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.

Often, some of the most antique Coca-Cola machines are not much more than a metal box with the recognizable Coca-Cola script logo emblazoned across it. Essentially these were ice boxes designed specifically to be stocked with bottles of Coke and ice. Glascock was one manufacturer of such early vending units.

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 era of coin-operated Coke vending came when companies like Vendorlator and rival Vendo produced machines that would vend the bottles individually without the mechanical malfunctions prevalent in earlier 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.

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