Old Soda Machines

With all the other collections here, does anybody collect or restore old soda machines?

I have a '72 Cavalier USS-8-64K. Looks similar to this one:

It hasn't been powered up in quite a while, just sitting in the corner of the garage. I'm taking it to my shop later this week. In the quite time I'll be cleaning it up and restoring it. Plan is to put it back into service in the storefront.

I'm just starting to look at similar ones now to see what paint schemes might have been used on the earlier ones, without the woodgrain.

My sister collects coke memorabilia, and has an old coke machine

I've got a matching pair of late-50's Pepsi & Coke machines, but I bought them to flip.

They both need restored, but I know the compressor in the Pepsi one runs. One is a Vendo 110, and the other is a Vendolator 110. I have the matching empties rack for the Coke one too.

I have two Rock-ola's. A CCA5 and a BCC6. One is coke branded and one is a generic cold drinks. They are neat, but I have no place to actually use them. Just wish someone would come pick them up!

I'd love to get a hold of one. My uncle has one in his garage. Problem is when you hit Coke, Natty Light drops out. Unfortunately I'd rather have a Coke. My landlord has one in front of his shop. Its def not new, and works.

N Sperlo wrote: I'd love to get a hold of one. My uncle has one in his garage. Problem is when you hit Coke, Natty Light drops out. Unfortunately I'd rather have a Coke.

We had a machine like that in college. Except the button you had to hit was the one marked "out of order" and the swill of choice was Utica Club... Ahhh, the good old days.

I have nothing to contribute, other than beer-dispensing vending machines are the E36 M3.

In reply to peter:

Yep. Luckily I found out the orange soda was Bud Light. Not on my list of favorites, but it works.

Beer-dispensing vending machines are the E36 M3.

I have a 7UP branded LaCrosse 64 in my Garage. Still works. Fill it with MexiCoke.

I worked in vending a LOOONG time ago. Those machines are tough as nails, and I would expect all service parts are still available. The changers were real simple and you can logic them out. Usually they just get dirty and gummed up. Interesting, the brew type coffee machines could make a perfect cup of coffee if kept clean and adjusted. Better control of the variables than you can get at home. Notice I did not mention the glob of instant type machines.

I'm missing 5 of the 8 shelves in my machine. I have scoured the Internet and have had no luck for parts.

I do need to get Lubri-Plate to lube the mechanism.

My old barber had an old pull knob cigarette vending machine that he put candy bars in. I always thought that thing was neat.

I love old stuff. I'd love an old double cola or ski machine.

petegossett wrote: They both need restored.

Ok, repeat after me: need to be restored.

In reply to Trans_Maro:

Fair enough, they both need to be restored by someone else.

Mine seems to be cobbled together in the front. I'd guess field service by not the best techs.

Coin mechanism was rebuilt back in '91. Was working when parked.

Inner door glass pane is broken and probably could use new seals. The inner door latch, where you would open the whole front to load the machine is missing. Somewhere in its life some plate and bar stock made due. I'd like to find the correct pieces to put back in there.

Anybody know any good sources for parts for these things?

Once I get it over to the shop and things settle down a little I'll post some pics of mine.

Oh I also can't get a new fluorescent light for the 7UP logo on mine. It was a 13" bulb. I went to a couple electrical supply stores and apparently nobody makes a 13" anymore. 12" or 15", that's it and I don't have the heart to modify it.

There used to be a redneck minimart near here that had an old door-type 7up machine like that one above, except it sold cups of bait and worms off-hours when the store was closed.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Oh I also can't get a new fluorescent light for the 7UP logo on mine. It was a 13" bulb. I went to a couple electrical supply stores and apparently nobody makes a 13" anymore. 12" or 15", that's it and I don't have the heart to modify it.

Is that an F10T8? If so it looks like a few places online have them. I'll have to see what's in mine.

If the lamp behind the Coca Cola sign on mine is shot I might see about using the LED setup from an Exit sign in there. It's about the same size.

Rob_Mopar wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Oh I also can't get a new fluorescent light for the 7UP logo on mine. It was a 13" bulb. I went to a couple electrical supply stores and apparently nobody makes a 13" anymore. 12" or 15", that's it and I don't have the heart to modify it.

Is that an F10T8? If so it looks like a few places online have them. I'll have to see what's in mine. If the lamp behind the Coca Cola sign on mine is shot I might see about using the LED setup from an Exit sign in there. It's about the same size.

That may be it. I have old bulb around here somewhere, it broke apart in the machine. I taped it up so I had the model number. But god only knows where it is now.

I was thinking about a retrofit of somesort, but I don't want it to take away from the original looks.

Also does your door light up? Mine does and the only bulbs that I have found that work in it are bench grinder light bulbs. They are a weird shape.

Mine has a light in the jam area of the product door. It's another fluorescent tube in there. Longer than the one in the sign.

My brother worked as an in-flight electrician in the Air Force and he got interested in and started collecting these soda machines. Although, I think what actually got him started was an old slot machine we found in the attic of a house my family once lived in...back in the '60s, when there weren't as many casinos as there are today.

There is a market for these soda machines, but I wouldn't know about it and I haven't seen/spoken to my brother in years.

Must not be any collectors in MD. I had mine on CL for 50 for the pair, all I got was cheapskates wanting to put them back into service and one guy that would haul them away for free. Hence why they are still sitting on my porch.

Haul away for free = going to the scrapyard.

It's easier to find a person who wants one for their basement/garage/mancave then finding a collector. Collectors are too damn picky.

You could definitely update one of these with a newer high efficiency unit out of a newer fridge.

When mine goes to a pro for restoration, I'm definitely going that route so it can be used all the time without killing my electric bill. It works now, but I don't keep it plugged in.

familytruckster wrote: Must not be any collectors in MD. I had mine on CL for 50 for the pair, all I got was cheapskates wanting to put them back into service and one guy that would haul them away for free. Hence why they are still sitting on my porch.

I'm having trouble finding pictures of a Rock-Ola CCA5 or BCC6. Google's first hit is this thread!

I have a couple buddies in MD, but they aren't anywhere near you. If they were I'd be tempted to have them swing by. They each have pickups.

My ccc5 looks like this...almost identical signage

The bcca6 or whatever it is, is pretty rare, and will vend bottles OR cans of various sizes. Looks about the same, but is wider than the 5, because it vends 6 choices vs 5....

familytruckster wrote: My ccc5 looks like this...almost identical signage The bcca6 or whatever it is, is pretty rare, and will vend bottles OR cans of various sizes. Looks about the same, but is wider than the 5, because it vends 6 choices vs 5....

I think they are in the background in the break room of every '70's cop or hospital show!

I remember getting a Frank's grape soda out of a machine like that when I was a little kid. It was in the hospital where I had my tonsils out. Talked Mom into letting me get the soda when we were leaving. I threw up when I drank it at home. Guess I wasn't ready for a soda yet.