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I was at an old soda fountain where they served milkshakes this weekend and they had some old jukes and coke machines as part of the décor not for sale of course. But it was the first time I had ever seen a vendo 44 in person I was amazed at how small it was they look so much bigger in pictures, needless to say I want one now. They also had a 27 spintop and a glassco slider it was very cool to see. I also came across a ideal  slider embossed 7up but it was in bad shape no coin mech rack bottle opener or cap catcher. anyway thought I was share my new want for a nice 44.


Brian.

I don't recall ever seeing one in person, but I did see a picture of one on eBay with a man of about average height standing next to it. I realized it must be a compact machine. I've read here on the forum they can be made to vend cans. They are NOT cheap though.

I have a Vendo 44 and converted to cans and works great. Victor

44s are cheap now compared to what they used to sell for.

Joey

What are they going for now, $3000-$5000? That's still a whole lot of smackeroos.

As I said a few times on here, they still go for $2000 to 2500 this side of the river, and can still be had for under 2K every so often... I think the last one I got which about 4 or 5 months ago I paid 1650 or 1700 on the other hand V81's go for almost double the price this side ... Brian where are you located ? There's a few right now for $2500

IMO, cheap is a relative term. I would say $2000 is heap big wampum, but that's just me. No, it's not like buying a RC V81, but it's nothing to sneeze at, either.

I live in west Texas machines like that are few and far between in my neck of the woods.

         If I were to guess, I would guess the 44 was the first machine that started this collector craze.  :help:

         So small and easily moved that they usually spent most of their lives indoors, so very little restoration was needed. Plus the 6 1/2oz bottles were easily available well into the 80's.

         Today, I think the 44 is great for display but as far as value, most people would rather apply that $2K to $3K toward a multivend beer machine.  

They are great machines,, I have a super nice original in my collection and have restored a couple of them..

I've seen values all over the board.. yes... 4-5 years ago they where big money.. everyone wanted the small machine.. but then they realized the vending limitations..

Over the last 2-3 years  I've seen them 1200-1500 for rough but restorable units at Chicago... I'm hoping to run into a few more at that price range to buy as I've got interested buyers in them , now with all the conversions that are avaialable for them now.

we'll see..

About 20 years ago, I was living in KC and Sharper Image came out with restored 44s in their magazine.  The story, as I recall, and this may not be completely accurate, was that someone found a bunch of old machines in a KC warehouse.  They bought them as a complete lot and built a bunch of restored machines for the magazine.  It was one of the first times saw a restored machine and one of the first images that made me want to have one.  And of course it was a 44 that I had to have.

Went searching for any info to back up the Sharper Image story.  Didn't find out where they go them, but did find a reference to the magazine from a '91 LA Times article on a local restorer.

"The Vendo 44 commands the greatest price because it is narrow and compact, traits valued by collectors who display the machines in their homes. Hatch said he pays $1,200 to $1,500 for the tattered Vendo 44s, sinks $500 in materials and 60 hours of work into restoration and sells them for $4,500. The same machine, reconditioned, was recently advertised in the Sharper Image catalogue for $7,700."

Remember the 44 was on the cover of Sharper Image one year
8k I believe was list price

IS the can conversion difficult ?
Anyone have details ?

Very easy they are marked left and right .

all you need to do is take the clip off the back...then undo enough screws to remove the bottle rockers and slip in the can ones...

thanks

If you are looking for one to restore and you don't have much experience, make sure everything is there before you buy, if it is missing the rack and the coin mech plan on spending up to $1000 to replace them.

I actually prefer the VMC version of this machine.

My favorite machine...easily.

I may sell my others, but NOT my 44!

If I had to pick one over the other, I would pick the VMC 44 over the Vendo any time.
I just think the VMC looks cleaner without the bezel. 
I guess I'm just a sucker for a lesser produced machine as well.

When I first saw the VMC 44 some 20 years ago I didn't know of the VMC, I thought there was only Vendo 44's so I thought I was looking at a Vendo that was missing the bezel, to me it looked weird and to this day I still feel the same way. Looking at your picture Ed, I wonder what a 44, either model would look like with a stainless polished kick plate? I think it would look great. 

My vote is for the Vendo 44.  To me the VMC looks like its missing something.. but to each their own.. and Ed,.. don't feel too sorry for you to have to Look at BOTH machines every day.. geez...   :biggrin: :happydrinkers:

Well.... I cant say I see them both at the same time as I keep then apart from each other within the wife separation dwelling known as the basement..... but yeah, I enjoy my 44 sisters.

 :happydrinkers: