SMC Discussion Areas

So I picked up this little vending machine at a shop for 10 bucks awhile back.  It's been sitting in the garage for awhile so I decided to have a key made for it to see what it looked like inside.  From the outside it has a lot of plastic parts, but it seemed like old plastic the kind with glitter in it.  And the clear plastic was painted that teal or turquoise color that was popular in the 50's.  It also seemed pretty heavy for a toy.  Today when I opened it up there was a real 25 cent coin mech in it, no plastic here and i could see the vending mechanism more clearly as well.  The machine works off a rotating drum with 2 levers.  One lever rotates the drum to your selection and the other drum dispenses.  The only thing I can think of that could be dispensed out of this machine would be a cigarette.  I don't smoke so I don't have any laying around but my friend who does smoke said today's cigarettes are too long.  Maybe this was before filters?  The vending mech turns a row of circular discs with a notch in it just big enough to grab one cigarette.  I have tried it with some cut off ball point pens and it works fine.  
Didn't bars and clubs way back when have cigarette and cigar girls?  Maybe this was something they wore on their belts,  it does have what looks like belt hooks on the back?
Here are some pictures.  Anyone ever seen one of these?  Or have some pics of what they used to look like?  Any guesses to the age?  This one has wooden block inserts on the side but I wonder if they didn't used to have signs there advertising the cigarettes etc?

BTW it does have some black paint over spray on it that needs to be cleaned off. 

thanks for looking!

pic 1

2

3

4

5

6

      Had to study it a while but I'm guessing this is a small vending machine designed to also dispense napkins. The wooden inserts propably have springs behind them.

     Age is confusing, components look to be 40's to 50's but a quarter would have bought you a whole pack of smokes back then.

     Would go nicely displayed next to a Swami napkin dispenser.

     I can't imagine the cigarette girl with one of these on her belt.  :biggrin:

I know it generally doesn't mean much but all the patent dates on the coin mech are late 30's.  And those are solid wood inserts.  Nothing behind them but lever mech's. But I could see how maybe napkins were there originally.  It's definitely a strange little thing.  And there are no other markings on it except for a small RM molded into the front plastic piece. 
 

Looks like a tampon dispenser to me ( or some other pre-packaged/personal hygiene thingy*)


* pardon the technical jargon ... :tounge:

It's an odd bird to say the least, interesting though.

What would this have hung on?  It has those hangers on the back.  I've never seen those before.  Did counter top vendingmachines have something to keep the, from being carried off?
     And I just tried a tampon and they are too large in diameter and length,  or at least modern ones are :). We won't get into the historical sizes of tampons.....But maybe they used to be smaller.

Anyway I've been able to get the overspray off with some mineral spiritsand it doesn't look like its messed up e plAstic any.   I'm gonna clean it up and try to research it some more and  figure out how to restore it best.  Anyone know of any other resources for strange vending machines?

You have a perfume dispenser there.. It would have vended small vials of perfume in the day for perhaps 10c..
Very similar as Glen said to the Swami vendor (Madam X variants)

The lugs at the back are for holding a menu... Napkins go on the sides.

    http://www.auctionzip.com/aflive.html?method=getLotInfo&lotref=1533B0D21F&seq=32 (http://www.auctionzip.com/aflive.html?method=getLotInfo&lotref=1533B0D21F&seq=32)

Now that is what the board is all about. Job well done!
Creighton

That's what it is alright.  Easier to find info when you know what to look for.  Here's the exact machine on eBay with perfume vials to boot!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221036789603?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1461wt_922

And here's another with the sign http://www.americanheritage.us/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=3064

I'll post some pics of this when I get it cleaned up and hopefully close to original as possible.

Thank again!

Hope I didn't step on anyones toes but I have a bid in on your eBay link.
I won't need the vials. Yours if you want them and I win.
I'm pretty much at my limit and will retract if someone really wants it.
Creighton

Wow the perfume vials to fill these are collectible on their own and quite expensive I'm finding out.  My wife is loving this,  she finally feels like she has a vending machine now ;)

Whatever keeps Momma happy!

Creighton, 
      If you win and don't want the perfume I will definitely buy them from you!

Justin

PM sent and after many years, if Momma's not happy nobody is :-)
Creighton

One more question for the board about getting that black spray paint off the plastic.......what will work and not damage the plastic? 

Need to find out what kind of plastic. I would try very hot water and a bit of car cleaner with soft cotten rag first.
Stay away from acetone, windex, or any borax based cleaners.
Creighton