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Mike's Vendor

Mike's Vendors, Toledo, OH, c. 1930's, 10". I know little about this machine beyond what I can see and what's in Silent Salesmen Too, and there ain't much in Silent Salesmen Too. This model is not considered rare but it's quite uncommon.

The body and lid are made of cast aluminum. The lid is embossed "MIKE'S VENDORS, TOLEDO, O.", and I think it's cool that the "S" at the end of "VENDORS" is backwards. Perhaps the company owner brought his 5-year old (named Mike?) to work one day and let the kid put the finishing touch on the design of their newest model. The aluminum is thick, and the machine weighs more than it looks like it should. It's got great heft, which adds to any machine---who wants a machine the density of styrofoam?

This example is 100% original. I'll note two specific aspects that I find interesting:

• The hold-down rods are housed in thin brass cylinders, which is unusual. I usually see such cylinders used to hide new hold-down rods made with all-thread, but there's no question the rods are original. I don't know if the cylinders are original or were added by a vendor, but I don't see any reason that a collector would have added them so I think it reflects how the machine was used when it was in service.

• The machine has a wood insert in the product puller-outer with a round hole in it that's just right for a gumball and too small for much else. I've seen a similar effect created in the Adams-Fairfax or Abbey Cash Tray with factory-made variations of the standard-sized puller-outer, but I can't remember ever seeing a separate wood piece do the same thing. The wood insert may have been crafted by a vendor, and it's very well made if it was.