http://www.pinballrescue.net/Decals_Apron_Gottlieb.html

Other than that pricing sticker, which came to be around 1975 when pricing was being changed from 2 games for a quarter to a quarter a game/3 games for 50 cents, your instruction card holder doesn’t look like it needs restoration(at least from what you have shown us). Take some lighter fluid and remove that sticker.

Don’t use waterbased cleaners on your inst card holder as they will remove the art. Alcohol and lighter fluid should be OK.

BTW, that sticker is an add on and you won’t be missing much without it.

I have also found WD40 great for removing decal adhesive on aprons but always with severe caution when near the original graphics. Agree what can be seen the apron looks ok.

I apply the WD40 in small sections of the decals starting at a point away from the graphics & use a piece of rag to progressively rub and lift the decal and adhesive. It will possibly take several passes to do the trick. Be patient, small sections at a time and minimise any run off to the graphics.

This was an example of a GTB King Pin which had lots of dirt but also adhesive residue in the top left:

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Using WD40 it removed it pretty well:

canon02042917a 008 (resized).JPG

Heat gun on low setting.

I use plastic razor blades to get the edge up and then lighter fluid/naptha to continue pulling it and to cut any remaining adhesive.

You can find the plastic razor blades at Lowes or Home Depot.

so, am I correct in understanding that naphtha won't remove the original inks?

That has been my experience. Nor alcohol or WD-40. You have to be careful with water and Novus on the other hand. With the alcohol or WD-40 try an area and see how it reacts. I only use lighter fluid or alcohol for adhesive residue. I've used WD-40 along with a dental pick to get hardened glue off based on a recommendation I got here.

Personally, Novus is my preferred cleaner to clean Gottlieb instruction card holders, although very sparingly. If you need to really work something Novus is fine on the white areas. If I need to work a white area near the color I use a q-tip.

thanks, I'm wondering if that applies to score reels as well.

Anything removes ink off the score reels. just dry wipe or carefully use a wetted qtip in the white areas only.

I used creamy peanut butter with a single edge razor blade to carefully remove sticker residue from two aprons and it worked very well (and the effort didn't remove the underlying paint/webbing).

Someone had posted this idea in another thread somewhere along the way (thank you to whoever made that post!).

That's what I figured. I've been using a dry magic eraser.

I have done two aprons with the pinball rescue decal they look alot better than before.
image (resized).jpeg
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I have found in almost all cases Mean Green sprayed quickly on score reels and then warm to hot temp water rinse does not remove the inks on score reels, 99+% of the time. Shake quickly, pat dry quickly, and let the residue of water left on the reel (not puddles of it) evaporate with the heat of the plastic. Does not work as well in humid conditions as arid, but does work well and is a very quick way to get reels completely clean and looking great without damage.

As with all things, there is no 100%, but this one is damn close. Exceptions are noted:

On some occasions this process (along with others that are physical and/or chemical) will remove sports or such of the black ink. My guess on it removing 'spots' is where in the past WD-40 or some other 'lubricant' was used by a tech or owner to grease up the mech itself and splattered when sprayed, weakening the bond of ink to the plastic reel.