SMC Discussion Areas

Hi guys, new member and first post  :blush:

I'd been toying with the idea of buying a machine for my workshop and recently passed up a pepsi vmc88 (i think it was!).

But yesterday I went out to deliver a pinball machine (my main hobby) and managed to come home with a Cavalier 51. A quick surf on the interweb and I believe this to be a 50s machine.

As with many of my whim purchases, I know nothing about vending machines, and altho I started to pull it to bits and polish up some of the metals - I'm clearly out of my depth  :Oo:

I paid £350 ($700) for the machine, which is probably WAY too much, but it's for me and I just had to have it (plus you don't see many in the UK)

It hadn't been switched on for about 15 years, so I quickly fired it up and there was SOME activity. I didn't want to leave it on too long in case anything blew up.

The outside of the machine is really quite good, the inside is a bit grubby, and I'm sure the refrigeration inside is going to need work.

Anyway, I'm rambling.... the reason for my post is to see if there are any restorers in the UK, who I might be able to
(a) ask for parts
(b) ask for advice
(c) give him the damn machine to restore once I lose my patience

Thanks guys, great site btw

Nick
UK

Welcome to the site Nick. There are a few members from England on this site that will be able to help. Your machine is from the 50's. The Cav 51's are nice machines and I think you did just fine on the price as long as the vending parts "Ammo Belt" are intact. When plugging your machine in the main concern is to make sure that the machine has been standing upright for at least 6 to 12 hours after transporting it on its back. Otherwise there will be no harm in plugging it in. You have already had it plugged in for a short time so you know there are no major shorts so you may as well just plug it in and see if it cools. The cooling systems in these machines amaze me. I have had almost 70 machines and I would say that 90% of them still worked fine will all original cooling systems. It is a good idea to go through all of the wiring and replace the fan motors before using it long term. If you can please post some pictures of your machine. We all love to see pictures of other peoples finds. Again welcome to the site. Just a fair warning. this hobby is extremely addicting.

Cheers for the message. I already took the liberty of emailing one of the active UK members (AND had a super-quick reply - many thanks). I'm near Chesham, Bucks (UK) if anyone ever finds themselves local and fancies a brew.

Glad to hear I've done ok on the price - not that it bothered me at the time, but nice to hear I haven't made an all-too-common boob!

It's a C51-E and is completely red (rather than white section) and no kicker plate which I 'think' dates it prior to 1956 (what would we do without google!). The serial number looks like 245175 (this is where somebody tells me it was reported stolen in 1975).

There's some pics on this link http://flickr.com/photos/pinsanon/sets/72157605535045260/ (http://flickr.com/photos/pinsanon/sets/72157605535045260/) (it's a flickr page), it's surprising how unforgiving the flash is on the outside, and yet makes the inside look much more shiny than it actually is! I've taken the fan out from the back of the unit (behind the ammo belt) in case you notice it missing, the wiring was interesting at best. Apologies for the mess in my workshop - you should see the rest of it  :laugh:

Needless to say my wife was thrilled with the new purchase!  :veryangry:

I'm hoping it's not too addictive... My 'main' hobby is pinball machines, and that started with me just buying one machine and getting SERIOUSLY hooked! Now I'm a bit of a 'dealer' organise pinball shows, tournaments, open weekends and just built myself a new workshop (http://www.hq2.net (http://www.hq2.net) for pics of the building work)

Back to the machine.... I know I need the 5c plastic insert for the coin-mech, and the coins sit over the mechanism but don't quite push through - sure it'll be an easy fix. Not sure if I should be getting it looking nice, or getting it working first? Other than that, it'll be a whole new learning curve for me.

Sorry to waffle, I still get excited over my random purchases, even though I REALLY should know better.

Cheers guys

Nick
UK

Wow that looks really nice. I would say that you got a great deal, especially if it cools. For repop parts go to www.thesodajerkwerks.com or call funtronics in the states and order a catalog. They will have most of the reproduction parts and decals you will need for your machine. If it looks as good in person as it does in the pictures I would get it working and start using it. Has it been converted to 220v or do you use a transformer?

Looks like it has a C-102 main door - I've never seen a C-51 with vents on the main door!
Nice looking machine too!

Bizarrely, it had a 220v transformer LOOSE in the body. The guy I bought it from said he bought it from a dealer about 15 years ago and it did work (I presume on 220v). He then moved house and it's been in his garage getting dusty and giving residence to multiple spiders ever since.

When I first plugged it in (bearing in mind I'm a complete noob) it sounded like the compressor was 'trying' to start but couldn't quite. I'd rather be happy with the wiring before I leave it on for longer and see if it cools - but I just want to get my hands dirty and have a play!

So as for the ammo belt and the such, should I be looking at having it sand-blasted or better to pick it to pieces and clean the sections one by one? I figure I'll clean up the galvanised steel areas and then maybe give it a lacquer coat or something (but won't be doing anything drastic without reading up/asking you guys first).

You can expect more of the "where does this go" and "what does that smoke mean" type messages in the short-term

Cheers

Nick

Hi guys

Just having a poke around the new arrival, and want to make sure the wiring is done properly. A few were hanging off, and I think the 'noise' I heard when briefly switched on at the seller's home was the fan.

I've drawn up a quick diagram and would be grateful if you could let me know if I'm barking up the right tree. I did buy and download the manual, is there a separate schematic available?

Does the fan only run when the compressor is going or constantly?

Thanks for any help

Nick
UK

Hello Nick & welcome to the site!

Yes, your schematic is basically correct, the evaporator fan ( topside in with the bottles' ammo-belt) should run constantly, and if your machine is a later production unit equipped with a condensor/compressor cooling fan ( located on the bottom deck)this is the fan that should cycle with the compressor.  ( Nice to see the step-down transformer too! )

hope this helps.

JohnieG

Welcome to the site.  Is your machine missing the evaporator fan?  This will be the one inside the area where the bottles are.

It sure looks like it!
Fun-Tronics (301) 371-5246 in Maryland carries replacement fan motors and the fan blade too I presume.

Looks like he removed the fan prior to taking the pictures.

It sure is! Loosen the screw on the right side of the mech (indicated by the arrow in the pic below). This allows you to adjust the spring steel clip holding the base of the rejector in or out so as to align the coin slots of the rejector to the coin slots on the crank shaft.

Thanks for the welcomes and tips guys.

Spent a bit of time on the electrics today and I can't get the compressor to fire. The evaporator fan runs (when wired directly), but it is a bit noisy and seems to get warm - not sure whether to replace or use as-is. The thermostat shows continuity (or not subject to setting) so happy with that, but I can't get the compressor going even when wired direct - maybe it's the relay, I'll investigate further another day.

I'm open to suggestion/advice, but starting to think that although the machine is grubby enough to warrant a clean-up and a service, it might not be bad enough to go the whole 9 yards (respray etc). I'll do the best I can with limited resources/knowledge and then if I'm not happy with it I can reconsider. Rather than sand-blast the cabinet, what's the best product to use to give it a clean up with good old elbow grease. It looks pretty clean underneath the muck.

Another noob question: If I get the ammo-belt sand blasted will it then need to be treated/re-painted or will the sand-blasting alone give me a decent finish? Or is there another way to clean it up? I have vibrating tumbers (for pinball parts) but would have to break it down piece by piece and it'll take forever.

Cheers

Nick

Nick ~

Welcome!  Nice looking machine you got there!  I'm betting most folks here would tell you to replace the fan motor, as it's 50+ years old and probably a bit tired.  As for cleaning, I use rubbing compound on the machine and follow it up with a good waxing.  That has taken most grime off the machines I have.

I don't have the answers for your other questions, but there are enough folks on here that have done it all that should be able to steer you right!  Cheers!

Greg

Me again  :tounge:

I've started cleaning the inside of the machine and it's really coming up quite nice. I've sent the ammo-belt off to be sand-blasted and will see how good it comes back. I'll post some pics when I've made a bit more progress.

My questions for now..

Firstly the bottle 'stand' at the bottom of the cabinet (apologies for probably using all the wrong terminology). It looks like it has been painted black at some stage, which judging by pictures I've found is not original. It's probably the worst condition area I've discovered (so far). The tray looks like it 'could' come out of the framework on it's own, but seems pretty solid so might be attached. I'll struggle to get it looking nice without sand-blasting, and the rest of the inside isn't bad enough to warrant stripping out all the cooling equipment to have it done (unless it does come out alone). I suppose I could rub it down and use a metal paint (hammerite over here is one) to give it a metallic finish, but happy to be advised otherwise if there's another way to restore it's former shine.

Secondly... there are thin wooden pieces that run around the internal framework, with the insulation behind. They're not great, especially the one across the bottom which is pretty rotten. It's only thin hardboard, can you buy these pieces or should I just have some new ones cut? or should I try and clean up and treat/stain the originals?

Finally, the spindles that the ammo belt runs on. These were all pretty grubby and none of them rotated when the ammo belt moved - altho the belt seemed to run around them with ease regardless. I've cleaned up a couple and the first one I put back in now seems to rotate freely, but there's not a great deal of lee-way (as in they might get gunked up and stuck again before long). Should these be greased (thinking grease and coke bottles not a good combination), or is it just that it's stood unused for so long the cause of them getting ceased-up and they'd be ok in regular use. I'm hoping you can get the spindles as one looks a bit sorry for itself and I'm not sure it's coming off in one piece.

Sorry to waffle (again), really pleased with my purchase, can't wait to have it looking nice (and maybe even working :laugh:). Also on the lookout for more :laugh: but as Dave said when I spoke to him (really nice guy) there's not exactly many knocking about in the UK.

Cheers guys

Nick
UK