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Hi all,

Came across this searching today, I thought it was a decent find, but correct me if I'm wrong...Looks like a Vendo 81 for $400 out in St. Louis, relatively complete, I'm waiting to hear from the owner on the overall condition.  If this was close to me, I'd be all over it, and I'm not sure what it costs to ship, but I might be able to make the difference up.

Feel free to jump on it if it's actually a decent machine, just wanted to pass it on to the board...

Here's the CL listing:  http://stlouis.craigslist.org/clt/972177529.html

-tom

          Looks to be an 81D with the Coke letters bondo'd over as well as the hole
for the crank handle, then converted to electric. I've seen the Coke letters also
smashed in and /or ground off. If so this may be just a parts machine, still priced
right.

Missing coin mech and ??, but still a good buy!
Jump on it!

Could be a generic too, but probably an 81D Coke like Glen said as it has the Vendo coin entry bezel and not a VMC bezel.

Tom,

If you don't get this please let me know. It's very close to me and I've been looking for a 81.

Brian

Brian,

Go get it!!!  I'm in VA, so it's going to cost a bit to ship it.  I really was hoping someone was close on the board and I could help them out, since I thought it was a good deal.  I emailed with no response, but the Ad says to go to the store.  Let me know how it works out!

One of these days one will pop up around here...

-Tom

I called the store a couple of times but no answer. I left them a message on the answering machine so we'll see. 

I have a buddy in St Louis that could pick that up today if I could get ahold of someone at the store.

Could turn out to be just another one of those deals that slips away. :darn:

Update - my email was returned and it's still for sale!  :happydrinkers:

I sent back an email asking for a good phone number to talk about the particulars so maybe this will happen. :hopefull:

Last chance Tom! :smile:

       As Tom Stated, if it were generic it would have VMC bezel and VMC dimple
on the fromt door (hard to tell if that's there). Bottle door would not have the
cutout for the medallion but I am guessing it's just been painted blue. Lastly, the
generic would not have the stainless steel strip dividing the white and blue.

      Go fot it Brian  :happydrinkers:

Well, take some good pics and let us know the details...I'm very curious.

It looks like the Coke red was just painted over, judging by the big red chip mark above the coin door.  I don't really know much about these, still new to the hobby, but I did look them up.  It looks like the VMC on the bottom (Pepsi) has the chrome strip, and is electric: http://www.vintagevending.com/vendo-v-81s-and-vmc-81-soda-machines

Damn thats some cool pictures of the VMC plant. I noticed no yellow RC 81s in the lineup!!!

Joey

I did a quick color adjustment in Photoshop, they really are some cool pics...

That is cool!
I don't see any big '10 cent' decals or 'hand and bottle' decals on any of them either!  :tounge:

         Don't see any yellow RC machines but 2 red & white ones.They are so
similar to the transitional machines of the 60's.
         Also, do we spot a few generic Coca Cola's in that line?

Looks to be a generic Nehi in the background. If you look at the pictures it looks like the 7up on the side in half way done on some? Wonder if this was the decal area of the plant?

I cant get over those pics, It looks as if the floor moves like in a big circle or oval maybe?

Joey

That's a great pic.  Amazing to see all those new machines lined up like that.  I need a time machine!

I'd jump on that machine. Yeah, those factory pictures sure are cool.

those photos are awesome... sure would be cool to have some hi res shots of that.... curious though ,as if that was an assembly line, why would all the brands be mixed up.. you'd think they would make Coke machines one day, then another day or week , switch to Pepsi, or 7up.. etc... not mix them all up like that? maybe it's just press photo or a trade publication ad for VMC??
Still very cool!!!

Maybe the machines were built to order? If you look on the tops on some of them there is a piece of paper. Maybe thats like a build sheet for a car?? What mech, color, paint scheme, decals, etc. I was looking at the pic earlier and noticed all split vent cabinets, also the paint scheme on the RC machines is very late 1950s early 1960s you find it more on transitional machines and the early squaretops. Maybe a farewell photo of the last 81s built???

Joey

I have seen several RT81's painted in the red and white paint scheme and figured that they had been repainted by the bottler. I guess they came that way. that may be the reason the embossed Rc 81's are so rare. If most were made generic 200 units embossed sounds more like a test run and they decided to go with the generic instead.

Well?... Anyone get that machine?... I emailed them and they said two people were coming to look at it - so consider it sold.... It was about a 45 minute drive for me.

I was told I was #2 but somebody was sending their son over today to get it.  If he didn't show, I was supposed to get it but I haven't heard anything. 

If that shop was open yesterday I think I may have gotten it. :censored:

On to the next one I guess!

Gee, when I got my first Vendo 39 I told myself that was it.  I wasn't going to own more than one machine.  Now my whole basement is full of coke and candy machines and I'm still trying to find more.

It's a sickness I tell ya!  :drinking:

      Hmmm....Coke, letters may be history, bottle stack is electric and  needs to be
altered or replaced, coin mech. & crank handle need to be replaced.
      $1000.00 in repair cost so far plus the $400.00 purchase price?
      Time to crunch the numbers & apply that money to an un-molested 81.
     
     

Doesn't that thing have a V80 coin door on it?

V80 coin door would be to shallow, They either filled the hole, or robbed a coin door off a early squaretop with electric mech.

Joey

Looking at that line up... Royal Crown had changed their logo, slogan to be more “Update”...
That diamond look was late 50s...same on the bottles and coolers...
The old embossing and slogan was no longer the look they where going for and didn't see the need to pay for dies for the embossing just went with the screen printing like Dr Pepper and others... Also bet that Nehi in the back row is the side of a Royal Crown since they did the
same to their coolers.
Wonder if there are any embossed Barq's in that mix or ???? Love to have a time machine
and check that out. Great pics!

The main thing is, if you are going to restore the thing back to original condition, add the cost of a coin door to the already costly restoration.

The generic RC 81 in that Photo is red and white. I have on that is red and blue. (see photo). I also attached a pic of my embossed 81.

Tom (tkaz)- Where in VA are you located? I live in VA as well. I could show you some 81's if you would like.

The first picture of the factory with the green "fence" looks to be where the workers kept their stuff for applying paints, decals, etc.  If those folks only knew the $$ they were looking at 50 years later.  Wonder what stuff we have that'll be worth a ton to our kids?

Gumbo,

Not sure if you ever saw the thread, but I was the one who bought that Pepsi USS-64 from you earlier this year.  I'm in Falls Church, and if I remember correctly, your not too far away.

I'd be interested in checking some 81's out at some point...

Tom,
Sure anytime. I'll PM you.
Anderson