Incredible work

Finishing up another interesting and engaging wedgehead. Lucky Hand always holds my interest with changing strategies based on how many rollover suits are collected and advances of card hands. I have done 4-5 LH/JO over the past 15 years and it always reminds me of how fun this game is even with basic EM elements/circuitry. Krynski was at his peak by the mid to late 70s and this is a prime example . This game is spoken for and will surely bring many more years of enjoyment after a full tear down, and rebuild. Ron Webb screened reproduction glass completes the restoration.
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Beautiful work on that LH. Those outlanes frustrate me every time I play LH / JO.

Gottlieb Bank Shot. Just started in on it. Disassembling the motor board currently.

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Day 1 of teardown....

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1977 Bally Night Rider
Took a flyer on some apron stickers from eBay. The original paint was good overall but thin where the stickers were installed. I didn’t bother to repaint the whole apron, just stuck the stickers on. Big improvement.
1977 Bally Black Jack.
Somehow the shooter rod got bent resulting in poor consistency from ball to ball with the top of playfield skill shot. I tried to straighten the old one with heat and a hammer. No luck there. Fortunately a friend had a spare. Works perfect.
1977 Bally Evel Knievel
The lower center target was broken when I bought the game. I replaced it with a white target which was incorrect. I’ve had the proper red target for a while and found time today to install it.
I also changed the high score replay threshold. Usually not a problem but the wire pulled out of the plug. I used two sets of locking forceps to hold the wire and plug in place while I soldered the wire back in. The pulled wire turned a two minute job into a twenty minute repair.

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I love Woodrails. I've got a GTB Silver to restore when I get time, complete with a nice new Shay backglass and plastics.

Much needed cleaning of the drop mech for Card Whiz. Everything will get a bath in the ultrasonic (so much sticky old lubricant residue… ugh), then a rebuild with new drops and dips (thank goodness for PBR!).

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Dig it! I need to do that to my Card Whiz in 2023.

Forcing myself through the mech boards (lower cab and back box) of a Space Mission.
Everything cleaned, tumbled, new labels and wrappers, etc…

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Wowza! Look at that metal shine! So clean!

Going through Dealers Choice to eventally lend to our local collective in Delaware. Needs a bit of touch up, door cleaned, legs put through an evaporust bath..a few bulbs too. Its been in storage for a couple years, but fired right up.

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Dedication!

Shop job on a Happy Clown that is in really good shape overall. Will also go through the mechs and make sure all coil sleeves get replaced and all moving parts cleaned up.

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WOW, that's really clean. Back glass is in great shape.

Does this one have the "beehive" shooter bezel, or the later metal trapezoidal one?

The beehive

Alberto

Got it working and dialed in. Interesting the different point and bonus values of the drop targets based on how they're lit.

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Even when I was a young buck playing this game I could never figure out why GTB used a checkerboard image on the drops... thought this was a big oversight. If I had this game I'd come up with something that makes more sense.

Good idea.

Dennis Hopper’s facial image on the drops would get my vote.

A quick “shop job” to see what all the fuss is about with zipper flippers. First time seeing that assembly under the playfield is quite interesting to say the least. Need to see if it’s a keeper or taking up space.

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Ooooooh....shiny!

What's your process of tumbling...tumbler, media, wax additive, time, etc?

Thanks

Usually I ultrasonic with degreaser then soak all metal in evaporust whether it needs it or not. Then i put it in the tumbler with corn cob for the media, and Ill add a swirl or two of automotive polish. then just let the tumbler run for about 4-8 hours. Nothing to scientific.

Receiving an order from PBR is like Christmas morning opening a gift. I know what was ordered, but it is still exciting to have the parts we need to restore these machines. Have fun!

I'll be going to Santa's house tomorrow! Saves him having to deliver with his sleigh! ☃️

I just got an order yesterday...and tomorrow I show my wife the invoice

Doing some preventative maintenance on my 1979 Bally six card EM bingo pinball machine.
Go below to my you page link to learn about game play on this King of all the EM six cards bingos every manufactured.

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Won a flipper fare and some horoscope machine. Using the horoscope machine to dabble in cleaning components before diving into a rather dirty and worn flipper fare

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I've got that one covered. She's always telling me which of our four machines I can have, and which one's are hers. So, when parts come in, I just remind her that those parts are for her machine.

Gotta keep it up to par ya know....

Since three of the four machines are "hers"....

Williams Travel Time bottom board cleaned up and re-labeled. Cabinet cleaned and touched up

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Finally found the last bug!

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I’m so sick of those freaking things!!!

Same here in Massachusetts. Little buggers creep in for the winter. They don't cause any destruction though.

Early mini skeeball from 1930s. Game was a basket case. All new veneer, fabricated two back doors and trim, purchased and finished balls, back glass. Replaced playfield surface. Luckily, most of the relays/steppers were in decent shape and could be restored. It is about 6 feet long, same width as a pinball. Comes apart in 3 sections for transport. Added a 5 inch bell for double scoring. Coin slide is being replated. Fun and challenging game!

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Bally Sky Kings, have everything working except the 100pt bump when lite and the 500 pt lane. Will work on them both during the holidays.

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That thing is so cool. Nice work!

Ace High 1957 Gotlieb was returned to me from Gary Hallmeyer in October of 2022. (He had it approximately four years.)
As of December, 2022 I had Don Owen go through all the playfield relays, replacing several light sockets, coil stops, and lock relay coil, and installed all L E D'S. Don also found seventeen cold solder connections during his procedure.
I also put in a new backglass, playfield glass, new legs, bolts and levelers, new playfield rubber and new flippers, five new balls and new shooter rod and rebound rubber.
Installed new custom score cards, relay identification tags, and score award pin location. Also replaced one of the coin return turnarounds ( NOS )
Cleaned playfield and applied two coats of Johnson paste wax.
Total cost of everything is approxiately 1,100 dollars.
To be noted: Gary Hallmeyer stated that he played over 7,000 games while he owned it.

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I have had this one for almost a year. Ugh I just don't enjoy working on this stuff anymore. Had a little time lately. A good time to dig in and start to get it cleaned up a bit.

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Nice!

Very nice despite the LEDs. I draw the line at woodrails. Incandescents only.

1977 Gottlieb jacks open...... Just rebuilding bank targets unit, it was pretty gunked up and performed sluggish. I changed all the springs, cleaned it up, assembled all up, works like new. Next on the list is to find a short in one of the light bulbs! I installed LEDs (antique glow) but somehow I created a short. This will be my boxing day project

Looks nice; it looks like it found a great home right next to your awesome DARTS game! Merry Christmas!

That is just way too cool...

I lost my mojo mid stream on my cross town restoration. I always finish my restoration’s eventually but some take a month to 5 weeks start to finish, some take 50 months plus. This will never be a beauty queen but it will work properly. I have been replacing all sockets where I can. Where I can’t I favor functionality over aesthetics.
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Crazy.. those stink bugs seem to have expanded.. Never saw them growing up where I live, but now see them all the time.. :/

I always love seeing your work! Specially the playfield touch ups and clear coat.

Alberto

You’re doing a great job. Here is a picture of mine for encouragement. It’s a very fun game.

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Just a heads-up that PBR has 27” legs back in stock (no emails until 1/3, so you’ll have to call). Glad to finally get my Card Whiz I’m working on down to the right height! (It came on 31” legs… not too bad on its own, but looks silly now that it’s in my line up).

I'm currently working on a Bank Shot. Haven't worked on an Add A Ball in awhile. But I have old 27" legs that I have been experimenting with vinegar. It works amazingly. No more Evaporust for me.