Greetings -

I've got a 1950s Bally bingo where a previous owner removed the surround plates for the magic squares and coin slot for polishing. The plates look great, but when they went back on the game they were attached with phillips-head screws. I'd like to replace the phillips screws with original-style round head twist screws, often called escutcheon pins. I've been looking for the nails with no success. Has anyone found a source for new nails in the original shape and head dimensions?

Thanks.

I checked with Joe and no dice. I need 24 for a full set, so he may be able to supply one or two, but not in the quantity I need. I'll post a link if I find a source for new escutcheon pins in the original dimensions.

I tried to remove original nails from the front rail of my parts game. I've done a pretty good job of destroying the plate the nails hold down without making the nails budge one bit. If someone has a technique for removing original nails, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks... just ordered one.

Thanks for the tip. The PBR side rail nail looks similar to the bingo nails, with a slightly flatter profile to the nail head. However, with no dimensions listed, I'd have to order a batch to check the head diameter.

In the end I wound up salvaging 24 nails from my parts game. Fortunately the game had body armor that was attached back in the day with twist nails, and I got half of what I needed by removing the armor. Unfortunately I destroyed the front rail plates on my parts game while removing the twist nails. (I can't believe the holding power of those 60 year old nails.) It was for a good cause, though, and the look of original nails beats the hell out of the phillips-head screws I replaced.

I'm not seeing the "link above" that you referenced. Can you list it again? Thanks...