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Ford

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Ford Sales Vending Machine Corp., East Aurora, NY (founded by Ford Mason in 1919); Ford Vending Machine Corp., East Aurora, NY; Ford Gum and Machine Co., Inc., Lockport, NY and/or Akron, NY, patented 1919, 11 1/2" to 12". Ford machines are eschewed by some collectors because of their abundance and the great similarity between models. I agree with this assessment of later Fords, but I really like the early models. They're small, simple machines, but a nice early example has great character at an affordable price.

You can read about Ford's humble origins here. The Ford design has changed very little over the years. It started with the York, which was invented by Wallace Mason and his son, Ford, and quickly evolved into the Ford. I know of only 4 Yorks that exist today, all of which have 'YORK' embossed on a round globe that's a lot smaller than the embossed Ford globes.

Pictured above are various Fords in chronological order of body and globe styles from the early 1920s through about 1960. What follows is a short description of each:

Correct locks on most (and perhaps even all) Fords are Chicago locks, especially if they have "Ford" embossed onto the side of the lock, and the later-style Corbin locks with the key insert on the bottom of the lock.

You can see pictures of other Fords below, in somewhat-chronological order. The example with the CHILD WELFARE globe has an unusual spring system just above the vending wheel in front, which I've not seen on another Ford. The last machine in line below has an unusual plate covering most of the vending wheel, which again I've not seen on another Ford. I consider both of these to be rare variations, which are invisible when the machine is displayed with gum in it---as mine are. Bummer, huh? I love the big "CHILD WELFARE" decal, and the admonition to "BE KIND TO OUR BLIND" on the silver machine's decal. The large Kiwanis Club display in the fourth picture is made to frame a machine as shown, although I doubt the machines used in the displays typically had slug rejectors. I know of 2 of examples of this display, this being one of them.

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All of the machines pictured on this page are 100% original. I no longer own all of them.

Many thanks to Erick Johnson and Victor Cole for their critical review and content suggestions.

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