Vendo 81A - First Round Top

[rcosner]

Hello all.  This is my first post here, and my first round top... I probably paid too much, I don't know it seemed like a fair price that I got it for.   $2500.  The outside looks pretty good, the inside looks un-molested.  I'll be posting here probably looking for help, I don't think the light works. I haven't plugged it in yet, it's still recovering from horizontal travel.  It was plugged in at the pick up location though, and didn't see the light working.   I honestly don't know how this works at all, does it only light when you put money in?  The Pepsi one right next to it has the lights always on.

Anyway, with no further delay... here it is.

[mznb1u]

Welcome to the site!  Nice looking Vendo 81A!  Appears to be a survivor in good original condition--hopefully no beltline rust.  If that is original paint and it cools, you did well on the price. If you plan to keep it as is and just clean it up, I would strongly suggest that you get a new wiring harness to make sure all of the wiring is safe.  That looks almost too nice to restore as they are only original once.

  Tim

[briandr1]

I agree if its original paint it displays well I would rewire it and leave it alone.

[mygoose101]

One of my favorite machines! I think it's a re-paint but either way for $2,500 you did very well.

The ice cold lettering was added to the bottom, not original for that machine, was embossed on early version Vendo 39s but looks good. The main door gasket appears to be white? Originals came black so perhaps that was changed at some point. The ID tag on the left side is placed too high as it should be lower. The coin door decals look new, these are just things I noticed that makes me think it's a re-paint but hard to tell from a picture. 

As far as the light, it does have a button/light switch so not sure if you saw that, if you did and still doesn't work then try replacing the light bulb first, hopefully that is all it needs.

Solid investment at $2,500 and you can even plug it in and enjoy it. Nice work.
 

[Ltransam]

Nice Machine !! You did Well !! Most likely an older Restoration Or Repaint as said 
Never saw an Original painted machine with the Ice Cold on bottom.

At the lease check the Wiring harness to see if its been replaced If Not Best to replace it 

[johnieG]

Very nice find!

The light for the door is probably a manual “ Push to Start” type. There should be a push-button on the inside of the machine just above the bottle-door if it is, just push it in once, look for the ends of the door lamp to start to glow,  & release it. It should light up & stay on, if not, try it again, if the light doesn’t “ strike “ & stay lit, then it’s either a bad bulb, ( it’s a florescent light BTW) , or a bad ballast.

Give it a try.

[rcosner]

Ok, I found the button for the light, or the remnants of it.  Anyone have any links to how to replace this and/or where to get a replacement switch?

Here are more inside pics, including the mangled button.

[rcosner]

I think I found what I am looking for.  So to be clear, I have to replace both of these?

https://www.fun-tronicsllc.com/all-bulbs-and-ballasts/repl

[johnieG]

That is a good replacement kit, but all you'd need to fix yours is a 4-wire switch and possibly a new lamp,  I found mine at a local ACE hardware, also, here’s a link to a discussion regarding the three basic types of fluorescent light wiring

http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,16840.0.html

[rcosner]

Ok found an old one on ebay for $10.   New ones are listed for $65+       Hopefully that does the trick.   Thanks!

So I assume I have to remove the door liner to get at this switch?  Is that correct?