Vintage Coca-Cola Machine: Decorating Your Home With An American Classic

J. Sloan — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:42:24 +0000

Old Coca-Cola machines are prized by lots of Coca-Cola enthusiasts, and quite a few want a Vintage Coca-Cola machine that really works and vends a Coke bottle when they drop their nickel or dime inside. Lucky for them, a good number of these machines have survived and are readily available by specialists who refurbish them as well as provide parts for an enthusiast to do their own restoration if they wish.
Often, some of the most antique Coca-Cola machines are not much more than a metal box with the recognizable Coca-Cola script logo emblazoned across it. Essentially these were ice boxes designed specifically to be stocked with bottles of Coke and ice. Glascock was one manufacturer of such early vending units.
The next stage in the progress of a device to serve Coke to the public was similar to the first type, but this next vintage Coca-Cola machine was refrigerated and did not require any ice. It was less messy and required no steady supply of ice, but of course had to be near a source of electricity and could need expensive repairs. These seem to be harder to find than the non-refrigerated models because they likely broke down and were discarded.
A major breakthrough came when vending machines became coin-operared. One example displayed Coke bottles through a glass door and, after you deposited your coin, you would pull on the bottle and it would release. One problem with this machine, however, was that if you didn't pull correctly, you just might lose the bottle and your coin!
The next type of machine dispensed the bottles one by one and was less likely to jam or malfunction. A popular maker of the early vintage Coca-Cola machine was Vendorlator in California. In the mid 20th Century they had a large market share. The Vendorlator 33 had a strange top opening and was quite small holding only 33 bottles. Other models were bigger than refrigerators. Vendorlator made machines for Pepsi as well, but rival Vendo made only Coca-Cola machines.
Most early coin machines were nickel machines, and you needed an actual nickel coin. As they became more sophisticated, some could make change, at first only from a dime, and eventually for other coins and, in modern times, even for dollar bills. For most, changing the price was pretty much impossible.
Glass bottle vending came to an end by the 1960's when canned soda pop became available. This new container provided several advantages including less breakage, quicker cooling, and no need for bottle cap openers/receptacles. Glass bottle machines had all but disappeared by the end of the 20th century, except as collectibles and curiosities. Newer vending machines now dipense plastic bottles, but there was just something magical about getting an actual glass bottle of Coca-Cola out of machine. For those craving to relive this experience (or perhaps delight in it for the first time), all it takes is a little browsing until you find the perfect old Coke machine for your kitchen or game room. And as you and your guests gulp down a cold bottle from your antique Coke machine, you're sure to realize the other benefit to owning one of these treasures of Americana...they make great conversation pieces!

Antique Bottles and Bottle Collecting » 20th Century

Vintage Coca-Cola Machine: Decorating Your Home With An American Classic