Vendorlator VMC 340

[johnieG]

I found the compressor plate. The serial number starts with J5P.

I would suppose that is a 1955 compressor?

The case serial number is 340-4XXX so I suppose this is the ~4,000 VMC 340 unit made in 1955.

And it's in my garage!

AND:

An 8 ounce coke bottle fits perfectly and disppenses properly!


Ok, now you only have to stock the other 339 bottles! 

[MoonDawg]

If you buy at the right time you should be able to fill that machine for around $400.   

[FlaJunkie]

Ok, now you only have to stock the other 339 bottles!  laugh

Yup! After I do whatever it is I will do to it!

Look what I found in the back of the machine!

[FlaJunkie]

If you buy at the right time you should be able to fill that machine for around $400.    

Nah, about $255 at Walmart! Per ounce it costs about 3 times as much as 16 ounce bottled coke.

It'd be even cheaper at Sams' if they had it.  

[FlaJunkie]

I found some other data on grandamericajukebox about serial numbers and dates.

At first, I discounted it because my model wasn't there. But I went back and looked at the VMC 77.

My compressor baseplate is a  J 5 P and XXXX.

Hmm. J could be VMC 340 specific.
5 is probably 1955.
But P? If it's a month? K should be December.

[johnieG]

Yup! After I do whatever it is I will do to it!

Look what I found in the back of the machine!

if you pull those old refillable bottles out, look at the bottoms, they should have a bottling plant ID & date on them... might help you get a time-line on your machines working past...

[FlaJunkie]

Is there a specific drain hole/pattern on this machine?

I assume it will produce a lot of effluent in my humid Florida garage.

Does a drain pan hold enough in terms of days/evaporation?

What are your experiences?

[FlaJunkie]

if you pull those old refillable bottles out, look at the bottoms, they should have a bottling plant ID & date on them... might help you get a time-line on your machines working past...

Good idea. From all the literature and pictures I can find, it has to be a 1955 model...or early 1956 at the very latest.

The series was described in the Billboard article I posted earlier from 1955.

The white tops were a new design phase in 1956.

My guess is the machine was made in 1955.

It's no telling when the bottles in it were made or their dates.

[FlaJunkie]

It is with a heavy heart that I announce...

I'm going to have to repaint this machine!

It's got tons of wear on it; It was in service from '55 to 2019!

It has external rust and extra orange paint, and corrosion. I cannot save the original finish. On top of that, there are many dings in it.

The insides need some TLC. Here goes...

[FlaJunkie]

What types/kinds of metals are inside the 340?