This is a Glasco GBV-50 Starlet Soda Machine we restored. It was restored to original condition, but without the Glasco logo and we painted the cap catcher black, rather than red. We have replicated the classic Coca-Cola “fishtail” logo used from 1958 to 1965. Please note we are no longer in the restoration business.
Glasco actually began as the Glascock Brothers Manufacturing Company, a company that was founded in 1892 to build washing machines. In 1929 they produced their first Coca-Cola cooler. It was a cooler that held 72 bottles of Coke that was cooled with ice. It had space below to hold 3 additional cases of soda. The Standard, as it was called, was the first mass-produced Coca-Cola cooler. Because of this, Glascock is often referred to as the “grandfather” of all Coca-Cola vending machines. The company name was changed to the Glasco Corporation in the 1930s. Through the early 1960s, Glasco only made soda vending machines for the Coca-Cola Company. The Universal Match Company acquired Glasco in the 1960s.
The GBV-50 was a very significant vending machine for the Glasco Corporation. It marked their re-entry into the bottle vending business after dedicating several years to producing vendors that dispensed pre-mixed Coca-Cola into cups. The Glasco 50 was manufactured from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.
We’d also like to share these 1960 brochures we have for the Glasco GBV-50 Starlet. The Glasco 50 was built for dispensing bottles of Coca-Cola. This machine operated manually by opening the lid and sliding the bottle to the opening in order to remove it. The bottle was released once the coin was deposited into the coin box. This is a slider-style chest cooler that had the capacity to dispense 50 bottles and pre-cool 25. It was a dry cooler that used a compressor to cool the drinks. It was intended to hold a fair amount of product without taking up a lot of floor space as you can see in the brochure page. It was touted as being both compact and counter-high. It was also promoted as a soda vendor that could hold up to five different products. The slider had 5 rows that could each be filled with a different drink selection. It could hold regular or king-size bottles.
A very similar looking slider vendor had been introduced a few years earlier by the Ideal Dispenser Company. Where Glasco manufactured soda vendors exclusively for Coca-Cola, Ideal made machines for all the other soda manufacturers except Coca-Cola, with an exception. Ideal manufactured an Ideal 55 slider embossed with “Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles” in the late 1950s. It was the only machine they made for Coca-Cola, and therefore, is very rare. The Coca-Cola coolers were not embossed, while the Ideal 55B coolers were.
Dimensions: 37”W x 20”D x 41”H
Weight: 230 lbs.
Manufactured by:
Glasco
Muncie, Indiana
This item is not for sale. We show restored items in this blog to encourage discussion, prompt questions and further the hobby of collecting and restoration. We also enjoy sharing the photos of the many items we have restored over the years.
27 responses so far ↓
1 Randy Armstrong // Jun 11, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I have an operating Glasco, just like this one in my garage (with good cold beer inside). My question is about the original lid. Is there a place I can buy a lid that has the diagram of the slider printed on it? Also, where could i get a listing of parts in case I need them?
thanks
2 vintagevending // Jun 12, 2009 at 9:11 am
Randy,
We recommend you check out fun-tronicsllc.com for soda machine restoration parts. They have a good variety of quality parts and manuals for many different machines.
3 KEVIN SWEENEY // Aug 14, 2009 at 9:27 am
I HAVE A GLASCO GBV-50. THE CONDITION IS AS FOLLOWS: SOME AREAS OF PAINT ARE SCRATCHED, THE COMPRESSOR COOLS, THE MECHANISM FOR REMOVAL OF THE BOTTLES WILL NOT RELEASE, AND A COIN INSERTED DOES NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. I MUST SELL THIS MACHINE DUE TO HARD TIMES, BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD BE A FAIR PRICE. ANY INPUT ON THIS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
4 vintagevending // Aug 14, 2009 at 11:17 am
Kevin,
Try ebay or Craig’s List. Sometimes items like this show up. Keep in mind prices vary due to condition.
If anyone else can help out, please comment.
5 Karl Behring // Aug 24, 2009 at 10:24 am
Dear Sir,
I have a Glasco GBV-50 working machine, but I’m missing the guts to my coin changer. Where can I find.
Thanks Karl
6 vintagevending // Aug 24, 2009 at 11:44 am
Karl,
fun-tronicsllc.com carries parts for your machine.
7 Tom // Sep 13, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I have glasco 50 ,it runs gets cool but does not restart after getting cool. I need info on how unit is wired also what fan in chest is for and when it should come on. When lid is open there is a switch by back hinge what does this do?
8 vintagevending // Sep 14, 2009 at 9:49 am
Tom,
fun-tronicsllc.com has the manual for your machine for sale. This should help answer any questions you have.
9 Ken // Oct 5, 2009 at 9:41 pm
I have a GBV-50 that has a fair amount of rust, original lid has been re hinged a few time, power cord has been cut off so I do not know if it works or not. I’m using is as a prop in a photo studio. I have considered taking the guts out of it so it is not so heavy, would that be a foolish thing to do?
10 Ronnie Reyes // Oct 10, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I have an Ideal Dispenser machine that works good except for the coin changer which I need parts for I tried fun-tronicslle.com but I cannot find them if you have a phone # I would appreciate it
11 vintagevending // Oct 12, 2009 at 9:13 am
Ronnie,
the correct address is http://www.fun-tronicsllc.com. Here is their number (217) 857-1759.
12 scott shaw // Oct 14, 2009 at 10:52 pm
looking for info on a glasco pre-mix dispenser model GPM-E not sure what year it is, also missing a few parts
Thanks
Scott Shaw
13 vintagevending // Oct 16, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Scott,
Try americansodafountain.com or call them at (312) 733-5000. They refurbish and sell parts for many types of machines.
14 Chip // Nov 2, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I have a Glasco Coke machine almost exactly like yours missing the side “key” crank device that opens the loading door. Where can I get another, are they unique “keys” that only fit one machine?
15 vintagevending // Nov 3, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Chip,
Try fun-tronicsllc.com. They have many parts for this machine for sale, and I’m sure you could fins a replacement crank device.
16 Atomick50' s // Nov 19, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Chip,
Just in case you didn’t find that side loading door crank. I purchased one for my Glasco from http://www.thesodajerkworks.com
Search under Idea and glasco to see what is available… Thanks.
17 Ronnie Hayes // Apr 3, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I AM LOOKING FOR A COIN MECHANISM FOR A GLASCO GBV 50 COKE MACHINE DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET ONE?
18 jr // Apr 14, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I HAVE A VGB50 ALL WORKING IN GREAT CONDITION COKE DECALS MISSING WHAT IS A PRICE THAT IS FAIR 903-819-9940
19 vintagevending // Apr 16, 2010 at 8:20 am
Ronnie,
Try http://www.sodajerkworks.com
20 Chris R // Apr 25, 2010 at 11:12 am
I have a glasco gbv-50 just like in your picture. (By the way it looks great!) I am wondering who would be interested & how much it is worth. thanks.
21 rino // May 1, 2010 at 3:24 pm
i have one exactly like the last picture above how much would one of those be worth in good condition nowadays?
22 vintagevending // May 3, 2010 at 9:57 am
Rino,
We can’t give an estimate on value because we have been out of the restoration business for a while, but try this website out –
http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php
23 jason // Jul 14, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I have this machine without the motor. still has the original lid with the imprints on it. Its a great addition to anyones collection. How much does the motor affect the value?
24 vintagevending // Jul 16, 2010 at 10:15 am
Hi Jason,
The value of a machine without the motor depends on a few things like the condition, and the demand for your type of machine. Some buyers want all the parts, some are ok without them. So the value can change based on these things. Your best bet is to check out this forum:
http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php
25 Randy Armstrong // Aug 1, 2010 at 5:50 pm
My machine finally died. I will be checking out Fun-tronicsllc for restoration guides and parts.
Do you by chance have restoration manuals and parts list?
randy
26 Jerry // Aug 1, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Looking for a coin mechanism for a Glasco GV50 slider. Have tried the website shown here. Does anyone have one for sale?
27 E.H. // Aug 8, 2010 at 9:40 pm
i NEED THE PART THAT RELEASES THE DRINK ( flapper) the only moving part ..the one w/ the arrow’ can you help ? thanks E.H.
Leave a Comment