SMC Discussion Areas

Hi. I'm new to the soda machines world.

I bought a VMC 340, sight unseen on Marketplace, and am looking for ways to get it to my home. In the meantime, I've a few pics of it.

I'm posting in the Pre 60's because I think it is in that era. I'm not sure.

I know it is the 'behemoth' of soda machines back then. At least I know NOW. It weighs ~600 pounds and is 30x35x77! When I first saw it, I did not realize how big it was but I like a small challenge.

My future goal is to evaluate it and refurbish as needed. I don't use the word restore anymore because some fellow car guys pointed out restore means to factory specs with factory parts. Anything else is refurbishment.

The full frontal:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/full-image.jpg)



The front showing some lower 'idiot' damage:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/front-damage.jpg)



The "Here's a Coke" side:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/Heres-a-coke.jpg)



The compressor:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/compressor.jpg)



The bottle drop:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/bottle-drop.jpg)



The 340 bottle rack:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/bottle-rack.jpg)



The coin door:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/coin-door.jpg)



The coin mechanism:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/coin-mech.jpg)



Drink Coca-Cola:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/front-drink.jpg)




Oh, and this is the last thing I refurbished:

My 1970 Camaro Z28. I've owned it since late 1971.


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/Z-28.jpg)



(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/Spring_Turkey_Run_2012s.jpg)

Welcome to the site. Now, about your machine. I don't know how much you paid for it, (hopefully it's minimal), but honestly I would leave it there and for the reason when you said it weighs 600lbs. Next to impossible to move and overall just too big. It's not worth the cost or effort to do anything to it. I would look for a much smaller model to start with, in the long run I think you would be glad you did.   

Aww, goose! Where's your sense of adventure?   :biggrin:

I've actually been through that entire logic trail and it gives me a headache.   :darn:  But I like a challenge.

I've already ordered a manual for it. One of my ideas is to disassemble it for transport. I didn't say it was a good idea. It really depends on if I want to spend the time and money to do it.

And I didn't pay very much for it. Thanks for the comments.

It looks like the bottle drum will slide forward and out, then lift the main door up and off it's hinges. You will then be transporting in 3 pieces.

Cool. Thanks for the tip.

Do the manuals from funtronics include disassembly info?

Or......just have AAA pick it up on a flatbed, seriously.

You would be surprised how difficult it is to find moving companies that will move a soda machine. Most will not mix or combine loads. The few that would give an explanation said union and other regulations prohibited it.

I have found one that offered a reasonable quote but could not guarantee a window for pickup.

The plot thickens...

I believe most local towing companies don't care what they flatbed its still $$$$$$ to them. I have seen heavy machinery on flatbeds and even a garden shed on one. As long as they have easy access to the item and can pull up close to it they should be able to do it for you.

Also, nice 1970 Camaro Z28 you have. I myself have a 1970 Chevelle SS396.

I may have someone that will bring it to me. This is a 700+ mile move. I also have a quote from a moving company. Both are reasonable for my boat-anchor VMC 340!

Back in the fall of 1970, I went down to Spence Chevrolet in Daytona Beach to look at a brand new 1970 Z28 they had for sale. I found it in the side lot; It was red with black stripes. Wow!

But right behind it was a 1970-71 Chevelle SS 454. It was white with black stripes and had a four speed. The very neat thing about it was it had a bench seat. I thought THAT would be better for dates than buckets!

My dad wouldn't co-sign for me so they never happened. A year later near Thanksgiving, I found the one I now own in the classifieds. It had headers and 14,000 miles on it. I paid $1900 for it.

To this day, I have never seen another Chevelle optioned like that one!

Goose, I do have options including selling it to someone else and escaping the moving fiasco. I really want a smaller machine around late 40s or 50s to play with.

But if I can get it here reasonably, I will take a chance!

Thanks for the advice.

Truth be told, my brother and I had a friend that owned a family member purchased 1970 Conv. SS396 Chevelle with a bench and column shift automatic!
Our friend's aunt, yes aunt, ordered the vehicle new with the bench seat! Definitely not something you see too often!
My hat's off to you for keeping your Z-28 ! ! !  Wish I still had my '69 Trans Am...
Good luck with the VMC-340 too!

Love the old GM F body!

I thought the machine belonged to your neighbor or something, a 700 mile move, yikes! If you have a buyer for it I would sell it, no question. Buy yourself a Vendo 39, Vendo 80, VMC 33. Those are all great starter machines because they can be found relatively cheap and all 3 are a 50's machine with a classic design, plus will fit in any pickup truck or SUV with no help. Plenty of manuals, parts, decals for those machines as well. 

I took your advice and looked around. I cannot find anything as cheap as what I have right now, even with shipping. And I really like the "look" of the 340.

I have found plenty of refurbishing materials. I can completely rebuild any rusted out parts; I've done it before for my Camaro.

Monday, I'll make a decision whether to keep it or resell it.

I like the Vendo 44; it's such a cute machine but hard to find. Thanks again for the advice.

A 700 mile drive cannot come cheap even if the machine and gas were free!
I agree with Ray, find a collectible machine. (He hauls VMC 33's home in the back seat of his car).
There are members here on this site that are living in Florida as well, I'm sure they can help give you a few leads.
Trust us on this one, there's not much use for that old 340, other than to gut it and make it into a cool looking Coca Cola collector's coffin!  :biggrin:

I received the VMC 340 service manual copy today. Interesting.

This unit was designed for easy disassembly and servicing.

They mention service bulletins. Is there any place that may have them preserved?

Well, the shipper is picking it up today; I should see its' battered and tired carcass in my garage this weekend.

I ordered some aluminum appliance rollers to move it around. I even picked a space for it.

The height problem is an issue; one of my Craftsmen cabinets is one inch too low for the rollers. I will have to remove the cabinet tomorrow.

Pre-ship pics...

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps1.jpg)


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps2.jpg)


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps3.jpg)


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps4.jpg)


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps5.jpg)


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps6.jpg)


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps7.jpg)

Does anyone else here have an original 340?

I wondered if mine is missing some sheet metal on the front bottom and backside of the compressor.

In its new home!   :biggrin:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/9-26-2020.jpg)

maybe it's missing an Optional kick-plate?

Maybe. Or maybe it's been broken off.

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/ps7.jpg)



Here's a brochure image:

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/1950VMC-340.jpg)

Huh, looks like someone got busy with some tin-snips , maybe to remove some unsightly rusted Sheetmetal along that bottom edge ( they can now proudly state that it’s rust-free)  :biggrin:

Yeah, but no worries. It can easily be replaced.

I took a closer look at the machine this morning. It looks like there is corrosion along the seal outside. I dunno if that means a complete refinish or if I can feather in the paint.

Neither, I would leave it just the way it is......

This was painted with a quart of Rustolium and a mini roller over 5 years ago. It still draws in customers daily because the large size makes it visible from far away.
You don't have to spend a ton of money to enjoy these old embossed machines.

Cool. I am trying to decide how far I will go.

Found this in a Billboard magazine!

17 April 1954!

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/Billboard-17-April-1954A.png)

I need a replacement door lock.

It is listed as a part number 2182 assembly. I'm guessing one of the other models in that timeframe would work.

Any ideas?

I found the compressor plate. The serial number starts with J5P.

I would suppose that is a 1955 compressor?

The case serial number is 340-4XXX so I suppose this is the ~4,000 VMC 340 unit made in 1955.

And it's in my garage!

AND:

An 8 ounce coke bottle fits perfectly and disppenses properly!


(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/bottle.jpg)

If you buy at the right time you should be able to fill that machine for around $400.    :blush:

Yup! After I do whatever it is I will do to it!

Look what I found in the back of the machine!

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340//IMG_4419s.jpg)

Nah, about $255 at Walmart! Per ounce it costs about 3 times as much as 16 ounce bottled coke.

It'd be even cheaper at Sams' if they had it.   :happydrinkers:

I found some other data on grandamericajukebox about serial numbers and dates.

At first, I discounted it because my model wasn't there. But I went back and looked at the VMC 77.

My compressor baseplate is a  J 5 P and XXXX.

Hmm. J could be VMC 340 specific.
5 is probably 1955.
But P? If it's a month? K should be December.

if you pull those old refillable bottles out, look at the bottoms, they should have a bottling plant ID & date on them... might help you get a time-line on your machines working past...

Is there a specific drain hole/pattern on this machine?

I assume it will produce a lot of effluent in my humid Florida garage.

Does a drain pan hold enough in terms of days/evaporation?

What are your experiences?

Good idea. From all the literature and pictures I can find, it has to be a 1955 model...or early 1956 at the very latest.

The series was described in the Billboard article I posted earlier from 1955.

The white tops were a new design phase in 1956.

My guess is the machine was made in 1955.

It's no telling when the bottles in it were made or their dates.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce...

I'm going to have to repaint this machine!

It's got tons of wear on it; It was in service from '55 to 2019!

It has external rust and extra orange paint, and corrosion. I cannot save the original finish. On top of that, there are many dings in it.

The insides need some TLC. Here goes...

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/9-26-2020.jpg)

What types/kinds of metals are inside the 340?

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/bottle-drop.jpg)

Just saw your response, thanks for the update.

I plan to start restoring the old beast this summer!   :biggrin:

So Summer is here; My plan is to take it apart and send the casing to a local body shop to repair. From there, to a nearby powder coater.

I plan to disassemble the bottle rack and refinish it.

I need to send the compressor somewhere close to restore it.

Any and all tips and hints will be welcomed!

Help me restore this gargantuan machine from the past!

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/9-26-2020.jpg)

Keep us posted with your progress as you move forward with this project ! ! !

My wife is going to spend a month in Michigan taking care of her first grandbaby. I can get started on this project right after I finish the second edition of my book, "Citizenship 1928." The first edition was a POS!

I'm going to start by disassembling the unit into four sections: The rack, the door, the coin mech, and the casing. Then I'll examine it and decide how far to restore each section.

More next week.

Well, hello, all.

Been a while, like two years. Ironically, I am just returning with my wife from a 45-day visit to Michigan. I not only finished the second edition of my book Citizenship 1928, but I put out a third (and final) edition.

I really want to restore the VMC 340. I have been looking for a replacement lock to no avail.

Does anyone at least have one from a 340 or 149 dated mid-fifties?

I'd like to be able to see what I am missing. I need the pieces identified by the red arrows.

(https://jimtippins.com/VMC340/lock80.jpg)

Maybe it looks like this with the threaded end?
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/e8sAAOSwJnBkS8Vr/s-l1600.png)

A 340 lock is a round plug style functionally like a Glasco-50 or an Ideal 55, or even an early Choicevend, you remove the lock cylinder & use an Allen headed crank to unscrew the door lock-rod.

Is that part number 83 above? Do you have a picture of a real one?

The lock cylinder is #84, #83 is the lock’s receiver body & #82 is a trim ring.  I don’t have a picture unfortunately, but I remember helping Pat from Custom soda works when he was restoring one for a customer a few years back... try contacting him via Facebook  or at customsodaworks.com.    He watches our Facebook group Classic soda machines also.

I took another look...I am missing the trim ring as well!

I'll check with Pat.

In the meantime, I found the outer lock mechanism at sodajerkworks.

I wonder if this part is really correct. And what else would I need to make a functioning lock?

https://www.sodajerkworks.com/onlinepartscatalog/vendorlator-vmc_644/149/hp20j-lock-keys-detail (https://www.sodajerkworks.com/onlinepartscatalog/vendorlator-vmc_644/149/hp20j-lock-keys-detail)

That is the correct lock assembly, the door latch portion i akin to an ideal55's locking screw as I recall