I recently bought this awesome gadget and really like the thing. Even the color despite not thinking of it for appliances. I mean, how often do you see a pink can opener?
This is a Sunbeam 'Vista' Electric Can Opener model 64-S2 with the atomic diamond grill design from the early 1960's.
It runs perfectly, doesn't seem to have motor or electrical issues, and is in mostly great shape physically if not a little scratched up. There is just one problem.
It will not grip the cans properly. By that I mean the gear wheel and cut-blade wheel don't connect tightly enough to lock the can lip in place to hold it securely as it opens the can. Large cans (such as 48 oz Tomato Juice cans) will not stay in it at all. Average size cans (such as 15oz soup cans or canned vegetables) aren't much better. Small cans do alright (like a tuna can) but you still don't feel very trusting in the machines grip.
It will work if you hold the can in place and turn it yourself along with the machine.. and to be honest I think we all lightly hold on to the can anyway when we open them even when the machine does grip correctly just from nature of habit... however in this case you really are holding the can in place on the machine not just gently grazing it as it turns. Like you would on a machine that works properly and does the real holding for you.
Does anyone have any tips or ideas I might try to fix the situation and restore the original grip?


This is a Sunbeam 'Vista' Electric Can Opener model 64-S2 with the atomic diamond grill design from the early 1960's.
It runs perfectly, doesn't seem to have motor or electrical issues, and is in mostly great shape physically if not a little scratched up. There is just one problem.
It will not grip the cans properly. By that I mean the gear wheel and cut-blade wheel don't connect tightly enough to lock the can lip in place to hold it securely as it opens the can. Large cans (such as 48 oz Tomato Juice cans) will not stay in it at all. Average size cans (such as 15oz soup cans or canned vegetables) aren't much better. Small cans do alright (like a tuna can) but you still don't feel very trusting in the machines grip.
It will work if you hold the can in place and turn it yourself along with the machine.. and to be honest I think we all lightly hold on to the can anyway when we open them even when the machine does grip correctly just from nature of habit... however in this case you really are holding the can in place on the machine not just gently grazing it as it turns. Like you would on a machine that works properly and does the real holding for you.
Does anyone have any tips or ideas I might try to fix the situation and restore the original grip?

