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Victor Model K (a.k.a. "Victor Sidewinder")

Victor Vending Corp., Chicago, IL, c. 1947, 14". The obvious difference between this and all other turn-handle Victors is the relative position of the handle and the gate. I don't see a rational reason for this offset except that it makes room for the plaque above the gate, where the crank usually is.

Bill Enes said that ads claim the Sidewinder was made of porcelain but that he's seen a painted one. This is the only post-war vendor I can think of that was made of porcelainized cast iron. By the time World War II ended, both cast iron and porcelain were obsolete due to the development of lightweight alloys that didn't rust, were easier to carry, and probably cost less to produce. The fact that this 1947 model is cast iron and porcelainized is very unusual. That plus the presence of a metal plaque above the gate makes me think that cost was no object in the production of this model.

The example pictured above is painted aluminum and is the only one I've seen that's not porcelainized cast iron. Based on Bill's comment, I don't think he saw many, either. I don't know how long this model was produced, but given the evolution of materials used to make vendors, I suspect this was produced very late in the model's lifespan.

The globe on this has flat sides and well-rounded corners, and differs from the simple glass cylinder shown in Silent Salesmen Too. I know this style is correct because the Model K decal is original. The cylinder globe looks good and may also be correct, but I think the squarish globe pictured above looks more "right" on this machine.

The example pictured above is 100% original.

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