns out to be a coke machine,a Cavalier [no guts]not sure of the model yet.I'm new at this.Anyway one of the plastic emblems might be what you need.Next week I'm going to take the time to learn how to use my dig.camera and I'll post a pic.if you want.

Hi, I just ran across your append. Would you happen to still have the emblem? If so....did you still want to part with it? If so, let me know how much you'd want for it. Thanks! John