Choice vend

[bubba]

Well, I got the Choice Vend machine the other day, and I got a chance to play with it over the weekend.. I love it. I wish it was a bit smaller and lighter, but otherwise it is a very nice machine. It needs a good cleaning, and it will be ready to use. You put your money in, and push the selection button. It operates a drive motor and releases the can or bottle into the slot. If its a can, it has another little arm that will push the can forward to make sure its easy to get. Under the push buttons, you can put bottle caps and labels. I pulled all the caps out. and I found a Canada Dry Grape, Orange and Cherry soda bottle caps. They are unused, and the Grape cap is cork lined in perfect condition. I didn't know Canada Dry made anything other than ginger ale.

[bubba]

Here is a pic of the label

[halehouse]

That looks pretty clean.  I like the idea of an arm that pushes the can forward.  I guess that saves from having to adjust spacers, which is cool.

[BryanH]

a push button machine - sweet.

[Eric]

Nice Machine! How many are you up to now?.... You have really been bitten by the machine bug!
Again great score!... and what a deal on the price!

[bubba]

Quote (Eric @ June 13 2006,1:23)

Nice Machine! How many are you up to now?.... You have really been bitten by the machine bug! Again great score!... and what a deal on the price!

I've got enough that now its time to get rid of one or 2 or 3 '>...

Actually, right now I have 3 machines loaded and running. The power company has already sent me a card thanking me for putting their kids through college '>

I am about to shut down my V63 atleast for now. It is in the basement, and this time of year, nobody is down there, and I think there is only 2 beers left in the whole machine. I have my USS-64 un the garage, and a HA56 can machine on the patio. I got that machine on ebay. It looked pretty crappy when I got it. I gave it a good cleaning, a compound, a new front door I spray bombed white, and a sticker on the door. It looks pretty darn impressive for the money I have into it. Once I get a day with sun and no wind, I will paint the one last square white to remove the woodgrain look. I still have to put a good coat of wax on it yet.

As far as the CV goes, I don't think I will keep this one. As much as I like it, its just too big for me. I dunno. It is the first machine that my wife actually said she liked also, so I have to see what I can justify keeping. I put this on the pation also, but its not plugged in out there yet. Unfortunately, it supposedly draws 9 amps, and my outdoor circuit doesn't have that mchp I don't want to get rid of anything, but I have to start to be somewhat practical. It seems that in this area, the square tops can be had incredibly cheap, and I hate the idea of passing up a deal. I am almost out of room though.

[Kevin C]

Bubba

I am looking for a machine to vend gatorade 20 oz bottles. Do you think the CV could handle it?  Where do you live? Maybe we could send it to the beach here in SC.

I like my big CV can machine.

Kevin

[bubba]

Kevin.. I'm in NJ... My guess is that it would not vend that size, but I will buy one and check it out for you. To give you an idea, I've got a buddy in Charlotte, NC, and the last time he made the trip it was 8.5 hrs going very fast.. Coming up, with traffic it was closer to 10.....

[bubba]

Well Kevin, sorry to say, but it does not fit the 20 oz gatorade.. Not even close... I also tried my Cavalier USS-64 machine, and it didn't fit in there either...

[DanV]

You can get the 12 0z gatorades  and it will work.

Hi
     I have the same machine only its a coke machine. The condenser motor is shot and I am looking for a replacement. Any Ideas?
I read on one of your other posts that you are from NJ so am I. I got the machine up in MASS a couple of years ago and have not seen another since. Its raises your electric bill when you keep it plugged in but its such a cool machine its worth keeping I think I have put just about any kind of bottle in it the adjustable shelves are great. I would love to find a parts machine but yours is in good condition so keep it working. I think the parts are the same as some of the other soda machines from that era Seeburg owned at least one other soda machine company I am not sure which one but the other company is very popular and had push buttons inside the door as well so I think this machine may have been made by them and sold by choice vend. If anyone out there knows more I am interested.
by the way I have the Manual.

                     Cheers
                     Michael

[Creighton]

Hello Michael,
Welcome to the board and thanks for the great input!!
Creighton

[bubba]

Michael
I'm sure this machine adds to the electric bill... it says it runs at 9.9 amps or something like that... I don't know if I plan on keeping the machine yet or not because of its size and electric use... although if I were to add all the machines I have running, they probably draw a bit more than just the one... but what fun is having only one machine???

Where in NJ are you? I'd consider getting rid of the machine soon I think... I'm trying to talk a buddy into it, but I'm not sure if he is ready or not..

[dr galaga]

Quote (Stylestar @ June 19 2006,10:58)

The condenser motor is shot and I am looking for a replacement. Any Ideas?

Welcome Michael!
Look at the top of the page for the Global Compressor ad.  Give Eric a call about it.

Hi Bubba

      I am located in Bordentown NJ, (Trenton area) I have a Ford Ranger Pick up and thats how I got the last one home from MASS. The size is not a problem I keep the coke machine on a Porch with a roof over it and store it in the garage for the winter. I would end up using yours for a parts machine but that would solve my problem of keeping the other one going. Let me know if your buddy passes it up, and maybe we can work something out

Ken

   I noticed that you have a uselect it 5 cent candy machine. My Mom and Dad had a vending machine business in the 1970s
we had a bunch of those machines as well as the updated monroe industries uselect machines they were red with woodgrain, a crank on the side with a lever for vending the candy, I think the one you have was the older style with a rounded top. We had a few of those around just for fun you could not get the rejectors to go to 35 cents so they were no good for making money but they were cool to look at. The  newer machines went to the dump in the early 80s When dad could not modify the rejectors to go to 50 cents.
                                Michael

[bubba]

Michael
I'm not too far away... I'm in Readington, just north of Flemington. I'll let you know, but the thought of having this machine to use as a parts machine, I dunno... this machine is too good a shape to be ripped into pieces... I know the CV's are hard to find parts for, but its probably the cleanest, least scratched machine I own. Can you show a picture of the inside coin door, the cap catcher and the coin box? both are missing from my machine, and there was one other bracket that was sitting inside the machine, but I believe it goes under the coin changer..

As far as the candy machines go, do you still have any? how about any info on them? Mine is an older version, but its a square top. I started to work on it real quick when I first got it, but didn't get real far. I have put it off to the side for now. Any pictures would be cool..

not sure if you saw it, but here is a link to a few pics of my Uselect it machine... http://soda-machines.com/cgi-loc....;t=4340

Ken
        The Coin box and bottle opener are both missing on mine as well. When I was in Las Vegas a couple years back I visited the World of Cocacola exhibit and they had stainless steel cap catcher boxes with the Coke logo for sale at their gift shop. I took a chance and bought one it fits perfectly were the coin box was on the CV and makes a great coin catcher. I have not located a bottle cap opener yet but I think it is pretty standard stuff. As far as the Uselect, yes the picture link you gave me was one of the same type machines we had.  There were different variations but the crank and lever principle was the same. I will ask my dad if he still has any manuals left next time I call him. I understand about the CV machine it looked to be in real good shape Parts are real hard to impossible to get for those machines and it has been my goal to locate another one so I could at least keep one going. Dr. galga mentioned Eric at Global Compressors for the motor I will send him a picture and see if he can match it up, I need to have a working compressor deck before taking the machine for Paint job using the orginal coke colors. I am going to get the original decals from Funtronics and have it clear coated once the decals are put on to protect them. Should come out nice but I can not do anything until the compressor deck is functional again. If you do decide to unload the CV VUB.   I would take the best of both machines and make them one and thats all one can hope for when there is no factory support and the company has been out of business since the eighties. I am sure somewhere  theres an old warehouse (maybe in Windsor Locks Conn.) with all the parts sitting in it but finding it is near impossible. So far I have had no luck.

                                      Michael

[dr galaga]

It will be cheaper to send the whole cooling unit in than it would be for him to send you a compressor (unless you have a buddy who will install everything for real cheap).  While the cooling unit is out, strip the machine and take it for for the paint job.  That's what I am doing right now to a Cavalier - the whole cooling unit is enroute to Texas as we speak.

Hi Dr galga

       I may end up doing that I am trying to get a condenser motor first that is most likely the only problem. It was working great until something hit the fan on the condenser motor and after it started moving very slowly I removed it and and lubricated it. I  tested it with a cheater cord it started working then slowed down again. I have a friend of the family who fixes motors looking at it. What I really like about the CV VUB is they are unique not many of them are around so its a curiosity. I would not be opposed to getting a Vendo or Cavalier someday. It would be much easier to justify investing money into the machine since parts are available.
  What drives us all to want these old machines? For me its the nostalga I remember my uncle having a coke machine in his repair shop and there is a connection to the late sixties and my youth. I think thats why the fifties machines have been so popular with the baby boomers, they identify with that time period and their youth. To them its like owning a 57 chevy I guess the next generation will be looking for the 70s machines                          

Michael

[bubba]

Michael.. I feel the same way with this CV machine.. I like it because its unique, especially mine since its a Canada Dry machine... I'm having a hard time parting with it....

[Creighton]

Michael,
If you want a complete working compressor deck with zero problems Eric at Global Compressors is the way to go.

Great question about "why". For me it is saving a bit of the past. My favorite machine is my RT 56. It was made 4 years before I was born and I have no memories of ever using one. But it is just way kewl how it is pretty much all cams and springs.

My square tops are entertaining and I remember them. Just not the same "sizzle" though. Maybe we need to start a Soda Machine Crazy TV show :-)
Creighton

Ken
    I understand maybe we can find some more VUBs that are not in such good shape and share the parts. I do not know of anyone else who has one lets keep looking on ebay. Where did you find the Canada Dry machine? I know CV was a big Pepsi supplier. I am surprised that I came up with a stylestar coke version, I guess they had no alligence to any of the soda companies. I will consider sending the compressor deck to Eric I know he wants about 600.00 to rebuild the deck. I hope that includes a conversion to R134A since R12 is impossible to find and R22 is on its way out.

                           Michael

[bubba]

Mine came from your neck of the woods.. The guy who had it brother worked for Coke or something, and he got it somehow through there... It had been sitting in his garage before he decided to make some room and get rid of it. Since I got it, I've been looking for another one also...