Government - Hobbies

 Vintage Coca-Cola Machine History

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 commissioner 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.

Coin operated vending machines came next in common use and popularity, although some were seen as early as the end of the 19th Century. The history of coin operated machines actually what is forensic nursing back to the 1st Century when a coin resulted in vending holy water. One type of coin operated machine had a glass door through which bottles were seen and, after a coin was provided, a customer could pull out one bottle. If you weren't careful, you might not pull properly and would lose 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 government control 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.

The majority of early coin-operated Coke vending machines required nickels and exact change. In time, with more refinements, came the ability to give change back as needed. The price of the Coke bottles themselves was always a constant in this era.