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Check out this unusual cup machine I just picked up. It is all original except for the red glass at the top that reads ROOT BEER 10. The tag says that is is a Automatic Prod made in Minn. The large round decal on front is advertising Frosty Fruit Drinks. Check out the pictures. Anyone seen one before?

Nice machine! If you ever sell, I am interested. I saw a Pepsi like this before. I think a Bevco name.

Hey Rod,
Very nice original machine!
Interesting, another unknown model from APCO...
Is there an ID tag anywhere for a model number...?
And lastly, can I use this photo(s) in our Soda Machines Section...?

Cool decal, and chrome.

NICE FIND! Always nice to learn about another new machine! (at least new for me lol) :wow:

Nice machine Rod!
Doesn't look like it has ever been used.

Great Machine!!
Looks like you even have some cups.
Creighton

Wow...now that's cool!  8)

Very nice! Maybe you want to donate it to someone who works for Automatic Products  :biggrin:

One thing to note - that Automatic Products was producing cup soda's before APCO came about, so technically this may not be an APCO model.  The history is a bit fuzzy but sometime in the late 40's or early 50's Automatic Products spun off the Coffee and Cup soda side of the business and APCO was born. APCO operated for several years and eventully was absorbed by Vendo.

This one is not an APCO. The I.D. tag says Automatic Prod. Model R49-141. After inspecting the machine more last night it appears as if it was used very little. The original paint is excellent and the compressor still has all the tags on it. The inside is super clean. I still can not figure out how it works. It has a tank in the middle that has one refrig line coming up into it to cool the product. It has a motor on top of the tank with a mixing blade on the end of the shaft going into the tank. On top of the tank it has two 4" holes, one on each side. The holes have a big rubber gasket going around them. It looks like some of the early counter dispensers where the Syrup jug would be turned upside down on top the gasket. I looked the tank over and can not find where any water or carbination comes in to mix. Any suggestions???

I would assume that this was a non carbonated dispenser as the ad I have say's "Orange Drink" where yours has "root beer".

The add also goes on to say that the machine "is completely self-contained and requires no city water connections, vend the Nation's leading fruit flavored drinks at 5 cents or 10 cents.

I also have a story about Automatic Products signing an agreement to manufacture this machine in Nehi Yellow color, which at the time Nehi had several non carbonated drinks on the market.

Yep automatic products is APCO. The A from Automatic The P from Products and Co for company  :biggrin: If I relember right they changed the name to APCO later in the company life.

Automatic Products did not change their name and the brand is still alive today, but now owned by Crane Merchandising Systems who also own National Vendors and Dixie Narco.

APCO was spun off as a separate company.

Cool! Good knowledge. But your saying that the vending machines were first Automatic Products and then APCO correct?  That is basically what I meant. From the very few machines of theirs that I have seen it seems like the older versions said Automatic Products and later machines Said APCO? Is that observation correct? I am not telling I am asking as you seem well informed on the topic. I may be wrong as their products don't come up much.

You are correct the older machines would be the ones with the Automatic Products name. Automatic Products was purchased by Gross Givens Manufacturing in 1935 but continued to run as Automatic Products until 2006 at that time Crane Merchandising Systems purchased the business but continues to produce machines under the Automatic Products name. Sometime in the late 40's or early 50's (I personally believe 1949) Automatic Products spun off the beverage part of the business (Automatic Products kept the cigarette line only) into APCO. I suppose if you want to get technical APCO was still owned by Gross Givens but run by separate management. Later APCO was absorbed by Vendo - I have yet to find information on when this occurred.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes but Automatic Products has a special meaning to me as I have been an Automatic Products technical support representative for the past 7 years.  I have done extensive research on the companies early history. It took a post on an Automatic Products machine early this year to re-ignite my desire to find out the truth about the Automatic Products and APCO relationship. I found the answer in a Billboard Magazine from 1960's which explained some of the early history of Automatic Products. I feel 95% sure the above information is correct but if anyone has a different opinion or additional information I would love to see it.

Good for you sir chasing the history. It will all be gone soon without such efforts.
Creighton

I for one am absolutely not challenging you! The very limited knowledge of the company I have just came from bits and pieces from here. As a matter of a fact I believe it was even you that spoke about it in a thread a few years ago and that is where I remember it from. Thank you for sharing the knowledge with us. Creighton is right soon all of it will be gone otherwise. And also you didn't step on my toes if that is what you were referring to. I misspoke and you corrected me like you should have.

Vend_Dr can you explain how it works? What went in the two large holes with the rubber gaskets? Was it to use carbination, or was it where the two holes would hold glass jars with the product in it and it filled the tank, and the compressor kept the tank cool and then once the dime was put in it would dispense a cup and then the product?

Rod,

Sent you a PM. I belive yours might be differnt than the one I have. Mine does not have two holes like you explain. I belive this maybe a non-carb machine.

Brian

I believe Brian is right this would have been a non carbonated drink.

Since the ad I have says it did not require an outside water source I assume it must have used bottled water. I believe that one of the rubber gaskets may have held a water bottle and the other would have held the syrup jug. I think the tank with the refer line would be the water bath and that the motor with the blade would be the agitator motor - the agitator motor keeps the water in the water bath from freezing. Now being this early of a machine I suppose it is possible that the water bath may have been where they mixed the syrup with water cooled it and then dispensed it. There wasn't as many sanitation laws back then. As an example I used to work for the Griswold Coffee company which at one time manufactured a coffee machine that you had to pump the already brewed coffee into a large holding tank in the machine each morning. It would then keep the coffee hot and dispense a cup when activated by a coin. By the way does anyone have ore even seen a Griswold Coffee machine? The too would have been built in Minnesota.

Any chance of seeing photos of the inside tank area?


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