Would like value and more info on cavalie css-8-64

[Pixel]

Hello,

I'd like to know a little more about my Cavalier Coke Machine. The coin door label say its a CSS-8-64 P, made in July 1977. (Date is given as 7-77, maybe it's a good sign.)

It doesn't have the standard roughly 85% red 15% white two tone sides like the ones I've seen on the net. Instead, the sides are painted white with a red "Enjoy Coke" square painted (not a decal) in the center near the top. It seems quite likely the sides and part of the front have been repainted. The paint job isn't the worst in the world, but it's not stellar either and needs a touch up.

The trays are all present, except for maybe a couple of clips. I do not know whether the vending system works because the bottle vend gates will open all the time. S75-9800A coin mech is missing lower rear cover and isn't in the best shape. Do not know if it works, though plugging it in will activate the C.R.E.M. relays. Cavalier decal at the bottom is mostly torn off and chrome bottle opener bezel is missing.

The reason I bought it is that it cools and doesn't do a bad job of it. I've got it partly stocked with cans now. I know it's meant to vend glass bottles, but I can't keep getting ripped off by paying +$3 for a 6 pack of 8 oz. glass bottles. If my Choice Vend cooled, I'd likely have cans in it instead.

Anyway, any idea as to what the Cavalier might be worth? What I'd really like to know is, what's the difference between a CSS-8-64 and a CS-64. For that matter, what difference is there between a CSS-64 and CSS-8-64? What does the "P" signify? Is there a chance the mostly white sides with painted Coke square is an original color scheme, even though this machine is probably
repainted?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just the Cav model numbers are available on the net, but very little info about what those numbers say about the machines.

An answer to any of these questions would be appreciated.

[loman4ec]

Ok There are several different versions of the cavalier 64's The first starting somewhere in either 1959 or 60 with the C model.This is the res and white version that you are thinking of.  I have attached pics to show what I am talking about. This would be the first picture. The first picture is an early machine but it is an E model. The C,D,E,and F models are similar looking except for a few cosmetic differences and are painted in red and white. The production of the Cavalier 64 series ran late into the 70's. In the mid to late 60's Cavalier came out with the Css-64 G series. This is when they changed from the red and white. They used several differen't paint combinations through the years. The second pis is a 1968 (I think) stylestar css-8-64G. Move down to the next page and I will continue.

[loman4ec]

The next picture is an early to mid 70's Cavalier 64G. I have honestly never heard of a P model but I am sure it looks alot like the G model. Cavalier painted these in several ways. Some were all white and some were even brown. I have had several USS-64's that are just like you are describing yours with the small painted box at the top. As far as I know all Cavalier 64's are CSS-8-64's. SOme people just shorten one s and call it the CS-64. The CSS means Cavalier Slant shelf. The 8 means that it vends 8 different selections, and the 64 means it will hold 64 6.5 to 8 oz bottles. The later model 64's are not generally worth alot. It depends on condition and completeness and if it works. I would say somewhere between $75 and $250 depending. But these later model 64 restore up really nice. Just an example is the frosty rootbeer machine I made about a year and a half ago. It is a later cavalier 64G model and was origionally Coke and red and black.

[globalcompressors]

Nice job on the Frosty. Looks great!
 
Just a quick thought. On the later 64's, the twist type despenser will do bottles and cans verses the older, bottle only, "gate type" machines.
Maybe worth a little more, doing both? Just thinking of it being more practical.

Eric '>

[loman4ec]

Yes the USS 64 will vend both bottles and cans. They were made in the early to mid 70's through the early 80's. They actually don't take as much money as the CSS-64's I guess it is because of their size. Here is a before and after of a USS-64

[Lulu]

Thanks for the info Josh.  I've got a machine like the one in the first picture.  Someone had removed the ID tag and I wasn't sure what I had.

[Pixel]

Thanks for the info! '>

(Somebody removed the id tag on my Cav as well, but I was able to find the model/serial number on a large metalized sticker on the inside of the little coin box door.)

loman, the Coca Cola USS-64 you showed, the sides are painted like I thought mine would have originally been painted, before you told me about the different paint schemes. I didn't have pics of mine when I first posted, but I do now. They're pretty large (dimension wise) so heads up.

As far as functionality goes, I'd rather have a USS because it will vend cans.

The biggest things missing on mine are the key, coin box and cap catcher box.

Also, I've been told the compressor may not be original.

Can you tell me where I can get some Cav parts, like the chrome bottle opener bezel and brand decal for example? I tried emailing VEII a few days ago, but so far they haven't answered.

Thanks again.

[jasmine64]

Makes me want to go out and find some more squaretops.

Got to get the Coca-Cola chest up and running first.

[Pixel]

Quote (Pixel @ Nov. 08 2005,5:29)

loman, the Coca Cola USS-64 you showed, the sides are painted like I thought mine would have originally been painted, before you told me about the different paint schemes.

To clarify, this is the USS-64 out of the ones you showed that I had in mind.



My Choice Vend has sides painted similar to this with the two-tone stripes, I guess that's partly why I assumed my Cav was originally painted that way at first.

[loman4ec]

Correct and so is the one below it in my post before. Actually they are the same machine. It is a before and after. The USS-64 was never painted in the red and white of the early 60's because it was made in the 70's but the buyer of the machine wanted it painted to look like an older machine. Here is a before and after of another USS-64 that I restored to the older look.

[Pixel]

Oh, I see.

Wow. I didn't understand at first the "before and after", because I didn't realize the second was even a 70's machine. Quite impressive. You do nice restoration work.

I remember Coke-red USS-8-64 that also had a red "Coke" (Not Coca-Cola) sign in the upper right. I think it was all-red on the sides, except for maybe a decal, but I'm not sure. It looked like it might have been an early or mid 80's model. Have you ever seen one like that?

What do you think about my machine? I realize the pics aren't much to go on, but can you tell me how likely it is that the paint job is original? As far as collectors go, how big a deal is a replacement compressor? It looks like an older compressor, but its hard to tell because they've been made similar to that for so long.

Also, I was wondering if you knew where I could find the parts I'm missing?

[loman4ec]

I have had a few of the mostly all red USS-64's and yes they are the later models. Attached is a pic of an early 80's USS-64. Your machine looks like it has been painted at some time but I am not sure. I just haven't seen one that looks like yours. A new compressor makes no difference in value. These machines are not really what I would call valuable anyway. They are really neet but they just aren't that collectable yet. But they will be. Funtronics or the soda jerk should have the parts you need. You can find them on the parts suppliers section of the home page here. If they don't I am sure I will be buying another 64 some time soon to part out. I generally have parts machines but I just moved so I got rid of everything to lighten the load.

[Pixel]

Yep, that's the one. Red Cav USS-8-64. I believe I saw one very much like it in use some 12, maybe 15 years ago. After some time, I thought I was crazy because I saw only one in the intervening years, and began to wonder if they were real. Glad to see they are. That's one of my favorite ~20 year old machines. Does the "U" stand for universal?

I appreciate the parts information-I'll prolly check with them. Of course if you get a Cav 64 for parts, I'll prolly check back with you on that.

Do you happen to know how someone might have "unlocked" the bottle vend gates on a CSS-64 so that they open regardless of credit state or even when the power is off? I'd like to try to reverse that temporarily, so as to test my coin mech and just to know the machine will work the way its supposed to.

I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but I need info and it's just not very easy to find on the internet in general. I do appreciate the time and expertise.

[loman4ec]

Pixel, First off please don't apologize for asking questions. That is what this site is for.  As for the vend gates. Look at the bottom of the bottle stack. There might be a sheet metal cover that you need to take off or often they are missing. Under that is a sylinoid that ingages a lever on the bottle stack. This is what locks and unlocks the gates. This might be wire tied in the vend selection, disconnected or just dirty making it stick in the open position. Play with this a little and see if you cant get it working.

[Pixel]

It looks like the metal cover is shaped something like a triangle. I had someone who has more experience with solenoids than I do look where you directed me. The solenoid seems to be connected properly, though I forgot to ask them to check the connectors for being dirty. However, they found another problem with the vend setup. They told me that a chain (a bicycle-like chain) is off of its assembly back behind the vend column. Could this also be the problem? How would I go about getting to it to fix it?

Thanks again.

[loman4ec]

Pixel,
I bought a cavalier 64G today and I will be picking it up tomorrow afternoon. I will remove the bottle stack and take some pics for you. I think this machine is in pretty good shape and works so I will probably not part this one out. But we will see.

[Pixel]

I sort of jumped the gun when I didn't check out the solenoid a little further. I'm still learning.

I'm not real good with electromechanics, but if worst comes to worst I'll take a multimeter to the solenoid and check it and the connectors out a little better. Can you tell me what voltage/amp/etc. the solenoid is rated?

It looks like both the solenoid and chain may need a little work. I'd hoped it wouldn't have vending problems like the Choice Vend, but at least the Cavalier is small enough to work on.

[loman4ec]

There isn't much to slant shelf machines. I went and picked up the cavalier today and it is a CSS-64G. It is way too nice to part out so I think this might be the next frosty machine. It is still in the back of my truck so tomorrow when I take it to storage I will try to get some good pictures for you.

[MoonDawg]

I've got 2 complete 64 bottle stacks that I don't need. Too bad shipping is so expensive

[loman4ec]

Now there is a great idea. If something is wrong with the chain or if anything is missing it could be really hard if not impossible to fix. Even though they are simple no reproduction parts are made. I have shipped bottle stacks all over the US for about $35.

[loman4ec]

Here is the machine I just bought. I will try to get in there and pull out the bottle stack in a day or two. This one is really pretty nice. No rust at all and only a few small dents.

[Pixel]

Your machine does look good.

Don't worry too much about the stack pics. Just whenever you can is fine.

It sounds like you've removed stacks before. Can it be done without unsealing the refridgeration system? At least the machine will cool like it is.

Sort of an aside -as far as repro parts go, it's hard for me to blame anyone for not making them. With the cost of buying glass bottle Cokes resembling highway robbery, it's not likely enough glass bottles are bought to justify the cost of producing such parts for the machines that vend them. Even though I would like to try to fix it, I got my machine because it will cool [cans]. I'd go broke buying bottles for it, even if it worked perfectly.

[loman4ec]

You never have to unseal a refrig system. The stack comes out just fine. Just remove the shelves and remove the two screws at the top of the stack and it just pulls out. It takes about 10 min total to remove it. You can even remove the entire cooling system wihout breaking the seal.

[Pixel]

Cool. Thanks. That sounds better. I'd hate the thought of yet another Coke machine that needs at least an R-12 or substitute charge.

Well, made a little headway. I thought that since the stack gates were all open when the power was off, the coin mech would not have any effect on the machine without some work on the vend setup. Just to kill some time, I decided I'd work the coin counter lever sticking out of it (its cover is broke). Since it was set on 40 cents, I tripped the lever 4 times, thinking it was the dime counter. Decided to go 4 more times. After the eighth click I heard a fairly lound *thunk* inside the machine. When I tried to open a vend gate, it acted like it might be locked.

Turns out the solenoid is moving. After several times cycling the mech and trying the gates, I found that the top two gates were trying to lock, but they would still come open with a little force. The rest didn't really seem to try that hard to lock. However, with credit on the coin mech, holding a single gate open did in fact lock all of the others. Not sure what to think now.

[MCarter]

Hey Josh i need one shelves out of it...Can you help

[loman4ec]

MCarter, I am sure I will get another CS64 soon but untill then I really don't want to sell anything off of this machine. It os just too nice. I am actually thinking about puting it in my garage to vend beer out of untill I can find the time and $$ to restore it. Trust me I will find another soon that I will part out.
Pixel honestly I am stumped. The best thing I can suggest is to take the stack out of the machine and check it manually with the stack out of the machine. You can move the solenoid by hand without power and with the stack out of the machine you can watch what is happening and hopefully see what is going wrong. It could be as simple as something being dirty and needing cleaned and oiled. Good luck.

[Pixel]

With the vend stack out, I think I know what part of the problem is. It looks like its missing a peice (or peices) that fits into the triangular cutout on the lower back of the vend stack, where the solenoid throws the lever.

I remember looking over a thread about a Cavalier 72, and it mentions a toggle plate or paddle that I don't have in mine. If no one minds, I'll borrow the drawing from that thread.



Is a CSS-64 like mine supposed to have a similar setup with the toggle paddle?

[loman4ec]

Yes it is. Someone has butchered your bottle stack to make it free vend when they could have just wire tied the plunger and it would have been done. I suggest if you want it to vend again you get in touch with Glen (Moondawg) and get you another bottle stack. Or if you want to wait I will probably get another parts machine at some time or another. In the past two years I have parted out 5 or 6 Css 64's and Css-96's so I should have one at some time but who knows when.

[Pixel]

I suspected all along somebody had tampered with the machine in the name of free vending, but I just didn't know how they did it. Might have known they'd do the worst thing.

There may yet be hope for my stack, though-I've been told an acceptable duplicate peice can be made, if I can get a detailed drawing of the missing paddle/toggle. Do you have one, or know someone who might? Either way, is that the only peice that should be in the triangular cutout?

I appreciate all the trouble answering my questions. I know I'm inquisitive to say the least, I just don't know alot about soda machines. I'm definitely learning though.

[loman4ec]

Give me a few days and I will see how hard it is to get out. I think I know of a good machine shop here and I will see if I cant have one made for you.

[cvb141]

Hey Pixel & Loman4ec I just bought a Cavalier USS7-91-56. much like what you guys are discussing. Couldn't get a pic on the comp. tonight. But it is in good shape but someone also has messed with the vend switch. I like its small size and ability to vend cans. The cheap price didn't hurt either. I really liked the way Loman4ec painted the machine to look old, and putting it in the corner of the room. Wife already said don't even think about bringing it in the house. I'll be following your post for ideas on this thing. Good luck getting yours going Pixel.

[loman4ec]

CBV141 if you need any help feel free to ask. I have tons of pic of different machines I have done. Let us know if we can help.

[Pixel]

I really appreciate the offer, but you don't have to go all of that trouble. My father says he can make a toggle paddle for it, all he would need is a drawing or the measurements.

[cvb141]

Thanks loman4ec, I cleaned it up yesterday and almost got it back together last night. It cools great and I got the vend switch back into place. I'm not sure if the screws fell out or if it was removed, but I feel like it will work now. I,m going to try and post a pic, but my kodak easyshare is hardtoshare right now.

[Pixel]

Would chrome bezels for an older CS-64 (say, late 60's) work properly on my machine?

~~
Congratulations on the USS find, cvb. Can/can capable vendors are nice, especially if you can find a fairly old one that works.

[loman4ec]

If you mean for the bottle opener and change return yes they will fit just fine.

[Pixel]

Good news. The vend stack is repaired and ready to be used again. It'll have to re-installed of course, but that shouldn't be a big deal. I just thank God the cooling system didn't have to be opened.

I was looking at the bottle door here while back, I noticed a small hole with ragged (but not cracked) edges in the inside plexiglass pane of the bottle window, closer to the top. No hole on the outer pane. Is this hole something that should be there?

[loman4ec]

The hole is only on the inside. Great news on the vending stack. Do you still need any parts? I think I am going to sell or part out one of my 64's. They are good solid machines but I don't need two.

[Pixel]

So the hole is supposed to be there?

As for parts, I'm still interested in a chrome bezel for the bottle opener. Possibly the coin return bezel as well.

The bottle door gasket has come unglued in a spot. Doesn't look like there's any damage to it though, just loose there. How would I go about regluing it?

Alas, I am at a crossroads with the Choice Vend. It looks like it's going to need some cooling work, and that sounds like it may be $$$. I guess I'm going to have to decide if its worth trying to fix.

[BryanH]

The inner two panels of glass should have a 1/4" hole near the bottom.  The outer panel should not have any hole.

Just use crazy glue to reset the door gasket.  I'd suggest loosening that corner so there's no pulling at the seams while the glue sets.