Gumball Machine Opening/Rekeying

It might be easy to get you set up, but it could be a real bear too. If the company that made the unit is still in business all that may be required is the Serial # to get a key sent out to you. If a locksmith is needed, it might cost a pretty penny if he has to make a key by impression. Key blank might be an issue too if it's an older unit. Good luck!

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Judging from the way the District Manager (in charge of it all for this job) was talking to me, I think you were right, but when you are contracted to take something, and told to take a certain item, you take it.

The thing is in great shape but can tell it hadn't been serviced (refilled) for some time.

george, i had one of these in my game store in the 90s for the march of dimes i believe. tho im sure nothing would ever come of it but im sure the charge would be theft by receiving if anyone ever came looking for there machine , i would try to find out who it belongs to, also if you did keep it and use it legaly you would need a vending permit which would probably be expensive for a single gumball machine

I found one in the trash but it had 2 key holes. One on top to open the candy compartment and then one on the back to open the change area. It had 30$ of change in it to so i scored on that one. I don't have much advice if you do not see key hole but i will add that i considered all kinds of ways to get into it, picking the lock, drilling out the key mechanisms, etc... (mine was like this LYPC Triple Pod Candy Gumball Vending Machine Well turns out i just put a screw driver between the door and frame and the thing popped open w/ hardly any pressure. I guess the little arm on the key mechanism is pretty limber.

i ended up selling it to a business owner who wanted it in his shop. Good luck.

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

I got a gumball machine last week from a business relocation, alone with 2 tons of scrap metal.

The machine is in great condition, and my in laws said they wanted it for their body shop. In return, we can split the profits from it, after buying the candies to put in it when it needs filling up, etc.

2 questions though.

1. How do open it at the top to replace the candy. I am sure it will need to be re keyed or something.
2. How do you open the change compartment. We looked and couldn't find any release switches, key holes, or anything.

Since I am sure, it will need to be rekeyed, who can we call for that. Just any normal vending machine company, or would a lock smith do?

I use to run a bar with the wife and have had a lot of experience with vending games/machines.

The answer is no locks are "rekeyed", they are just replaced.

It is much cheaper to have someone open these and replace them yourself.

You have to call the locksmith and vending company to get quotes for your area. I would just take the whole thing to a locksmith shop, walk it in and ask them to open it.



1. You can do it yourself. There are 2 types of locks used. The first one is a standard lock which uses a flat key. These are easy to open. You can take a bobby pin bent into an "L", insert it into the lock and apply light steady pressure to the left, they take an unbent paper clip and rake back and forth of the insides of the lock until you have all the pins pushed in. The lock will open. The second type of lock used is a tubular lock. These are the ones that use a round key. To open these you need a "tubular lock pick". These are fairly easy to use and run about 60.00 online.

Once you opened the locks on the bottom is a hex nut that is holding the lock in place. You unscrew the nut and the lock comes out. Replacement locks can be found about 2-5.00 on ebay (obviously with the keys). You plop one in the hole, put the nut back on, and your ready to roll.

2. You could go to a vending company. You should be able to find a few in your area that place machines at business and often sell them. They COULD do the same, they are sometimes hesitant to do this unless you can prove you are the rightful owner. My guess is this would run you about 80.00 a machine.

3. You could go to a locksmith. If you took it to a locksmith's shop they should be willing to open the machine in the 50.00 range. It will take him all of 2 mins to do. If you asked him to replace the locks, you could easily approach 100.00. I would consider just putting in new locks myself.

My camera died but here are a few picks of the gumball machine I have in my kitchen.

Top flat key locks


Tubular lock on the change box



Lock comes out with the key

It would be really simple to just buy a new lock on ebay and screw it back in. The tubular lock has a nut on the back and the lock comes out when you remove the nut.

I'd be looking just to find someone to open your machine, otherwise you are going to pay a LARGE premium for someone to take 5 mins and install new locks.

Here are what the bottom of the lock on picture 1 (right) looks like. These are pretty much standard.





You can clearly see the nut holding the lock in. Just remove the screw, remove the nut, insert a new lock, attach a new nut, attach the arm and screw, done

Originally Posted by corycouch

george, i had one of these in my game store in the 90s for the march of dimes i believe. tho im sure nothing would ever come of it but im sure the charge would be theft by receiving if anyone ever came looking for there machine , i would try to find out who it belongs to, also if you did keep it and use it legaly you would need a vending permit which would probably be expensive for a single gumball machine

I think he would end up paying around 25.00 a year for the permit if you already had a business license. It really isn't much, but once it's in the system they will be expecting you to have this income listed on your taxes. The only thing you need to watch out for is the health department. Once every blue moon they can inspect these. You need to keep them clean, you can't "oil" the moving parts with any kind of standard lube. All the machines I had were oiled with vegetable oil to keep them running smooth.

Keep in mind that I had a bar, we had regular inspections from the Health Department. If your business is NOT regularly subject to Health inspections, I'm not sure if anyone would ever check them. I've seen some nasty gumball machines.

If this is a red gumball machine then the top unscrews which then makes the bottom loose to get to the change, I used to have on on a pedestal now it's on my bar, the gumballs are hard as a rock and it is still a money maker.

drill the lock-try to get a new one. If it says Northwestern, Oak, eagle, A&A, beaver on it, google it and buy a new one from the mfg or ebay. For the eagles, they are out of biz, but u can use oak locks. For more info, there is another forum call vendiscuss.net, which details drilling locks, getting new ones, stocking machines, tips and tricks of the vending biz, etc.