- 1). Locate the Coca-Cola sign on the machine. As Coca Cola machines were produced solely by the Vendo Company, the Coca Cola logo should be on the machine, usually in raised lettering at the top of the machine. Other machines may look the same, but only Vendo produced machines for Coca Cola. Any other brand of soda denotes a machine made by a rival company, like the Pepsi machines produced by Vendolator.
- 2). Locate the Vendo Company signature underneath the coin slot. This distinctive signature was unique to Vendo and was embossed on the silver coin slot in cursive on all of Vendo's Coca Cola vending machines.
- 3). Inspect the machine for a red top with rounded corners. The Vendo Company began after they purchased a patent for "The Red Top," a rounded red top that was placed on top of previous soda dispensing chests to produce the first vending system. All early Vendo Coca Cola machines utilize this characteristic top. Likewise, all Vendo Company machines produced for the Coca Cola Company were either completely red with white lettering, or, in the case of the 81-D and later machines of the '50s, red machines with rounded white tops and red lettering.
- 4). Locate the serial number plate on the back side of the vending machine. The Vendo Company signature will be clearly visible on this plate, as will the serial number of the machine and the model number of the machines. This plate is located on the side of some machines.
- 5). Inspect the machine for characteristic lettering like "Deposit Dime or Two Nickels" under the coin slot, or "Ice Cold" in raised letters at the bottom of the machine. This lettering was used on all early Vendo Coca Cola machines.
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