Forget different manufacturers. We're talking screen printing during the 70s. The chances of even the same manufacturer pouring the same color over a run are minimal. I have had nos Bobby Orr's with completely different skin colors and different blues. Even a small run, such as Embryon, has huge differences. To expect perfect matches is ridiculous. And remember, chances are you original bg has faded, uv damages colors so you're matching an incorrect color anyway.

I have one I'd love to have restored, but it's really rare and I'm afraid to part with it should something happen.

Hoov, if you or any of your friends would like to sell one of those four glasses with the slightly off color, I'd be interested in purchasing one for my machine. I was going to touch up the paint but I'd prefer a new glass depending on the price. P.M. me if you're interested in selling (and shipping) one.

All I want is actual shipping to send it. Pay anything you want after that to Steve - maybe as a donation for making glasses for us hobbyists. All I wanted was a glass from Steve with green grass and I now have it.

Send me a pm if you're interested.

Same. I'd rather have my glass scanned locally and sent Steve the digital file than send the glass itself Is this possible?

Bruce

I think for licensing purposes he needs the original glass. Then he removes the ink and re screens them. This way it's considered repair/refurbishing an original glass, not reproducing it as in printing on a new piece of glass. Sounds dumb, but this technicality is what makes all this possible!

If that is true then hands off my original glass buster! I'd consider it if the glass was a total loss but most of the ink is still there and I'm considering scanning it/printing waterslide decals for the bad areas.

Bruce

not true. if he has the art he doesn't need your glass. if he doesn't have the art he will need your glass to scan to clean it up
he will send your old glass back if you want.

I think this may have been the case at one time, but is no longer necessary. Seems like he has the licencing figured out.

Hey Guys,
I tried to do this for my Williams SKYWAY and ARMY NAVY.
I have a pretty decent scanner and created good quality scans of front and back and Steve was still unable to use them.

In terms of rarity, I would guess there are somewhere between 3-5 surviving SKYWAY left on the planet, so my glass was right up there on the unobtainium scale. Luckily I had friends that were traveling to Expo last October and passing through Michigan so they hand delivered my glasses to Steve.

it's hard to scan glass. the thickness of the glass does a reflection/refraction, and it's just hard to get it to work. Digital pictures work but only if the camera is dead nuts square with the glass. Also the curve of the lense messes up the relative position of the score windows. Steve's scanner takes about 20 minutes to do a glass (front and back). It's a process like i've never seen before. But it works well. Note there are some digital houses that have proper high quality scanners. But if you take your glass there it's like $100 per side (front and back) to have them do a scan. At least that's been my experience.

Areas that are translucent and areas that are opaque need to be outlined from the back

also on games with score windows, the relative position of the windows to everything else can't be replicated with a picture. it really has to be a scan. otherwise the windows end up in the wrong positions. if off even by 1/4", it doesn't work.

On an EM, you want matching font styles for the Game Over, Tilt, Same Player Shoots Again wording as well as the Match numbers. There are no standard fonts..... only way is to scan the back side as the glass thickness, even on thin Gottlieb glass, alters the letter/number size if you back light the glass and attempt to capture those Characters from the front.

The worst thing one can do is tell a customer something will be ready in two hours. For in two hours time, the customer will be calling and if the product is not ready, the customer gets jacked and ugly. Better to tell customer that "whatever" will be ready in four or five hours. Then when you have it ready in two hours and the customer calls after three hours and is told it is ready, you are golden.

Sounds like the biggest problem is too-tight lead time dates. Instead of giving two month leads times for turn-around, maybe he should be giving six month lead times. And then if he can deliver "early" all will be happy.

But you can't keep everybody happy. Say it will take six months and some people will drag you thru the phone line wanting a shorter lead time. Engineers were the worst in thinking products just fall from the sky.

The key to being happy using Bgresto is simple: If you need it in a hurry, Steve's not your guy. If you really don't care how long it takes him, and you want a quality, hand-made product, Steve's your guy.

He's a busy guy. He travels a lot for work. This is not his full time job. It's a hobby for him, and a talent he shares with others who want to pay for it. He really doesn't need to do it, but thank God we've got him helping us to make old machines look new again.

I send him back glass requests, paid in full, tell him that I'm in no rush, and I always get my glass within a calendar year. Suits me fine, and beats the shit out of having to continue looking at a flaking back glass on a restored machine.

Try [email protected] he just did a backglass for my 1960 Williams "Darts." and did a beautiful job. He may take a couple days to get back to you, but it is worth the wait.

Shay is good for the runs that they do.
If they do not have it then it becomes a crap shoot.
Upper Deck is listed on their site but sadly it has been out of stock since last September.

Couldn't have said it better

I second that ( or is it third?)

Is it pretty much the same from the front with the lights on? I've never seen a side by side comparison of original and bgresto glasses lit up.

Bruce

It's a bit washed out looking compared to the original. Some of his results are a lot better than others. I saw a Gottlieb "King Arthur" repro glass that he did and it was outstanding. Saw a Gottlieb "Pin-Up" too that looked pretty good. Others... not so good.

Virtually all the ones being produced for the last two+ years are perfect regarding color and lighting.

Remember, when you are dealing with unobtainable glass and bgresto can make something that is 95-100% appearance wise as an original you should be happy bgresto came into being.

As Lee Iacocca says; If you can find a better backglass; buy it.

Looks great! Oklahoma looks like a fun game. I hope to play one some day soon.

For sure. He provides a great service and thus has saved many games from being trashed or parted.

I may end up using him for Charlies Angels, if I put the money into restoring mine someday. Those Sys 1 glasses nearly always flake to heck.

This is good to know. I'm more concerned about how it looks when lit up than the colors when it's not lit

I'll email him with questions about the glass I want done. It's the one in my avatar.

Bruce

isnt avatar a translight?

Just wanted to post an comment on BGresto, I had 3 glass's on order, was not in a hurry, and after 4 month's or so I dropped him a email just checking on Status, 2 days later Steve calls me and said my order was done, texted me a Fedex tracking # and 2 days later my glass arrived packed beautifully, no expense spared there. I can't say enough of his service and quality, You just can't be in a hurry,Period. I have ordered several times from him and he always comes thru with a great product. what a asset to our community

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That's pretty much how it is. I've ordered several glasses from Steve, most he had, a couple he did not. I shipped him the glasses and if you follow his packing method (or use a box a glass was shipped in previously) the glass will make it fine. He's told me that the main issue is the edge of the glass taking any kind of impact, and if you've broken playfield glasses (I've now broken three) you know that is the case.

If there's a problem, he'll fix it. It might take time, but he'll fix it. And it will be worth it. The glasses are beautiful. Are they like the original ink screened? No, but you can get just about any glass which is not the case with the guys doing ink screening, who are also providing a great service, and they will be very durable. You're set for a backglass for as long as you own the game, as long as you don't break it. It will not degrade, flake, peel, whatever.

The consideration given to Steve since this is NOT his full time job should be extended to others who are making stuff to keep games going (see the Wade Krause/Sky Jump thread).

Got my glasses from BGresto about a week ago.
They took a few months but that's to be expected.

I especially appreciate that Steve was willing to take on such rare titles as my Williams SKYWAY and ARMY NAVY (which he will likely never sell another copy of) and didn't rake me over the coals on pricing at all.

These machines would never stand a chance of returning to their former glory otherwise.

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Superb work. Incredible.

Yves