That would be great if you could get him to do a run! Just be sure he understands they are a DEEP blue, they really should have no transparency like the Bally/Williams/Gottlieb blue posts.

The problem is all of the blue I have seen... is a washed out blue; looks more aqua. There was a supplier in Europe many years ago for the posts. don't know if they exist today.

I need at least two for my Star Gazer. Would probably buy a few more just to have on hand. Like you, I looked and had a hard time finding them. IIRC there was a seller in the UK that had them listed on their web site, can't remember who.

The Seawitch that I just picked up recently is missing a couple posts. I had not yet checked to see if they were available yet, so I was unaware they were unobtainable. Good to hear this is in the works

FWIW, I bought some ribbed transparent blue posts from PBR when I was restoring my Fathom. The repros were much darker and bluer than the originals, to the point that I ultimately didn't use any of them. I'm not sure how much of that is the color fading with time.

Their white posts had some sort of an aqua tinge to them the last time I bought some. I think they have issues with colors in general.

Make sure you buy a few extra, because 2 years from now they will probably be unavailable.

As long as I can get them back eventually, I might be willing to lend a couple out since I wasn't planning on doing much work on mine anytime soon. It was kept in a basement for 15 years, so the light exposure that it did get wasn't too damaging, as far as I can tell.

Here's a quick photo of the posts hidden under one of the plastics. How do the colors look to everyone?

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I would definitely get some posts and possibly targets, as I have some posts that are cracked. This is great news.

Here are some photos with the plastics removed. Some of the photos are a bit on the yellow side because of the work light I was using. There is some funny business with wood screws to the left of the left slingshot, but everything else appears to be stock. Because of the extra holes in this area, I originally thought there may have been some posts missing, but that doesn't appear to be the case--they just got moved around.

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Looks like all my posts are either 1" or 1-1/4". The posts are fairly difficult to photograph and show their true blue color.

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I have some of the taller blue faceted posts that are NOS I believe. I bought them from a vendor at the Allentown show a few years ago. There weren't enough for the whole game (seawitch), so i packed them away until i could find more. Of course, I haven't found any. I have no problem sending one or two to PBR if it will help get them reproduced.

I will take a couple pics in the morning.

The blue hue PBR chose for those reproductions posts was too dark. The originals were 1/2 to 3/4 the shade that PBR sold/sells.

Dave (Doc)

I'm curious what the logic is on SW between tall and short posts. Bally uses tall posts where plastic attaches and short on the ones underneath the plastic. SW seems to be a random assortment. I switched mine around so no tall posts were scratching the underside of the plastic like Bally does it.

Not sure on SW, but on SG they are random too. I did notice one thing is that if a plastic mounts to the the black side rails, with a screw, then they used the short posts where it goes over drops or targets. If the plastic is out in the middle or around the slings they used the taller posts. Posts on either side of spinner brackets are tall.

I suppose on the plastics that attach to the black rails, you could use the tall posts for any that go thru the plastics and short for the ones that don't. But you'd have to use a 1/4" spacer between the plastic and black rails and a longer screw. Not sure if that will cause issues towards the back when the playfield is lowered under the back rail.

Might be nice to experiment with different sizes to see if there may be a better way.

Most of his posts are in the 50-60 cent range; some are even more. The tall red ones are 50 cents. Even at 75 cents to a $1 each I'm in IF they are a nice dark blue.

If they are $1/post, they are $1/post. Beats no posts at all. Steve's gotta get paid for his work.

How many games use these blue posts? Star Gazer, Seawitch, ???

I can work up a chart tonight based on my machine...didn't have time to do it last night.

Basically, the upper plastics are short posts, the slingshots are tall, the far right and far left plastics are tall, the posts behind the drop targets are tall.

Your first chart was closer to what was on my machine--the posts aren't mixed and matched under the plastics. Some simply use threaded metal posts, some use screws.

Re: Color Matching

I think the color he's talking about using might be pretty damn close. Is this not true?

Shouldn't skimp on a correct restoration. I'm in for the color match and would buy enough for both machines.

wow just came across this... It would be awesome and I'm willing to pay little more for the correct color matching.

Here are the pics of the blue posts I have. Not sure if they are original or not, but they are unused.

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I think the color is similar to the reproduction ribbed blue Bally (Fathom) posts I got from PBR.

The ones on 3 Seawitch playfields I have are a shade or 2 darker.

Mine on my iron maiden are darker also... The one on my seawitch was darker

The ones in my SG are darker like the ones in post #14 above.

Here's how the posts are arranged on my Seawitch. I color coded the diagram below so that blue dots are 1" posts, and red dots are 1-1/4" posts.

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Are these the ones people were saying are the wrong color?

http://www.pinballcenter.eu/catalog/star-post-blue-faceted-1316-p-4878.html

http://www.pinballcenter.eu/catalog/star-post-blue-faceted-p-6763.html

I'd be in at $1 per post. Heck I'd be in at $1.25 each if they are a true match to the original dark blue color they are supposed to be.

Dave (Doc)

+1

Yes. That color is too light. Although that color would have looked great on the Bally ribbed posts Steve reproduced for games like Fathom instead of the darker blue he did for those.

Those are a significantly lighter shade of blue. Here's a rough comparison:

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This is way too light. Though could be used. Not on my games.

Not to throw a wrench in this but Seawitch was also made with Ribbed posts but they were very dark like what is under 1980 Williams games to hold light boards. Almost a purple. Much darker then what is available. They were also much brittle like the faceted posts. Here is a picture of my Swap. I have had probably 10 seawitches over the years and 2 had ribbed posts.

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Another pic...

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I might be in the minority, but I think the lighter blue would actually look a little better and let a little more light shine through.

RazerX...There is probably some truth to that.

I have the pinballcenter.eu posts on Seawitch and I think they look great. side by side comparison they are very close and better yet they are new and not all chewed up on the bottoms as my originals were.

Think of all the blue ribbed Xenon posts from 1980 that have faded into that odd purple/maroon color you see today.

Craig, It is time...I need to come see your collection....Especially now you have a Nineball...

You mean faded puce? LOL

I've added this thread to my favourites.

I'd be in even if not a perfect match. Willing to pay the extra .15 to get colour match. I'd replace all my posts in Stargazer if he runs them.

Ditto

If the posts don't come through this is what I do using the clear posts that Steve sells:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-dye-posts-and-inserts-when-the-color-is-unobtainium