Only if i had the cash vendo h83a

[loman4ec]

Wash the machine first and then wipe off the decal adhesive with paint thinner or an adhesive remover. Then sand the machine as necessary. I really suggest removing the white parts from the machine and having them repaint them as well. It is rather difficult taking the machine apart but since you are doing the job it doesnt cost anything to prep it. The more you do the better it will turn out. I don't think that I would have the machine painted and leave the origional white parts unless they are really nice. You can always paint the entire machine red and just paint the door white. That is what I did on my first v56. Here is a pic of what that would look like. This machine is painted sprint red as well.

That version is nice too.
Is the "Have A Coke" white sign on the side a vinyl decal? Is it on both sides?
Thanks so much,

[loman4ec]

The signs are on both sides and they are vinyl. I just went to the local sign store and took them a picture of a machine from ebay I think and they made them for me. It is just a piece of white Vinyl with the letters cut out so the red paint from underneith showes through. I think they only charged me $30 to do both sides. If you want I can give you their number and I am sure they would send them to you.

[joesquid]

Kito,
  Too bad you're in MN and I'm (soon to be) in Maine, I could show you alot in the way of bodywork and basics in paint.  When I picked up my Vendo 144, I stumbled across an older gentleman down in Gulf Breeze, FL (I was stationed in Pensacola at the time) who restores coke machines and sells them through his coke memorabilia shop "Buccaneer Giftshop" in FT. Walton Beach.  I started bugging him with questions, he invited me down to see his operation, I noticed several machines had electrical wires hanging all over and offered my electrical expertise in exchange for his restoration expertise and use of his facilities....and the rest is history!  In the end he thought he was getting the better part of the deal so he gave me two Vendo 39s (needing parts and restoration), one Vendo 23 (even replaced the compressor for me), and one Westinghouse WC-44SK.....oh yeah and a K-line O-gauge Coca-Cola Steam Engine Train Set!! Horsetrading is such a wonderful thing!!

I figure it would be nice to assist someone else with the same passion...so if you're ever in Maine.... '>

By the way, if any of you find yourself in FT. Walton Beach, stop by Buccaneer Giftshop and tell Oscar Ring what a great guy he is (he'll probably cut you a discount too! '> )

Congrats on your new baby kito!!

[Bob K]

joesquid, where in ME are you relocating to?  I'm in MA, around 20 miles north of Boston.  Be nice to have a fellow SMC'er nearby. '>

Bob

[joesquid]

Brunswick, Me.  I'll be up there working on my ship (currently being built at Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME) for the next year and a half, then back down to (disgustingly) warm and sunny Jacksonville, FL.....gotta love the Navy!!

Maybe we can hook up while I'm up there...my wife would love nothing more than to deal with someone else who has my "sickness"'>

[BrianB]

Bath, what a great place......I take it you're pre-comming the Farragut, Eric. I had the pleasure of being a part of the precom crew for the USS Prebble (DDG-88). I kinda wish I had my current "affliction" back then, it would have kept me more busy with something a whole lot more fun! Good to see another squid with the sickness!

[vendobaldtops]

Hey Guys,

I also like the look of the early 60s square corners and really dislike the woodgrain finish of the mid to late 60s machines.  For those who want to get the cooler look (IMHO) of the Have a Coke or TGBWC sides and the all metal front door, I have found that a heat gun, maybe even a hair dryer, can take off mid 60s / replacement decals and woodgrain more effevctively...I just took off the woodgrain today and used a heat gun...it just pulled right off in big pieces.  I feel sorry for my buddy who once used a razor blade to cut it off...in small pieaces I am sure....

[joesquid]

Brian,
  You guess right, I'm going up to set up engineering dept programs (I'm the ship's GSEC) and will be up there until June 2006.  In fact I'll most likely be two machines heavier by the time I get there next month.  I've got a Vendo 56 squaretop to pick up and possibly a Cavalier CS-64 on the way up.  So how about you?

[BrianB]

Good luck to you Chief!! If you've never pre-commed before, it's alot of tough work but really rewarding. I was an STG1(SW) before I got out after 10 years to go to work for NAVSEA out here in Indiana at NSWC Crane as a Techrep for SQQ-89(v) Sonar Equipment. I'm currently in the Reserves and recently crossrated to Master-at-Arms for a bunch of different reasons.

I didn't get bit by the Soda Pop machine bug 'till I moved from San Diego to Indiana. I had to find something to do with all my new found "spare time". I figured out that leaving my watch in the house while I'm in the garage with the door shut helps simulate underway time (paint fumes and cold coffee too!)  Currently I have a biggin' square top 1960 Vendorlator VF117B-H Pepsi Machine and a recently purchased Cavalier 55D. The Pepsi machine is all ready to re-assemble, just waiting for the body to be painted and the Cav 55 is a project I just started on.

I am however always on the lookout for other machines to add to my "fleet"! '>

Different subject - Hey Josh (Loman4ec), My buddy Joe says the Candy Machine rocks (We both work together in the same engineering group at work), he's just worried about what his wife is gonna say when she see's it. He's kinda an "impulse buyer" I got him started on pop machines after I got my Vendorlator and then he thought my Stoner Junior candy Machine was pretty cool....An so it goes!