Addams Family, The
Bally, 1992
Airborne
Capcom, 1996
Alien (Heighway Pinball)
Heighway Pinball, 2017
Black Knight
Williams, 1980
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Williams, 1993
Centaur
Bally, 1981
Centigrade 37
Gottlieb, 1977
Champion Pub
Bally, 1998I really enjoy following your restorations. You're production rate is phenomenal! Can you share a few facts; such as how many pins have you've restored, when did it become a full-time gig, favorite and least favorite aspect of restoration, do you ever tire of doing the same pins, most challenging aspect (electronics, PF, cabinet, etc.), what's your average throughput, is there an apprentice or prodigy in the wings to pick up when when you retire?
Thanks!
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Playfield wiring is complete less the flippers.
Before I place them I am test fitting a new set of stern restong brackets
I installed them in my JP and my TFTC ...
Small thing go a long way
Quoted from ToucanF16:I really enjoy following your restorations. You're production rate is phenomenal! Can you share a few facts; such as how many pins have you've restored, when did it become a full-time gig, favorite and least favorite aspect of restoration, do you ever tire of doing the same pins, most challenging aspect (electronics, PF, cabinet, etc.), what's your average throughput, is there an apprentice or prodigy in the wings to pick up when when you retire?
Thanks!
Nice to hear.
I lost count of how many games I have restored. Close to 500 would just be a rough guess based on how many years I have been doing this.
In 2004 I started doing this full time but I think of only the branded games as truly HEP examples. Those started around 2013 and I guess the reality is it took almost nine years of daily practice to get to that point.
My favorite and at the same time least favorite aspect of the restorations are the cabinet and playfield repaints.
They are my favorite because I am a highly skilled auto painter by trade and I love putting that ability to use in this hobby but they are my least favorite because it is a time consuming aspect of the process that can be tough to factor in time wise. I lose much more than I win there in time and financially but if all I could handle or took on were new playfields and cabinet decal jobs it wouldn’t be much of a restoration service.
Second Is hard to find parts. This often means calling in favors,paying a premium for something,having it made or doing the best with what you have up work with.
I don’t ever tire of the process regardless of the title but I will say I have more internal enthusiasm for doing the first ever Dr Who than the fiftieth AFM for example.
There is a sweet spot there also where it is the fourth or fifth time you are doing a title and you are familiar but not bored with it. That said I am really just trying to make the owner of the game happy and that is the most important aspect. I mean that sincerely. No bullshit. We all have to work hard for our money and it is a luxury for most that needs to meet expectations.
I average two games a month. Three would be more ideal financially but it is just me working and quality comes first so I would rather turn out two excellent jobs than three good ones.
No apprentice so far. The oldest son is 20 and works at a factory and is a great kid but still finding his way in this world. .
The youngest is 18 and special needs. His school actually made headlines today unfortunately with the shooting. He goes to Butler High here in Matthews. Luckily he is a challenge to get to school on time so by the time my wife arrived with him it was already locked down.
Lots of things go on in the background here when it comes to that stuff.
Please, no one, let this derail the tread. But for those interested/wondering, here's an article on the school shooting: https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/29/cnn10/north-carolina-high-school-shooting/index.html
Sad. So very sad.
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Hinges are retextured and refinished.
[quoted image][quoted image]
Do you think that textured would work on a lock down bar?
Quoted from Pinsterwmass:Do you think that textured would work on a lock down bar?
Yes works well for that also.
Couple more hours and Tommy will be done then we move onto TAF ,POTO nd EBD.
Maybe Dr Who as well.
Finding the NoS plastic set was a huge blessing to this project above all else.
Still need to sort out the silver ball target but I have been in contact with a person that has one so it should all work out.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from High_End_Pins:Couple more hours and Tommy will be done then we move onto TAF ,POTO nd EBD.
Maybe Dr Who as well.
Finding the NoS plastic set was a huge blessing to this project above all else.
Still need to sort out the silver ball target but I have been in contact with a person that has one so it should all work out.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
GAP might be a good source as well
Quoted from lordloss:GAP might be a good source as well
https://www.greatamericanpinball.com/product-page/tommy-silverball-target
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Couple more hours and Tommy will be done then we move onto TAF ,POTO nd EBD.
Maybe Dr Who as well.
Finding the NoS plastic set was a huge blessing to this project above all else.
Still need to sort out the silver ball target but I have been in contact with a person that has one so it should all work out.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Very nice job Chris!!
Quoted from djh00000:Very nice job Chris!!
Thanks Dan.
Couldn’t have done it to this level without you.
Quoted from lordloss:GAP might be a good source as well
Thanks. That is who I am in contact with.
Tommy is done.
Might get it outside for final pictures before it leaves but with it being Halloween I might not given the timing of picture taking.
649B0BB4-95C6-4A36-828F-E6DF149B3702 (resized).jpegC54B902E-ACF1-4EA7-9CF8-40DC2FE51E64 (resized).jpegFDDD0D0D-DE82-4869-B43D-DE7971854EF6 (resized).jpegimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgGorgeous! The last this you need is a bunch of trick-or-treaters crawling all over this work of art!
Quoted from ToucanF16:Gorgeous! The last this you need is a bunch of trick-or-treaters crawling all over this work of art!
Yeah the thought of that and no proper silverball target is what haunts me this Halloween. 
Next up is this TAF. Perfect choice for Halloween
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from yancy:Hopefully that shooter knob is on its way to the trash.
yeah, why on earth would they put a clay harrell shooter knob on that TAF? 
Quoted from yancy:Hopefully that shooter knob is on its way to the trash.
Definitely. I never put stuff like that on these games unless totally forced and if so don’t expect any final pictures
Starting the gutting process on the current TAF.
This will restore as I go since I already have a cabinet and playfield ready for it.
image (resized).jpgInside.
In case anyone is wondering the two black round disc decals are evenly placed to keep the apron from scuffing the side when wrestling into position.
These Data East playfields can walk all around the inside of a cabinet so it is a thought out application.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from dnapac:That Tommy is beautiful! Is the cab stencil/painted, or decals?
Stencil painted. Covered somewhere in this thread. It is a marathon type thread.
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Going to beat the trick or treaters.
Sounds like fun, wish I was closer.
Happy Halloween. 
Quoted from High_End_Pins:Going to beat the trick or treaters.
Not sure what the laws are like in the US, but here in Canada that can land you in some trouble.
**Dammit got beat to the punchline...
Quoted from paul_8788:Not sure what the laws are like in the US, but here in Canada that can land you in some trouble.
I will just let the local dentist handle it in a few months.
Quoted from yancy:I should know this since I used to own one, but did Tommy originally have pegs instead of rails?
Yes has something like those newer style pegs.
Quoted from Frippertron:What were you drinking in the driveway? Looks like a Belgian Quad or something nice!
It was one of the Founders Barrel Aged beers. Better half I think.
Have you ever done a Tommy with mirror blades? I was thinking of doing this, but your recent posts puts this in question. I don’t want it to be so tight it scratches the mirror blades too bad. Could the additional bumpers you have added protect them, or is the playfield to cab too tight for this? Thanks for your expertise.
Quoted from dnapac:Have you ever done a Tommy with mirror blades? I was thinking of doing this, but your recent posts puts this in question. I don’t want it to be so tight it scratches the mirror blades too bad. Could the additional bumpers you have added protect them, or is the playfield to cab too tight for this? Thanks for your expertise.
I haven’t tried it yet.
The problem with the potential scratches on these games comes from the fact the playfield isn’t fixed or locked to the cabinet in anyway. That means you can easily and often slide it in and out crooked. That is what will often scuff it up.
Also you really have to jam it to place it back in the resting position.
Tough design to keep looking fresh inside if you open it up often without lots of care and protection.
TAF speaker panel is rebuilt after teardown and polishing.
This game came in with a ColorDMD LCD but is being switched to the LED version.
I will need to grab a Thing light board from the warehouse next time I am there to replace the missing one.
Will also be using the Pinsound board by request.
It will be the third time I do that and have to admit the last two times I found it buggy. Hopefully this one goes better.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from dnapac:Have you ever done a Tommy with mirror blades? I was thinking of doing this, but your recent posts puts this in question. I don’t want it to be so tight it scratches the mirror blades too bad. Could the additional bumpers you have added protect them, or is the playfield to cab too tight for this? Thanks for your expertise.
If you do it I would suggest always sliding in some poster paper when raising and lowering. Been doing that with my rct since I put in the art blades and my Comet since it seems to have some scraping issues in the past.
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Edmonton, AB
Matthews, NC