Newbie questions

I am thinking about getting a fully restored Vendo 81 or 56.  I have some questions since this will be my first machine.

1.  How noisy are these old machines?  Are they something you wouldn't mind having in a living room or close to a TV?  

2.  How much does it cost to run one of these machines?  Will I notice it on my electricity bill?

3.  How often do you need to change the drip pan?

4.  Is there anyway to have these machines vend both bottles and cans at the same time?  

5.  What size bottles can they vend?  Will all 12 oz glass bottles fit?  Can they handle the Mexican Coke bottles?  Will any plastic water bottles fit?  How about the small Coke plastic bottles?

6.  How is the market going on these machines?  If one spends $5000 today will he more than likely be able to get his money back 5 years from now?  I guess if I think of it as a good investment it will be easier to justify the purchase price knowing that if I wanted to I could get my money back.

Thanks for you help.

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[johnieG]

Well here's my two cents worth:

1. They are about as noisy as a refrigerator of the same size.

2. The typical machine has between a 1/5-1/4 HP compressor in it plus usally two 4 watt fan motors so again think of it as a refigerator for energy usage ( the newer compressors are more energy efficent, than the old OEM ones "original equipment manufacture")

3. depends on the relative humidity, so if the unit's in an air conditioned house much less than a humid garage area, some units have evaporator pads that help

4/5. No, not with the Vendo 81 & 56, they handle only bottles,
8oz-16oz. glass depending mostly on the Diameter of the bottles, the small plastic "contoured" Coke bottles work, but Not the 1/2 liter "fat" ones, small diameter plastic water bottles will work also.(cans will fit the diameter requirement, but there's no way to "Grab them" to pull them out of the rack.)

6. personally I buy the Machines for enjoyment, but on average they seem to appreciate as time goes on, take the VMC44 for example, they got so popular that Wurlizer is reproducing them. it's only a matter of time before somebody starts on the Vendo 56/81 is my guess. I mean the 44 is nice, but I like multi-flavor vendor's more. the market will bear the truth, it's good old supply & demand. as more or less bottled soda's are avalible, you'll see an increase in the market for the old square-corner can-vendors. so there's my option....
later! JohnieG  
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[Pat Pixley]

I have to agree with Johnie on this he is dead on.
And like  Johnie I enjoy them also.

Pat P.