Just picked up a Vendo 56

[pete]

Hi   I am new to this so be kind. I just picked up thos Vendo 56 and everything seems to work perfectly. I see where the original crank has been replaced with an electrical coin mech and that too works perfect and even gives change.
I have been thinking I can  either leave things alone....I could restore it back to  original with the crank and all the componenets that go with it, I understand the original coin mech is hard to find and expensive, or I was thinking about adding a non working crank just to make it look original...Any thoughts???
I was also wondering about the inside, should I just clean or should I also paint some of the interior ??
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Pete

[collecture]

I can probably get you a functional crank mech, but not fully functional!
No rejector and would not even take coins even if it had a rejector - simply a free vend crank mech!
Basically a shell of a mech, but it would work.
LMK if interested and I'll look into it.

[pete]

Tom,
What I was thinking I could do was add a dummy handle and secure it to a "crank handle backing plate" The machine currently has a National Rejectors 08-31-000 coin mech in it now that functions perfectly. I would prefer to keep that in the machine and working. What I wonder about is,  if there is going to be enough room to add a crank handle and a backing plate without interfering with the current coin mech. I think the machine as is looks a bit incomplete without the handle but I am not sure it is necessary to go through and restore eveything back since it works so well as is and I hate to fix something that ain't broke..If you think you could help me with a handle I would be very grateful.
Did I read correctly you are in Arizona?  I am in Phoenix.
Pete   

[collecture]

Yeah Pete - I live in North Scottsdale.
I was thinking I could rig a mech up that you could crank.
I have a shaft for a Jacobs and I could see about extending it or you could.
Other than that, it would be a shell of a mech that would crank and that's it.
You would have to find the linkage (I think Fun-Tronics and Soda Jerk Works sell it) and convert the stack back to mechanical.
I would think for under $150, you could have a functional (original looking) setup.
If you ever find a working Large Door mech, just swap it out.
Unless you want it to take money, why have the electronic mech?

[VMC 81]

Pete, get rid of the current coin mech and get the correct one for it, put it on free vend. As for the rest of the coller just clea it up and enjoy it. Only replace what is needed for it to work. I have a nice original Pepsi 81 and all I did to it was clean it up and put on a new cord  and it looks and works just fine.

[Eric]

Just found this...nice machine... I'd clean the inside real good take all the new stuff off
as far as the mech and watch on ebay for parts... they'll come along... you're about 3 months
too late as I had and sold parts off 2 square top 56 that still had the manual cranks, handles
and such...watch as these pop up from time to time on ebay... Take her back
to her original glory... you'll find what you need.. in the mean time if you'r going to do a complete
restoration now is the time as you don't have to put all these parts back on... just have her ready
and enjoy your machine.
And sorry for the late welcome but WELCOME to the best site for vintage coin-op soda machines!
(and other odds and ends coin-op)

[Ltransam]

VERY COOOOOOOOL Eric   Great Job !!     

                                           Leonard