Grand Tour
Bally, 1964
Happy Tour
Bally, 1964when I saw this on craigslist I thought it would clean-up nice and be a fun players table
I didn't imagine it would get the terrific treatment is has gotten and been a fun thread to follow
sounds are terrific in the video.
Thanks 
Quoted from chas10e:when I saw this on craigslist I thought it would clean-up nice and be a fun players table
I didn't imagine it would get the terrific treatment is has gotten and been a fun thread to follow
sounds are terrific in the video.
Thanks
You have no idea how many times I just wanted to set this game on fire; it has to be one of the most exasperating experiences ever!
Getting the playfield clear coated was a trip through hell.
Soon as I figure out how to mount my better camera to a tripod I'll do a much better video. I was pleased to make the "skill shot" through the open gate on the third ball and advance a city, its tough on this game!
Just an update; this is still a project. Decided to paint the cabinet proper with the webbing and waited till such a time that I was ready to tackle it. Now that I'm working on a Hearts and Spades I plan to practice and apply the webbing on both at the same time. Going the lacquer and glue route out of a gun for webbing. Seemed only right as the game has come this far not to web it as well.
Quoted from NicoVolta:So glad to see these classic Ballys getting "The Treatment"!
Just wish I got rolling sooner, lot going on the last 2 years. Last major project is a Bally Bazaar; have to replace the back of cabinet, full repaint and stencil. Playfield and backglass are beautiful though.
Forgot to mention; I'm still in touch with the Grand Tour former owner's children who have been getting restoration updates, they are curious how it is going to come out and glad it is being repaired.
I'm ecstatic with the results so far! Not bad for $10 worth of stencil "supplies"
Still have the other side to do and the backbox sides before moving onto the blue portions, not going to rush at this juncture though.
Steady as we go!
20191001_183214_resized (resized).jpg20191001_192923_resized (resized).jpg20191001_193615_resized (resized).jpgJust a FYI for those interested; this is one of the first cabinets I had repainted and it sat for over two years before being webbed and stenciled. Since the base coat was done (on this pin) I remove the rails now for a proper refurbishment instead of leaving on. It takes longer but makes for a more through job. Always looking to up my game...
Also, the other side of the lower cabinet is done. Did not bother to post pictures for obvious reason, looks just like the first side.
Quoted from Ballypin:You repainted THEN removed the rails? Please share how you removed the nails to release the rails.
Sorry if I wasn't clear- I remove the rails now, strip, paint and then reinstall. This one and one other I never removed the rails before base coat painting. It was repainted in 2016 or 2017 and sat since I really didn't wish to do the stencils without webbing.
To get the nails out I tap a sharp putty knife under the rail causing it to lift and then use progressively thicker wedge tools till the head of the nail is high enough to grasp with vice grips or prying tool.
Anyone who has a trashed Grand Tour or Happy Tour cabinet I'm more than happy to donate my home made stencils for the cost of shipping. I should be able to roll them up in a box so they don't get damaged.
Your restoration is beautiful. You were fortunate that the play field and the back-glass were in such good shape. I have a Grand tour. I like the game, but the backglass was painted in spots and the play field was hammered. Not a good candidate for me to restore. But the game is fun gaining cities to tour.
Quoted from TwinDavid:Your restoration is beautiful. You were fortunate that the play field and the back-glass were in such good shape. I have a Grand tour. I like the game, but the backglass was painted in spots and the play field was hammered. Not a good candidate for me to restore. But the game is fun gaining cities to tour.
Actually I had to do a lot of touch up to the backglass! Thank you for the kind words.
DSCN0346 (resized).JPGHave I mentioned I despise new #47 bulbs? Already one dead with less than an hours run time. Unreal.
Quoted from pinwiztom:Hopefully it was located in some easy to reach place.
Was it a cheapo Chinese mfr made or a good old USA GE bulb?
Eiko
Good Morning all!
Just a follow up as I pulled the playfield a day ago and either replaced or repaired every single GI lamp socket and a few of the insert ones as well. Using Comet warm white retro bullet LED bulbs in the GI and the rest of the inserts and arch lamps are 47's. Lesson learned bench testing playfield lighting vs having it in the machine and playing several games. Everything is nice and even with no lamps dimming or going out altogether.
Last bit was replacement of flipper plunger and rollpin that was wonky, at this point the machine is 100%! 3 years in the making.
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Quoted from Silverstreak02:Wow that looks great. How does it play?
It is a challenging game, what I'd call a typical early 60's coin grabber. The old timers use to say if you were playing longer than 3 minutes there was money being lost. Even on 5 ball the game is pretty hard on you.
Breaking a 1000 points is a notable event with the majority of my scores in the 600-750 range. I might reduce the angle just a touch to see if it changes much. Making the inner loop can be deadly as often it will drain right down the middle as it fires out the other side. Making the upper gate shot skill shot is fairly easy, making the lower gate shot not so much. You either have to get lucky with the right flipper with a backhand or just catch the tip on the left flipper to propel it up and over. When you do get a good score or just sink the gate shot it is a feeling of accomplishment. It will making you a better player with those 2" flippers or else.
Quoted from NicoVolta:Excellent job... but you used LED’s as GI and filament bulbs under the inserts? Have not seen that before. I do it the other way around.
Uneven GI brightness drives me crazy.
Clear orange inserts are usually too bright with LED's hence the incandescent.. for now. As soon as I find a suitable LED with the proper light output I'll have it changed over to LED 100%
Agreed I like filaments under clear inserts... just looks better than BULB RIGHT HERE! Though at the museum gotta do LED's under them for maintenance sake.
Hmmmm. Lemme know what you find. Maybe the Comet retros? Needs to be non-ghosting though.
Quoted from NicoVolta:Agreed I like filaments under clear inserts... just looks better than BULB RIGHT HERE! Though at the museum gotta do LED's under them for maintenance sake.
Hmmmm. Lemme know what you find. Maybe the Comet retros? Needs to be non-ghosting though.
I have the comet clear dome bullet retros under the clear red inserts, they don't look to be ghosting any notable amount. Willing to drop a half dozen or so in the mail for you to try out. They do have halos which are less noticeable in the inserts but still there. I find them excellent for chaser lamps like on Black Hole. I may try frosted domes in 2 playfield locations, where the light is not dispersed very well.. Visible frosted on the playfield I find distracting though, clearly not incandescent when you see it.
916 is my best game this morning.. and under 3 minutes time. The prior game was 750 and I nailed the tour gate not once but twice! and reset the city count clearing all 10 cities again.
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Quoted from Silverstreak02:Post a video. I’d like to see it in action.
Here is an older video from a year or two ago when it was first put back together, matter of fact it was still on a rolling shop cart when I shot the video!
I have a hi-def camera now and will try and do a new video time permitting.
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Kittery, ME