Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

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Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Fri May 01, 2020 2:15 pm

I would appreciate if someone could post a pic of the front of the mechanism which shows the front payout mechanism please.
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby mazzeosa17 » Sat May 02, 2020 10:14 pm

I wrote an article on repairing this machine (part of an article on 3 trade stimulator repairs). Here's a couple of photos of the front of the machine. I have a few more side/back photos if that would help. This was a customer's machine that I fixed.
Attachments
Photo #6 - IMG_5765.JPG
Front of machine
IMG_5763.JPG
Front of trade stimulator
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Sun May 03, 2020 1:51 am

Thank you so much mazzeosa17 for providing those pics.

I am looking at purchasing a Sparks Champion machine and trying to understand how the front GA tokens mechanism operates to ensure the mech is in place on the machine. From your pics I cannot detect any components of a front mechanism relating to the GA tokens. Is GA token capture and dispense then accommodated behind the window on the housing? I also assume on earlier models that the GA token when awarded appeared in a lower window and then released by the operator but on later models it seems to appear the GA token is dispensed from front of the machine. Are you able to confirm please?

Also is it possible to gain access to the article you wrote on repairing the Sparks Champion-that would be super helpful. Again thanks so much for your help-Wayne.
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Sun May 03, 2020 1:56 am

Oh on further view of your pics mazzeosa17 perhaps they relate to the earlier 1938 Sparks not the 1940 Sparks Champion-Wayne
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby mazzeosa17 » Thu May 07, 2020 4:12 pm

The token supply and dispensing are in the coin tube in the photos. This was a customer's machine, so I'm not sure if it was the 1938 or 1940 version. In any event, here's an extract from my article, which covered 3 trade stimulators, including the Sparks. So I just copied the Sparks part of my article, as well as my other photos of the machine, whether they were included in the article or not. Hope it helps.

Groetchen Sparks:
Note that the Sparks is just a scaled-up version of the Groetchen Ginger, so I was able to use the Ginger as a model to fix the Sparks. See Photo #4.
On the Sparks, the gumballs come out when the lever sticking out on the inside right of the case is in a forward position. Otherwise, the gumballs won’t be released. There is a lever on the mechanism which actuates that lever on the case, but the mechanism lever was missing its spring. Initially, I noticed that you didn’t have to put a penny in and play the machine to get a gumball, which wasn’t right. However, after I oiled the lever controlling the gumball ejection, then the machine only gave out gumballs after a penny was inserted. So, oiling it got it working correctly. See Photo #5.
Also, the spring attached to the flap that swings over the mechanism’s coin entry (at the top of the mech) was the wrong size. It was way too long, and in fact, covered the top of the token payout tube. See Photo #6. I put a much smaller spring for that flap. Then it worked fine.
The spring for the payout slide was also too long and loose. That kept the payout slide from working properly. I put a much shorter and stronger spring on it, and it then worked fine and paid out on three combination cigarette reels.
I oiled the overall machine mechanism, and also adjusted the hydraulic pump, which was running too fast. I shortened the pump cycle to reduce wear on the reel stop mechanisms.
There was one problem – one of the reel stops on the middle reel had rusted out and was gone. This would be difficult to fix or repair, which I told the customer I couldn’t repair. However, there were multiple stops on that middle reel, so it would still stop the reel during play.

Sal
Attachments
Photo #5 - IMG_5800.JPG
Photo #4 - IMG_5751.JPG
IMG_5806.JPG
IMG_5801.JPG
IMG_5764.JPG
IMG_5762.JPG
IMG_5761.JPG
IMG_5760.JPG
IMG_5759.JPG
IMG_5758.JPG
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Fri May 08, 2020 1:03 am

Thanks Sal-very helpful. Cheers Wayne
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Sun May 17, 2020 5:02 am

Would appreciate if someone could let me know the diameter of the Gold Award tokens within this trade stimulator pls. Thks Wayne
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Thu Jul 09, 2020 4:44 am

canon030720201 001.JPG
Completed resto of this machine. Still looking for original gold award and side tokens.
Attachments
canon030720201 007.JPG
canon030720201 005.JPG
canon030720201 004.JPG
canon030720201 003.JPG
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby flipper77 » Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:22 am

That looks quite nice - impressive work! I have had this same machine on the back burner for years never getting around to restoring it. Thinking about selling it but maybe should send to you. Thanks for the pictures, Flip
Attachments
sparks.JPG
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Re: Groetchen Sparks Champion 1940s trade stimulator

Postby integ194 » Fri Jul 10, 2020 1:49 am

Was a very enjoyable resto flip although a bit frustrating at times getting the token award mech right. Yep- send your machine down! Cheers Wayne
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