Vintage Coca-Cola Machine History

Vintage Coca-Cola machines are valued by many Coke memorabilia collectors, and many even want an old Coca-Cola machine that will actually vend the drinks. Fortunately, many of these machines have survived and there are many dealers who sell them, restore them and provide parts for repairs and do-it-yourself restorations.

An antique Coca-Cola machine may be little more than a metal box with the familiar bright red Coke logo and slogan. The first vending machines associated with Coke were not automated but simply brand name adorned insulated cases to be filled with bottles of soda and ice. Most had no lid, but this addition helped preserve the ice and the chill. Many of these survive and there are models still being made. Most have a drainage hole for melted ice on the side or on the bottom.

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.

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 goes 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 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.

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.

Bottle vending machines were supplanted when canned soft drinks became available in the 1960’s. Cans were less likely to break than bottles, chilled faster and needed no bottle openers or cap receptacles. By the end of the 20th century, most glass bottle machines had disappeared except as curiosities and collectibles, but newer machine dispense 20 ounce plastic bottles instead of cans in many machines.