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(Topic ID: 166618)

1968 Williams Cabaret Restoration

By Leakyfaucet

7 years ago

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8 posts
5 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 6 years ago by fotoboy
Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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Cabaret Williams, 1968

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#1 7 years ago

SPS

Hey everybody! I'm new here(3-4weeks old). I recently purchased a 1968 Williams Cabaret 4 player machine (didn't know I should start with a 1 player machine). I originally thought I would just want to fix what needed to be fixed; minor switch adjustments and new rubbers and bulbs. Then I got bit by the bug.... I'm going to try my hand at a full restoration. I have decent handyman skills and an artist for a wife, so I figure we can handle it together.

A small warning: My wife and I have 3 children 6 and under. I own a business and we have a mini farm, updates and progress might be painstakingly slow.

Any and all help, criticism, and advice will be appreciated and needed!

Here's the machine when I picked it up:

IMG_2788_(resized).JPG

IMG_2790_(resized).JPG

IMG_2792_(resized).JPG

IMG_2791_(resized).JPG

#2 7 years ago

???

Dr_of_Style

Inactive member

Dallas, TX

9y 28,925 1,334 12

Nice pin! doesnt look like it needs much for restoring. maybe a little touchup on back glass..
look at www.pinrepair.com lots of good info there.

#3 7 years ago

SPS

Leakyfaucet

Inactive member

7y 55,800 268 5

Quoted from Dr_of_Style:
Nice pin! doesnt look like it needs much for restoring.

Thanks! The cabinet itself is in really bad shape. Someone tried to match the grey speckle with silver glitter on one side.

IMG_20160816_184532_(resized).jpg

Also they attempted to hand paint the stenciling (in a random color)

IMG_20160816_184517_(resized).jpg

The right side of the back box near the top has missing wood which I will have to form with resin.

IMG_20160816_184505_(resized).jpg

The playfield just shows the 48 years of wear....

IMG_20160816_190112_(resized).jpg
IMG_20160816_184437_(resized).jpg

A couple of broken PF plastics....

IMG_20160816_184422_(resized).jpg
IMG_20160816_184419_(resized).jpg

All in all, I think she's in pretty good shape and can be rescued.

#4 7 years ago

SPS

Leakyfaucet

Inactive member

7y 55,800 268 5

Last night I started by tearing down the PF and took copious amounts of pictures.

Before:

....and yes I know *gasp* there are LEDs in an EM. My 6 year old wanted it to look cool. So I did that for him. When it's fully restored I'm sure I'll go back to the 47s.

After:
IMG_20160816_202803_(resized).jpg

I've played about 150 games on it, before deciding to start the restoration but I am slightly sad i won't have a working pin for a while. (Maybe some folks close by will invite me to come play soon )

I'm excited to see the progress and transformation to come!

Post last edited 7 years ago: “Edit for my emoji to work”

#5 7 years ago

EDH

TigerLaw

Pinside Moderator

Jennings, LA

14y 224K 20,100 24 240

Looking forward to following this thread.

#6 7 years ago

YCV

Arcane

Pinside member

Raleigh, NC

7y 54,550 890 6

Great resolutions that you are taking.

The cabinet is not in such bad shape and can be restored without stripping it and repainting the whole thing. The EM I am restoring is in much worse shape than your Cabaret and I am getting there. Take a look at https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ycv-recel-lady-luck-restoration-my-first-em

I would use acrylic colors (Liquitex or others) to match the existing patterns and stenciling and harmonize the whole with a layer of satin polycrylic which is water based and will not turn yellow. The playfield can be touched up with acrylic as well and later on clear-coated if you want, although for home usage, it probably does not need it.

For the lights, everyone has its own preferences. I think LEDs are out of place on an EM and thus I use #47 for GI and #44 for intermittent lights.

The backglass is probably the most difficult to repair but there are some threads and info on the web, on how to do it. If it does not work and you still want it to be perfect, bgresto is the way to go.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Yves

#7 7 years ago

SPS

Leakyfaucet

Inactive member

7y 55,800 268 5

I pulled everything off the topside, except for The "outline guides"(not sure if that's the right term or not) they appear to be attached by tiny nails from the bottom? Any one know the best method for removing them? Also can I purchase new ones?
IMG_20160817_191550 (resized).jpg

My first casualty was a pop bumper yoke, so no big failure yet....

10 months later

#8 6 years ago

BOB

fotoboy

Pinside member

Abilene, KS

9y 25,300 214 2

Hi there, What is with the left side and right side being different paint!! Had it been redone on the right and left alone on the left? (I am doing my Cabaret cabinet which i just black (woo hoo) ANyway, that sure is curious.

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