Thinking about getting a soda machine for the game room

[RetroHacker]

Yeah - now that's a machine I remember. I think that was one of the machines that was in the bowling alley.

The itty-bitty Dixie Narco posted above reminds me a lot of the one I'm thinking of - only smaller. The machines I remember were full size, but had very similar looking buttons and lighted front. The place where the can came out was black metal all around, it wasn't mounted in the lighted front part like modern machines.

-Ian

 

[phineas foo]

ok, weird... LOL. Everyone has a different taste preference I suppose!

 

[mhkohne]

Why not go with a fountain dispenser instead? They take up a much smaller space and the taste as we call know is MUCH better from a fountain! I got a cornelius 4 head dispenser off of CL here in Portland for a mere $100 with a 1980's DR Pepper Logo on it. It is the shit! Don't get me wrong, the vendo's and other machines are still cool, but the fountains are my fav!!

I've thought of that, but I'd drink WAY too much soda if I had a fountain. Soda machines also feel like they are less work for me - fill 'em up, plug 'em in and leave 'em be. Fountains need a little bit more work than that (not a LOT more, but a little more).

 

[cadillacman]

REMEMBER HOJO COLA??? msn thst was some rough krap...

Yep, MD for me too. Mountain Dew was also the first aluminum can I saw, and the first one with the tapered top. Remember when the cans were tin? The soda cans with the smaller peel back pull tabs were my favorite. I remember Mark IV soda, Elf soda, Holiday Polka Dot Soda and various store brand sodas had those peel back tabs. You could get them in any flavor, Cola, Root Beer, Creme Soda (the can for Cream Soda was always light blue for some reason), Lemon Lime, Grape and Orange, later Strawberry and Black Cherry.

 

[Shoegaze]

Seems like as good a thread as any to ask... would it be an option to power up a soda machine for the weekends and power it down when it'd be unused, or do these things want to be "always on"? I'm also considering one for the game room, but the missus is worried about the cost of running one 24/7. I just want to make sure I'm not going to kill the compressor by making it chill from room temperature once every week.

 

[MrGorf]

I'd love to get one of the older ones that dispensed bottles. I want to put stuff like IGI root beer and cream soda in it, and they only come in bottles.

 

[Schusler]

I'd eventually like to get a 70's or early 80's RC cola machine. Something like this...

Are these uncommon and a rough idea on price?

 

[BubbaK]

Seems like as good a thread as any to ask... would it be an option to power up a soda machine for the weekends and power it down when it'd be unused, or do these things want to be "always on"? I'm also considering one for the game room, but the missus is worried about the cost of running one 24/7. I just want to make sure I'm not going to kill the compressor by making it chill from room temperature once every week.

You won't kill the compressor doing this, but in the end you won't end up saving that much in electric. If you keep it loaded, the product gets cold and almost acts like an insulator keeping the temp fairly consistent and the compressor operating at a minimum. A soda machine is much more efficient when it is full as opposed to empty. It will take hours to cool the product down to a stable temp, so if you let it warm up during the week and cool on the weekends, the compressor will have a longer run cycle, using more electric. Not to mention what would happen to the sodas or whatever you will be putting into it having them get hot and cold all the time..

 

[koolmoecraig]

Yeah - now that's a machine I remember. I think that was one of the machines that was in the bowling alley.

The itty-bitty Dixie Narco posted above reminds me a lot of the one I'm thinking of - only smaller. The machines I remember were full size, but had very similar looking buttons and lighted front. The place where the can came out was black metal all around, it wasn't mounted in the lighted front part like modern machines.

-Ian

Reviving a dead thread here...

Does anyone know the model name for this machine? The pic in post #21. Thanks!

 

[Creighton]

Sorry can't help on the model. But I'll work on in it.
You can go to:
www.soda-machines.com
To look through the database. No need to register.
The wave sign and push buttons make it early 70's. Maybe a Vendo or Dixie Narco.
Word of caution on the electric vend models, the vend motor is a very hard part to replace if toast. This style of machine didn't last long and most went to the scrap yard.
Not much for available parts
The Cavilier USS-64 will vend bottles and cans. Great machine for home use.
Creighton
moderator SMC