Antique soda machines are highly sought after in the collectibles market. Among the various brands, antique Coke machines lead the pack. Many of these machines were operated by using a semi-automatic handle that users push down to vend the product. These are the most desirable machines because they're so nostalgic. Many people like to restore these machines and either sell them for a profit as memorabilia or to enhance their own home with these conversation pieces. However, there is usually a great deal of work involved to restore these works of art.

The earliest Vendorlator coke dispensers have crank handles which push out a bottle after a coin is inserted and the lever is depressed. There is a circular mechanism that rotates when you press the handle. The bottle is spun around to the top of the circle allowing you to remove it through the opening. The ones that accepted a nickel for a coke are older than the ones that accepted a dime. If you have a nickel model it will return a nickel when a dime is inserted. Expect to do a lot of work to restore one of these antique coke machines.

Yet another mechanism which must be expected to need refurbishment or repair is a cooling unit. This is often the first thing to go on such old machines, and to get it operating again, you will generally have to have some knowledge of cooling systems or else take it to a refrigeration specialist. You may even wish to see if such a specialist in your area has ever worked on any vintage cooling units so you can get it restored as closely as possible to its original cooling capacity. It is truly hard to go about fixing such cooling systems on your own, but it may be done.

If you're restoring one of these machines you'll want to address any rust problems inside or outside of the machine. Again, if you're not familiar with how to get rid of rust effectively, seek out a professional. In many cases, part of the body will need to be replaced or filled.

After the complete refurbishing is done, the finishing touches are very important. Before that, you have to take an important decision as to what your goal is. If you want to keep it at home for yourself, consider if you want to retain the original finish. In that case you can go in for a great cleaning and polishing job. Quite often restorers go in for a full repaint job, but then its originality and authenticity is lost forever. With the old paint retained, visitors to your home will admire the originality of the piece and not take it for one of the repro machines available in the market these days. You definitely wouldn't want to be put to shame after the effort you have put in. Retaining the original finish with a bit of polishing and finishing would definitely be vastly superior to a repainted and new looking piece which could hardly be distinguished from the modern repro look. If however the original finish is really battered and worn out then it would be sensible to go in for a full paint job. You will have to decide on retaining the original color scheme or you could change it to suit your taste. The original color could always be matched by searching the internet. Needless to say that the finishing decals should not be forgotten.

Of course, other aspects of these machines will likely require attention as well when undergoing restoration. Coin mechanisms, wiring, cap catchers, and other small parts are all commonly in need of replacement or re-chroming. The good news is, a small cottage industry has popped-up in the last few years serving this market. You can now find virtually everything you would need to completely restore these machines, including copies of the "Service Manual". If you're determined to undertake the restoration process on one of these yourself, you're best bet is to start by acquiring a copy of the "Service Manual" for your particular model and go from there.

My hope is this article has given you a small taste of what is actually involved in restoring one of these wonderful machines. While it can be very satisfying to restore Vendorlator antique Coke machines to fully functional status, it's no small task either. But after it's restored, you can either sell it for a handsome profit or proudly display it in your home. Some people love having these in their game room, kitchen or even their garage. It will be a great piece of memorabilia that will enjoyed now and by future generations.