1. These machines are made of a very thin "sheet metal" type of material. The body of the machine is one large piece of metal that is first painted on both sides (bad idea). It is then "wrapped" around and folded into the shape you see it in. The only thing that holds it together are the spot welds on the side of the machine.

2 & 3. With these machines, you will often find sharp, metal fragments which are painted over and visually protruding from the body of the machine. This not only looks bad, but is also dangerous as the fragments are usually sharp pieces of metal that can injure a person by simply brushing the body of the machine with their hand.

4. As you can see, the body of these machines - the casing that holds your product - is just one large open space with no separate containers. The only thing that divides your product are two extremely thin, tin dividers.
5. The two tin dividers sliding out of the machine.

6. With the movement of just a few vends, the tin dividers tend to work their way up through the metal tabs which hold them in place. This causes two problems: A. "Product Bleed" - where products from one section "bleed" over into another section (Ex: M&M's mix with Hot Tamales - not a good combination). B. The friction from the movement of the tin dividers against the metal tabs leaves small metal filings in the bottom of the machine that is then mixed in with the product (major health hazard).
7 & 8. Metal filings seen up close.

9. The two tin dividers - the only thing that separates your product.
10 & 11. The true makeup of this machine - one large empty cavity made of cheap sheet metal (two tin dividers removed). Notice the inside of this machine - where your product sits - is painted. Painted metal cavities that hold and come into contact with products that contain salts or sugars are susceptible to corrosion - and are therefore a potential health hazard. The last thing you need are customers of any establishment consuming contaminated product - especially paint chips.

12. The lens "window" is a single piece of plastic that pops out of the front of the machine with little effort.
13. The window through which the product is seen.
14. The body of the machine without the tin dividers or the window - a very frail structure.

15 & 16. With the tin dividers & window removed, you can plainly see how flimsy and just how poorly this machine is built. Its caving in with just a simple squeeze of the hands says it all. The bottom line: this machine is not going to last.

17, 18, & 19. Peanut M&M's from an all-metal machine sitting next to a glass door after just a few weeks. Referred to as the "easy-bake oven", painted metal machines have an incredible ability to attract heat. In fact, this problem of "melted" product and what to do in "severe cases" is even addressed in the operator's manuals of these machines.
20. Peanut M&M's shown up close. The heat generated from these machines causes products to expand, crack and then finally crumble.
21. The aftermath in the bottom of the machine that needs to be cleaned out entirely before refilling with another product.