Hi all, long time lurker, first time owner.
I've grown up my whole life playing pinball and just recently decided to get more into it a few years ago. Looking at how things work and how play each game better and getting a little more involved with my pinside. I've been searching for my first machine for a while and this weekend while in New York, I had the chance to score a 1969 Gottlieb Wild Wild West. I got what I think was a pretty good deal on it, loaded up a pin into a station wagon for the first time, and I just got it home and set up.
I bought the machine sight unseen and figured it was going to need some work. First off, the two prong power cord is all doinked up and needs to be replaced and I had to drill the change box to open it up (last owner had no keys, didn't plug it in, and just got it in with a trade of 4 other tables he was trying to repair).
The Good: Original schematics, a lot of the original paperwork, a few extra rubbers. All the internals are there and intact (was very worried that it was just going to be a harvested machine). Some little paperwork and business cards of places that had had it before (looking at you Candytown Motocycle Club).
The Bad: Playfield doesn't look... museum worthy but nothing I can't live with. Quarter counter mechanism is missing but luckily dimes and nickels still have its parts. Tiny bits of flaking on the backless (but in areas that aren't super bothersome). Some Moldy or greenish parts here and there.
The Ugly: Rust! So much rust. Any tips of how to deal with this are welcome. The cabinet exterior isn't wrecked, but it might be too ugly for me to live with. At the end of the day, this will go in my studio partially as decoration, so I might try to refinish the outside. I graduated from art school and know my way around adobe illustrator so I might be making some stencils and refinishing the outside.
I'll keep you all posted with my progress, and feel free to chime in with any tips or tricks you might have! My uncle has been restoring machines for my whole life so I have him on speed-dial, but it's nice to hear from the community as well!
P.S. I only have one functioning elbow and arm (got in a car crash pretty recently) so all my strength and movement comes from my right arm and hand. If any of you have some tips or tricks on how to do a lot of this one handed, or have physical issues yourself that impair your fixing upping, let me know.
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