Coca-Cola Vending Machine Manufacturers (1929–1970s)
This page summarizes the history, notable models, and legacy of each major Coca-Cola bottle-vending manufacturer.
Vendo (1937–1970s → Sanden Vendo)
History: Founded in Kansas City (1937) by the Pierson brothers; wartime production earned multiple E-Awards. Merged with Vendorlator in 1956; later became Sanden Vendo.
Notable Models
- Vendo 23 / A23 (1949–1960)
- Vendo 39 (1949–1950s)
- Vendo 44 (1957–1961)
- Vendo 56 (1957–1959)
- Vendo 81 series A–D (1955–1958)
- Vendo 110 / 126 / 144 / 165 (1950s–1960s)
Why it matters: Set the standard for upright Coke vending and scaled globally; design icons like the 44 & 81 define the “classic Coke machine.”
Cavalier (1930s–1970s)
History: Chattanooga manufacturer that partnered early with Coca-Cola; known for stylish uprights and smooth transition from bottles to cans.
Notable Models
- C-27 / C-51 (1940s–1950s)
- CS-64C → CSS-64 (1960–1962)
- C-96 / C-96C (1950s–1960s)
- C-105 / C-151 / C-196 / C-246 (1960s–1970s)
Why it matters: Blended aesthetics and engineering; widely used in retail and service stations through the bottle era into cans.
Vendorlator (VMC) (1940s–1956)
History: California maker of compact, efficient bottle vendors; acquired by Vendo in 1956, influencing later Vendo designs.
Notable Models
- VMC 27 / 33 (late 1940s)
- VMC 44 (c.1956)
- VMC 56 (1956)
- VMC 81 A/B/C (1955–1957)
- VMC 110 / 126 (late 1950s)
Why it matters: Key innovations in compact upright vending; their 81 lineage became an icon after the Vendo merger.
Westinghouse (1930s–1960s)
History: Electrical giant that produced early Coke chest coolers and uprights; later explored multi-selection mechanisms.
Notable Models
- Master Chest Coolers (1930s–1940s)
- WC-42 / WC-44 / WC-81 / WC-102 (1950s)
- Select-O-Matic dial/push-button series (1960s)
Why it matters: Brought durable refrigeration and early multi-product selection to Coke vending.
Ideal (1930s–1960s)
History: Synonymous with “slider” chest coolers—simple coin-gate + slide-rack operation ideal for small retailers.
Notable Models
- Ideal 55 Slider (late 1940s–1950s)
- Ideal 70 / 85 / 96 / 110 (1950s–1960s)
Why it matters: Affordable, rugged, and easy to service—sliders put vending within reach of countless small shops.
Jacobs (1930s–mid-1950s)
History: Often credited with the first upright, coin-operated Coca-Cola bottle vendor (J-26, 1937). Expanded capacities through the 1940s.
Notable Models
- Jacobs 26 (1937)
- Jacobs 35 (1939) / 45 (1940)
- “Victory” WWII variant (1941)
- Jacobs 75 (1946) / 90 (1948) / 110 (c.1950)
Why it matters: Helped define the upright vending form; early Jacobs models are highly prized by collectors.
Mills (1940s–1950s)
History: Slot-machine maker that produced Coke vendors during the 1940s–50s before bowing out to dedicated soda manufacturers.
Notable Models
- Mills 45 (c.1941)
- Mills 47 / 65 / 120 / 180 (1940s–1950s)
Why it matters: Brought arcade/novelty engineering into early vending—bridging to later specialized vendors.
Victor (1920s–1960s)
History: Hagerstown, MD manufacturer of counter-style ice chest coolers (C-series) for high-volume service counters.
Notable Models
- Victor C-18 / C-45 / C-60 / C-81 / C-110
- Victor C-31 (large, multi-door counter cooler)
Why it matters: Perfected countertop/under-counter cold storage as an alternative to upright vending.
Dixie-Narco (1960s–1970s → Crane)
History: West Virginia–born, later South Carolina manufacturing; dominated late bottle and can vending, later folded into Crane (2017).
Notable Models
- DN 300 / 350 / 360 (late 1960s)
- DN 400 / 500 (1970s)
Why it matters: Defined large-scale soft-drink vending post-1960s and spearheaded the shift to cans and glass-fronts.
Glascock (1929–1940s)
History: Built Coca-Cola’s first standardized branded coolers starting in 1929—iconic store fixtures before electric uprights.
Notable Models
- Glascock Junior (1929)
- Standard / Giant / Master / Double (1930s)
Why it matters: Set the visual merchandising template for Coca-Cola long before vending cabinets became mainstream.