COLUM13US E)AY
By the Late Ken Rounds
Columbus breath pellet vendor,
circa 1909. 11 1/2 inches tall,
square with angles, globe is same
as those used on old gas burn-
ers. Vends 1 cent portions. Photo
shows painted red with gold pin-
striping. Popular in bars. Very
few surviving working models.
Expensive, tough to obtain.
The COLUMBUS BD - Long Gate,
circa 1910, painted red and black.
Operates with a deep vend pocket for
5 cents. Lone Star, flap gate, original
number 9 round globe. Shows the
double circle, lone star, embossing
with the word "Registered". The de-
cal is original. A rare vendor, I esti-
mate less than 30 exist today.
Columbus Tri-Mor. Three compartment
vendor, front section extended and two
end sections slightly back, circa 193 8.
Came in a variety of colors. Not often
seen or available these days. Main dis-
tributor, Hecht Nielsen, 1322-26 Con-
gress St., Chicago. The company was
instrumental in persuading Columbus
to create the Bi-Mor and the Tri-Mor
vendors.
Columbus model JM, circa 1933 . First Columbus to
use the rare number 10 globe. Cast iron except drop
gate, vend wheel and chute. Square base, one comer
has deep cut casting groove with a half-moon slug
rejector built in. The vend wheel has three flex plates
to prevent clogging of pistachios. Only three or four
known to exist. Original pistachio decal. Painted red
or green porcelain.
Model JMJ. The last Columbus, all aluminum.
Final Columbus vendor, early 1960's. Quite rare
mainly due to operating problems and recall. A
tough machine to find .
In conclusion, I have presented some of the more rare Columbus vendors. There
are several other Columbus vendors classified as rare, not included. I hope, however,
all the foregoing helps to acquaint readers with a portion of the more rare and desirable
Columbus Vendors. They were in business about 52 years. Wow, what a company!