Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 14, 2006, 02:01:01 pm
VF81PB-5. Its a machine that I have an oppurtunity to purchase. How much is it worth restored? Right now, it has a broken piece of plastic on the front. Anyone have info on it?
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: sodaworks on May 14, 2006, 09:30:03 pm
Welcome aboard USSEnterprise,
Can you post a photo?
Can you post a photo?
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 14, 2006, 10:02:52 pm
Yeah, here.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 15, 2006, 06:11:31 am
I saw that on Craigslist.. Restored is hard to put a value on. Its worth what someone is willing to pay. I think the guy is a bit high on what he is asking for the machine.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 15, 2006, 06:43:30 am
I asked him if he would go lower and he did. I'm probably picking it up next weekend. He said that the refridgeration works.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 16, 2006, 02:03:00 pm
What brand is it? I still haven't been able to find any info on the machine...
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 16, 2006, 02:20:23 pm
If you are down that way, have a look at this machine... If I didn't just buy a can machine last night, I'd pay attention to this one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/old-vin....iewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/old-vin....iewItem
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: BryanH on May 16, 2006, 06:47:18 pm
| Quote (bubba @ May 16 2006,1:03) |
| What brand is it? I still haven't been able to find any info on the machine... |
VF is a vendorlator. Never heard of an 81 but it looks about right. Taller than a 56 and a couple more rows than a 77.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: dr galaga on May 16, 2006, 08:11:29 pm
And it looks like it is from the mid 60's.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 16, 2006, 09:34:12 pm
I thought it was a Vendorlator, but I didn't see that model in the machine section.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: loman4ec on May 16, 2006, 09:34:32 pm
I had one just like it once. Someone went crazy with a silver spray can on yours though. Unfortunatly this is the only pic I have on the one I had.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: loman4ec on May 16, 2006, 09:37:11 pm
Here is a pic of a similar 56. Your machine should look exactly like this but taller.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 17, 2006, 10:18:34 am
so with working refridge, is it worth $80? Its my first machine, for a basement gameroom. I also want a project to restore for the summer. I've already restored two em pinball machines, so this can't be worse. BTW, how tall is it?
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: MoonDawg on May 17, 2006, 10:29:10 am
| Quote (loman4ec @ May 16 2006,7:34) |
| Someone went crazy with a silver spray can on yours though. |
If Josh is correct, with a gallon of laquer thinner and a rag the front of that machine will clean up to look as blue as the inside of the front door.
The bottle stack on this machine can be modified and used for the round top 81's so it alone is more valuable than what you are paying for the entire machine. Go for it!
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: loman4ec on May 17, 2006, 11:52:05 am
The bottle door is also an Rt VMC 81 door. It is well worth the $80. The bottle mech alone is worth that.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 17, 2006, 11:59:11 am
Can anyone give me the approximate dimensions? Needs to be able to fit down basement steps (I have no exterior basement entry way)
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 17, 2006, 05:38:43 pm
Also, does anyone know what type of refridgerant it would use? I have a tank of 22 from before they banned its sale in stores.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 17, 2006, 07:24:31 pm
Most machines are R-12. As far as dimensions go, if its a bit bigger than the 56, its probably close to 5 1/2 feet tall, 26"wide, and 23" deep.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: BrianB on May 18, 2006, 07:21:08 am
Big "E",
If you've already restored (2) EM Pin's, this pop machine will be a cinch! I started in the opposite direction, Soda Pop Machine -> EM Pinballs (2, also).
The best thing about restoring/refurbishing a soda pop machine is this website and the people that use it! If you have any, I mean ANY problem with it along the way, just ask! Your machine is fairly common and a lot of folks here have restored them. Also, if you need parts for this machine you shouldn't have to hard of a time getting them either from folks here or Ebay.
Unforetunately Soda Jerk Works and Funtronics don't have a whole lot in the way of Vendorlator Square top stuff so most of the time it's easier to put out some feelers for parts here or get them from Ebay.
Welcome aboard! By the way, Are you former/Current Navy?
If you've already restored (2) EM Pin's, this pop machine will be a cinch! I started in the opposite direction, Soda Pop Machine -> EM Pinballs (2, also).
The best thing about restoring/refurbishing a soda pop machine is this website and the people that use it! If you have any, I mean ANY problem with it along the way, just ask! Your machine is fairly common and a lot of folks here have restored them. Also, if you need parts for this machine you shouldn't have to hard of a time getting them either from folks here or Ebay.
Unforetunately Soda Jerk Works and Funtronics don't have a whole lot in the way of Vendorlator Square top stuff so most of the time it's easier to put out some feelers for parts here or get them from Ebay.
Welcome aboard! By the way, Are you former/Current Navy?
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 18, 2006, 02:20:48 pm
no, just an extreme trekkie
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 18, 2006, 06:51:29 pm
will a machine like this run with modern bottled water?
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: BryanH on May 18, 2006, 07:43:17 pm
Yes but it depends on the bottle size and shape. Needs to fit through the front panel holes. Also need to make sure they're not too stubby in size or they can interfere with locking mechanism.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 19, 2006, 09:40:29 am
What about stewart's root beer? Since I can get that in bulk locally in glass bottles, it will probably be what I use.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 19, 2006, 10:05:36 pm
screw it. I'm not getting the other one. I won the machine linked to in the first page.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 20, 2006, 06:08:39 am
The Pepsi machine? Thats a nice looking machine.... As far as the Stewarts bottles go, they do not fit through my V63 bottle stack, and I think the 56 is identical. Atleast the diet Stewarts does not, most of the .5l bottled water fits through that I have tried, and even the coke plastic bottles fit, most long neck beer bottles fit, although Fosters did not.
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 20, 2006, 07:08:46 am
thanks for the link. It is a nice machine. I am suspicious about how he never shows a picture of the left side of the machine, or the back, but $200 is quite a deal
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: USSEnterprise on May 20, 2006, 07:25:43 am
Can someomne explain to me how the machine works? Does it only vend one kind of soda? What prevents people from taking more than one?
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: dr galaga on May 20, 2006, 11:05:21 am
| Quote |
| As far as the Stewarts bottles go, they do not fit through my V63 bottle stack |
They should. I have used Stewert's bottles in my V63. You may need to adjust the shelf height at the vending mechanism - there are three different levels. With one brand (forgot which one) I had to adjust it's shelf to the lowest setting and had to have the shelf above it on the highest setting!
| Quote |
| Can someone explain to me how the machine works? Does it only vend one kind of soda? What prevents people from taking more than one? |
You put the money in, a vending solenoid releases the vending mechanism and you pull the bottle out. The mechanism will only allow one gate to open (and you have to close it before the next bottle rolls down). Most "beer bottle" size soda (and beer) will work, along with 8 oz. Coke. There are a few plastic bottles that will work too. In the Chicago area, bottles from American Bottling will work (RC, 7-Up, Canfields, DejaBlue water). Some bottles (like Ice Mountain) are small but not rigid enough to drip the vending mechanism, so the solenoid stays energized. You may want to check out the advertisers above, or ebay, for a manual (I think Cola Machines offered a download so I got it quicker).
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: bubba on May 20, 2006, 07:14:35 pm
Doc... I didn't know the stack was adjustable until I actually read the manual I paid for... :o all my racks are set in the middle, but it seems that the bottle didn't fit throught the opening in the stack. I kinda wrote it off and have since run out of that supply anyway... they fit in my USS Cavailer.. My wife hasn't bought any more since, so I never adjusted the rack..
Title: Can anyone help me with some info on this machine?
Post by: MoonDawg on May 21, 2006, 11:07:13 am
I usually set all selectors to the largest setting to accept all diameter bottles, with ONE major exception .....small Coca Cola bottles. If the shelf floor is at it's lowest, and if the bottle is pulled out too slowly the gate will open for the wide part of the bottle then close slightly in the center, and not open again for the base of the bottle.