I don't know what it is, but it's tough!

Test under the apron.

If a drop of alcohol makes it sticky, it's Shellac

If Lacquer Thinner makes it sticky, you guess it, it's Lacquer.

Do the test in this order, because Lacquer Thinner can affect Shellac.

It's not shellac for sure. No matter what I use it stays hard. I have removed additional topcoats that were added but the Plastcote stays intact. Only on Williams plasticote. The others don't fare so well.

Remember there is a sealer coat that goes down first so the ink does not soak into the wood - nothing will dissolve that.

The top coat is what was screened over the playfield after it was printed.

It would be nice to be able to talk to Harry Williams or Steve Kordek. They'd know!

I don't think either of us are ready for that. RIP both of them and thanks for all they did.

One would be 110, and one would be 104. Both gone, sadly

But they sure did a lot for pinball while they were alive. Two of the great ones.

Was the plant called plastikote? My godfather worked for several paint plants, mostly dupont, but several others in oh and mi, and he is 92.

Looks like it may be made in europe as well....

They still sell Plasti-kote Clear Lacquer here in the States, but it's probably not the same formula from 60 years ago....

Clear_Lacquer_(resized).jpg

Probably less lead in it at the very least

Here is Steve when the last pinball machine went down the line at Williams.

He lived to be 100 years old.

article-2106359-11EC2CFA000005DC-788_634x417_(resized).jpg

Nitro around since the 1920s

Acrylic around since the 1950s

Could be either.

Might have to send a chip off to a lab somewhere.

Life Guard Finish!
Wonder if that's the same stuff.

336f1_(resized).jpg

Just send me that Eager Beaver and you won't have to worry about it.

There is a lot of lack of info from Williams back in the day. We just take what we can scrape together and do the best we can with it today. The plasticote did seem like an improvement over what they used in the 50s.

Do you think that new Tide detergent "Now with brighter colors", makes your clothes any brighter than Gain?

Do you think that it makes your clothes any brighter than the old Tide?

I try to stay away from HE Tide, but it is getting harder to find the real stuff for my non HE washer.

I got ahold of my godfather, and unfortunately that wasnt one of the companies he worked for, so.....sorry no info for you!

Williams probably cut a deal with PlastiKote. “We’ll advertise your product if you sell it cheaper to us.” Something like that.

While there seem to be different uses of the term Plastikote, here is a trademark filing for this graphic logo from 1946.

image_(resized).png

Registration Number: 0565437
Word Mark: PLASTI-KOTE
Status: 900 - Expired
Status Date: 2003-07-26
Filing Date: 1946-10-23
Registration Number: 0565437
Registration Date: 1952-10-21
First Use Anywhere Date: 1941-02-01
First Use In Commerce Date: 1941-02-01
Goods and Services: READY MIXED PAINTS, PAINT ENAMELS AND VARNISHES FOR APPLICATION TO INTERIOR WALLS AND CEILINGS, WALLPAPER AND EXTERIOR WALLS OF WOOD, STUCCO, BRICK OR SHINGLE

more info:
https://trademarks.justia.com/715/11/plasti-kote-71511352.html

Allegedly from a 1947 ad:

12905179_1765845666985338_1320663340_n_(resized).jpg

source:
http://instagify.com/media/1226148968274215806_2130823215

Allegedly a 1950's can:

1_5384222264016018fbcff002bc06b9e9_(resized).jpg

I'll guess it's a silver "aluminum" color

So here is how tough Plastikote is. I spent countless hours removing a second topcoat somebody had added in the past using magic eraser and alcohol on this Skill Pool. And I rubbed hard. Not once did I see any paint on the eraser. This original topcoat, except at a few wear spots is still very hard and shiny now that it's all polished up. Where it is worn you can see the Plastikote is pretty thick. And this game had been rode real hard.

DSCN4393_(resized).JPG

How hard? Well you get the picture....

original_(resized).jpg

I have often wondered why so many EM's seem to have excellent playfields even when they are much older than the 80's machines. Something changed along the way for sure.

No doubt. I have a Cyclone with an NOS playfield in it and I can tell right off the bat that Skill Pool above has a thicker, harder topcoat on it. Remember though in the 80s quite a few games came with a mylar sheet probably to compensate for that.