Vendo 81A restoration

[coke_and_stuff]

I get alot of comments on my machines, being reproductions, the quality of the restoration, and what goes into one. Also I feel this will help out alot of new people in the hobby to see what actually goes into a no expense spared restoration.

I bought this 81A at the Pomona Swap meet while I was in California in January. When I bought the machine it was missing the shelves, bottle door, coin mech and everything associated with the coin door and behind it.

I located a set of shelves, bottle door, and some other odds and ends from Marvin, Coin door, and bottle door hinge from Signguy, Coin mech was bought and restored from Collecture. I got lucky and scored a already chrome plated coin entry bezel off ebay as with the coin return cup, and a chrome plated press down handle. All the other small door hardware like the lockbar, lockbar brackets, coin box with bracket etc was salvaged off a rough Vendo 39 I had laying around. I did some wheeling and dealing on the cooling unit it was restored by Nostalgic Restorations.

This will be a ongoing thread until the machine is done, I figure it will take a few months 2-3. Im currently taking the machine apart and fixing alot of the problems myself. The bodywork and paint will be done by Nostalgic Restorations.

This is what the machine looked like when I bought it.



After all the parts were located





The overall of the machine shows its true colors very rough, The front main door has severe rust in the bottom, and at the very top where the main door gasket attaches, also the lettering has what looks like a grinder hit it? Also the cabinet is very rusty with severe beltline rust, and rust around the vents, VERY ROUGH it literally falls apart and you can stick a screwdriver through it. Thankfully I was fortunate enough to get a very near rust and dent free cabinet from Marvin last weekend.







more to come...

[coke_and_stuff]

After disassembling the front door, I sandblasted it as with a donor door removed from a Vendo 80. I took the Vendo 80 door and cut the bottom off. While sandblasting I found that this 81A has had work done to it before and found alot of body filler and previous repairs.

Rust through below the bottle door opening



The stamped lettering after the sandblasting



The damage at the very top of the main door



I wish that I would have taken some pictures of the Vendo 80 door before I cut it, This is what the front door looks like now after I tack welded the new lower portion in place.



Inside of main door, Keep in mind this entire door will be gone over and the inside will be sandblasted once I get the repairs done.



As this project goes further in the works I will update and post more info and pics in this thread.

Joey

[collecture]

This will be a good reference thread for a lot of people. Thanks Joey for taking the time to snap pics.

[RC kid]

I look forward to the next installment/post.

[coke_and_stuff]

Here are some more progress pics, Today I focused on fixing the rusty are on the top of the cabinet.

Picture of what I started with today


I cut the same area out of the Vendo 80 donor door


After its been welded into place, It will still need some more grinding but very close.


Some pics of the very nice cabinet Marvin supplied me with.


So Clean, that black stuff is tar


Vendo 80 Donor door


More to come as I get closer

Joey

[BrianB]

Wow Joey! Thanks for taking the time and effort to let us see this project from start to finish. I have a beater 56RT with a lot less rust but nearly identical in what was missing. This will definitely inspire me to get going on mine!!

[MoonDawg]

       Great welding work Joey. Don't stop now though...the letters on that 80 are
exactly the same size as an 81B 

[Kilroy]

And this has given me the idea of putting the photos during the restoration to a CD. If I end up selling, the buyer will have copy of the work and effort  involved.
Definitely keep this thread going with you milestones Joey

[coke_and_stuff]

Thanks for the kind words guys, It will remain an A as Im weird and have a soft spot for them, I guess im really weird as its going to be all red and not two toned.

Joey

[collecture]

Don't stop now though...the letters on that 80 are exactly the same size as an 81B

With the green bottle door medallion, you could make a fantasy 81C?