SMC Discussion Areas

Does anyone know anything about this machine?  The seller says it pops the popcorn from kernels and also vends hot nuts.  He said it was made by a company called EZ vending.  I can't seem to find much information about it.
Thanks

Kind of cool...I really have no idea of age, but a guess would be 90's because of the coin mech (from what I can see). What is it priced at?
Maybe somebody else knows something more?

Yeah I don't think it's old either.  The thing is he says he has the "guts" to two more that he'll throw in.  I have a popperette but it's missing a few parts so this could get me buy untill I find the missing parts.

I'm just not that wild about the style.  Popperette yes, this thing, not so much!

Do you know what you are missing on the Popperette?  I don't have any parts, but I have two versions of it.  Maybe I can tell you what you need.

Along the same lines as what Larry said, if you need help with Popperette's, you've come to the right place! There are a few of us here that own at least one and a few others that have might have some extra parts.

I am having mine restored by bernies auto in Ill, If you are missing a part he has a machine shop and could maybe make the part. He  does great work, He should be done in two weeks on mine, will send pictures of it done. Enclosed is a photo before he started.  jeff wolf

Thanks everyone.  I decided to pass on the new popper.

Jeff, thanks for the tip on Bernies. I called and spoke with the son.  Sounded like he thought it would be better if I found more parts before I sent mine to them.

My popperette came from John and he said it is missing the main motor, oil pump and heater. If anyone has extra of those parts I would, of course, be highly interested! :biggrin:

try kim at custom records for parts  612-869-4963,  they are big into the popperette

Kim mainly has brochers and literature. I'm fairly confident that he doesn't have those particular parts. You can call him though just to make sure

The heating element is by far the Achilles Heel of the machine and then everything else fails accordingly. If you apply power to the heating element with the oil in a soild state or even worse, dry run it with no oil at all, you will fracture the ceramic body of the heating element which will lead to the resistance wire (Nichrome 60 or Kanthal) loops drooping and touching each other which will cause them to "burn out" and open up.

Like wise, if you run the pump without first ensuring that the coconut oil is in a liquid state you will destroy the pump eventually by dry running it.

The drive motor is a whole other story. I've heard that somebody might have found a small, fractional horsepower motor and modified it to work in place of the OEM motor. If not, it would take a bit of research and a fella with some machining skills to reproduce a proper mounting adapter and connecting linkage. It could be done, just a little, ok, a LOT pricey!!  :biggrin:

Don't let this info scare you away though, for the enterprising person with some resouces, anything can be fixed.

I agree that the heater is a huge piece of the puzzle.  I have extra Nichrome wire that I ohmed to the exact length of my heater.  It's size is identicle to what is on the heater.  P.M. me and you can have one. 

Besides the pump,  the gearing, that the motor hooks up to, which basically runs the pump, cam, and levers is another issue.  The mounting can be rigged up.  I've seen a few versions.

Kim definately wont have anything.  He is decals and brochures.

Good luck on your quest.