BALLY SKILL RESTORE

I recently acquired a shed kept (guessing) skill roll that to the best of my knowledge hasn't been played since the 70s. (purely a guess it came with a hand full of nickels newest was 1976 or so).

Initial Condition: All there minus one foot, Not working, Repainted, Smelly, Full of bug houses, dead bugs, and random stuff. Lastly, all the metal was covered in a build-up or unknown variety.

Pros: no water damage All there, no severe structural damage, minimally modified, Salvageable.
Cons: Super dirty, Needs Love, Time, and money but that's the restore game.

I have been working on bringing it back and a few people I reached out to for help. Have asked for pictures and status so I thought I might just create a blog or sorts.

Here are some initial pictures.
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The first step was the power to get an initial understanding of what worked or didn't. So fuse block and new power cord. Taking the door off for this is almost required but highly recommended. I got 10' wire from home depot and an outlet end. I didn't grab a picture of the replaced fuse block and fuses but you get the idea. Then I thew in a new fluorescent bulb.
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Then I fired it up with minimal understanding as to how it worked. Hindsight Sequence motor, Tilt Relay, and Row and Score Counters are key.

Had to fix/unbend sequence motor switches and I was able to get things moving. Granted the game did not play but I was able to verify everything worked to some degree.

After that, I thought I might try to see if I could save the original paint. Denatured Alcohol and 45 mins of elbow time got me some sight on the original. However, with so many pits and the dark color it was repainted with in addition to the smell attached I just gave up on the original paint.

While I had the original colors showing I used a color grabbing tool I picked up a while back to grab the colors. Sharing the results of that also. This is for the red and yellow on the front and sides.

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For internal mechanics and cleaning, I can't recommend any more the fantastic work and videos done by Gutz

link here

Shout outs to @gutz, @dudah, @shawn1976, and edward472 for help and guidance!!!!!!

After cleaning all of the door parts and adjustment the game was alive and I was able to actually play!!!! Super exciting moment!!!

Next, I had some simultaneous efforts. Almost in order.

Acquire a painter
Put new feet on
Find a decal for the coin cost
Remove all the metal
Remove the front playfield frame
Sand and repair body wood.
Clean the playfield and switches,
Clean all the metal (handles, plates, coin receiver, etc)
get the cab repainted

This is a lot to tackle so I started with removing the playfield. Note when you do this watch the video series above it is pointed out you can remove the playfield and you can remove the handle railing system. The latter isn't great if you aren't expecting it.

After I got the playfield out leaving the plexi on I laid it yellow side down and removed all of the screws for the switched and pried all of the light sockets out. Then carefully slid a piece of cardboard under all the parts move it. Once that was out of the way I can clean the playfield but I wasn't sure how yet.

Wow the original yellow was awesome.
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After researching cleaning techniques and ordering cleaning agents. I decided to remove the handles from the cab. Always staring with pictures first I took a panoramic of the hand inside and out. I removed the handle bolts slide the handles out then I removed the handle rails. After I got the rails out I wanted to remove the handle faceplates. So with patience and gentle touch, I tapped the back of the plates through the handle holes. Then I pried the screws up from the front.
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After this i took off the rest of the metal inside and out bagged and tagged everything.

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Now I wanted to take the playfield frame off. There are four nails in the front and two nails on the sides. I pushed the side nails in and pried the front nails and frame off. Use extreme caution here I was lucky and patient and I didn't break anything. If you zoom in on the side shot you can see the two nail holes.
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Now with the frame off, secured and safe I could sand the body inside and out! One extra point of caution I couldn't tell if it was glue or the bonding of woods but I did get a little bit of wood loss under the bottom frame piece.

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Let the sanding and wood repair begin!

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impressive you found this before I finished the initial drop!!!

This is is where i am currently in the restore.

Next items
Get the cab painted i am hiring out for this task. (the guy is very busy so while I wait)
Paint Score light box
Clean playfield
Clean Playfield Switches
Clean playfield Glass and install decal
Clean and polish all the metal
Restain and laquer playfield frame
Reassemble

Light box repainted small progress is progress. Cab goes to paint shop tomorrow.

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New sockets

Sanded the door and removed the parts. Insurance against theft or damage while getting painted

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Cleaned the handles today but looks like the coating is coming off. Now I am thinking about recoating them.....

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Cleaning more parts last picture I took before it went to the paint shop. Deleting some backglass art for a new decal. I felt a little sad for it. My glass has some chips at the very bottom waiting to get it back in the cabinet with the light and to see if it bothers me before I install the decal.
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If you have an idea its probably a couple weeks before I put it back together.

Sanded the playfield frame today with 80 and 120 going to finish it out with 220 hopefully tomorrow. Phone was dead for sides and bottom before shot. You can see get the idea with the head piece shot though.

Next I will be conditioning the wood and staining a few colors on the back of the headpiece to choose from.

Notice: If anyone else tries to do this make sure you move the frame around all together you don't want either side drooping it could crack the wood. So hold it like a big square.

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I haven't stained yet but I have narrowed it down to two stains choices. Since I only get one shot I want to make sure it is perfect. I am waiting on some product deliveries also. In the meantime I started cleaning the playfield. Incredibly easier when you take out all the switches. So far I hit it with naphtha and novus 2. I still want to apply novus 1 and carnauba wax. But novus 2 really improved the cleanliness and color.

It was a bummer to see damage on the playfield. It arrived like this not my doing.

I also got the gulmite screws looking nice.

More to come

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Not a bad idea. I bought this a while back it is pretty handly! https://www.nixsensor.com/

funny you ask I thought of you and I watched some how to identify wood videos but damn if I am any more capable of identifing it. I also wanted to know to choose the best stain........ ill see if anyone in my area is a wood connoisseur before I cover it but not likely. Definitely a softer wood but that doesn't help much.

hey stranger. The collection is growing, thanks.

I am sure you know but be super gentle with the female portion of the plugs.

Christmas preparation pulled me away and as we all know you never have only one project going. My cabinet is nearing the finish line on the original repaint makeover with the commissioned painter. I am awaiting repro coin cost plates, return coin plate and the rectangle spacers that go between the playfield and the handle rails. If anyone that hasn't already needs / wants any of those repo parts let me know.

I have some time off this week so there should be some great photos coming. Belated Merry Christmas all.

Finalizing playfield novus 1 and mothers carnauba wax completed.

I hand mixed some model paint and did my best filling the 20pt chip light sand paint light sand 120grit. It's not perfect but acceptable to me. Super close up makes it look not great. Sharing paint matches also.

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Repro parts finally came in.

Metal is 304 stainless steel
Coin cost plate
Coin return plate
Rectangle spacers
Cost Decal

Cabinet paint update:
Base coat pictures came in, I think it looks awesome. Stencils and paint coming soon.

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Interesting wife got a cricut for christmas and I got an engraving tool for it. Then today I had an idea to engrave the logo on the coin cost plate. Kind of cool!!!

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