I remember those machines. We had a Mom and Pop store around the corner from where we lived, and we'd buy soda there. Being the baby, I was spoiled. Every day when I came home from school for lunch, my mother had a bottle of Nehi Cherry soda for me to have with my lunch. Then they came out with the 16 ounce bottles. Royal Crown was the first I believe. At that local store, they cost 15 cents. Then NY State decided they wanted their share, so a penny tax was added.
We used to visit a local gas station at night and pop the cap on a bottle of soda, let it pour into a cup (paper) then tip the machine to empty it. Usually left the appropriate change in the coin return.