Machine age question

[scalebowler]

How do I determine how old my machine is? Do they put the manufacture date in the serial number? I have an old Vendorlator VF-165.

[Creighton]

Don't know about a date in the serial number. The can opener puts it early 60's.
Creighton

[Kilroy]

I don't believe Vendolator  used the MFG date in their serial numbers.
Vendo did, at least trough the 1950's, I don't know how far after 1960 they did,

[scalebowler]

Would they have a date stamped inside? Just curious to know.

[90grad]

Sometimes there would be a date stenciled on the liner wall sheet metal for when that was made.  That wold give you an idea on the machine's age.  I've had a couple of machines with that marked.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have a clue.

[scalebowler]

I will have to look for that. Do you where it might be?

[90grad]

It would be anywhere on the interior liner.  If it's there, sometimes you won't be able to see it unless you pull out the guts of the machine.  The stamps are decent-sized, but the vending racks and such can block you from seeing them.

[scalebowler]

I got it figured out. The machine has two dates printed in it and the later one is 67 which is about 2 years off from what I though it was. I also figured out exactly where it came from. There were some match books under the compressor deck from a gas station in union nebraska. So I got two of the mysteries of my machine solved. I really want to now find the owners of the old station and ask them if they remember the machine.

[johnieG]

if they've been watching pawn-stars, They'll claim it was stolen & demand it back...

(Just kidding)

[scalebowler]

if they've been watching pawn-stars, They'll claim it was stolen & demand it back...

(Just kidding)

Proboly worth what 2000 3000 dollars like it is? If I had the coke version I bet it would be worth 5000 or more.