Wanted Groetchen back door (green)

[RamZi]

I have a fully operational and pristine Groetchen Mercury 1cent cigarette machine. I need a green back door.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

RamZi:
It's nice that you found such a pristine machine. But you are going to have one very tough time, in regards
to finding an original door in the same condition and color. Even if you did find a door that needed repainting,
the colors available now, do not match the original colors exact. I do not know of any repro doors for this
model either. I know someone that did the door for the "Liberty", (which is a sister machine), but there is a
slight difference in the shape, and it will not work. Good luck, Bill

[RamZi]

thanks Bill, I appreciate the advice. I did get a reply from a member who has a new replacement door. Not original, but will keep the back covered. I have the original door but it has a broken place where the lock engaged with the body. Do you know of anyone who can repair this damage?

thanks

Ram

[altort]

Were are you located? About posting a picture of damage to better see what it will take to repair.

[RamZi]

I'll take a pic of the door tomorrow and will post it. I'm in Oregon

[cpdretired]

Were are you located? About posting a picture of damage to better see what it will take to repair.

Bill lives near San Francisco, Ca.

[RamZi]

Well, I haven't looked at the machine for quite some time. Upon further inspection, I see that the chip is not in the door, but on the upper left edge of the cabinet. Is this possible to repair?

[cpdretired]

I had a chip in a similar machine. Remove the paint around area to be repaired. I used auto bondo for the repair. Apply the bondo and sand smooth. You are going to have to repaint the machine with hammer tone paint. I did mine in green.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

The chip in the case can be repaired by a shop that specializes in welding aluminum, but you will
first have to remove the front casting, and remove all the parts on it. Then bead-blast the area to
be worked on. You will then have to do all of the finish grinding, filing, and sanding, before doing
the repaint. I have done many repair jobs of this type, but it is very costly, 'labor-wise'. I do most
my own welding, but not aluminum. I do all the preparation work, before bringing it in, then all of
the finish work afterwards. Your best bet with this job, to keep the cost down, because it is an area
that gets painted, would be to go the Bondo route, but an area like that, with no other support,
should be drilled & pinned, to lend some support to the Bondo. It is a much different story with a
machine that has breaks in a casting that gets polished or plated. Then you do have to go with the
welding process. Good luck.

[cpdretired]

Bill it correct in the way it should be done. If you send it out would the cost be worth it? I don't think so. The average price of this machine is around $300.00 to $350 complete. Without a back door a lot less. Go the bondo route. Keep looking on eBay for that hard to find back door.