___________________________________________________________________________________________

Columbus Model 34

Columbus Vending Company, Columbus, OH, c. 1936, 14". The design of this model is similar to that of the Model 21, but feeding a penny to this one gives you a gumball instead of bulk product like candy or peanuts. Model 34s were available in dark cardinal red paint, deep forest green paint, and light green porcelain. Most of the Model 34s I've seen have been green porcelainized cast iron. An aluminum version was available in both 5-cent and 25-cent versions, and the 25-cent version came with or without the extended base shown in Silent Salesmen Too.

At one point early on I must have seen several available in quick succession, because I thought this was a fairly easy machine to find. My impression has changed, though; it's far from rare but it's not common. The Columbus small octagonal globe (#3) and large octagonal globe (#4) are both correct, and given the choice most collectors prefer the #3. Barrel locks are correct on the Model 34.

An advanced Columbus collector I know has a NOS 5-cent version with a porcelain-over-cast-iron base and a rounded porcelainized cast iron lid, like that on the Model 46 except made of cast iron and porcelainized. He was told that only 5 of those are known to exist.

The example above left is 100% original. It's painted cast iron and is gorgeous. I bought it sometime around 2009 sold it during the Tuition Years. As I look at the picture now and remember it, I think I should have left it on the shelf and chose another one to sell in its place. That's one I miss and I've never seen another one like it.

I bought the machine pictured above right the day before the Chicagoland show in November 2024. It has a cast iron base and midsection and a rounded aluminum lid. It was repainted eons ago during its service and has a good look, albeit different from the one on the left.

Both examples have a #4 globe with an original decal.