Spiroagnew's SPRAY & PRAY Cabinet Re-Stenciling
- Thread starter spiroagnew
- Start date
Rob now absolutely accomplishes amazing feats with no small amount of work and effort.
It's been months since my last confession online, but it is time to state credit when it is due.
This Melody was and is still a "grail" for me. It is my favourite pin pre 1960 and you have to go back to pre 1935 to have one I love more.
When I first purchased this example, I knew I loved it. Mike at Church of Silver Ball is responsible for that feeling. Thank you muchly Mike.
Drano and I were in Allentown one season many moons ago... The minivan was ready for 3 pins to bring home. Go Time! And then, well, I happened and then I happened a bit more. Pretty sure Drano was bored of me hunting. (Don't fret - Drano's days of hunting came soon after)
So, I had reserved a U-Haul just in case already. I went and picked it up. We filled the minivan. We filled the Uhaul trailer. 13 pins between Drano and I is what I recall... My poor (wife's) Sienna...
There was NO room for this Melody. BUT, I could not leave it.
For perspective, Walt (Brewmanager) and myself had our kids out at Mike's long ago. (Church of the Silver Ball)
Our 2 daughter's fav. game was Melody.
I just had to bring this home. No Space.
I asked Mike Hanley for assistance and advice.
Mike brought this pin back to Canada for me and I am grateful.
550 made. Likely 50 ONLY left on the planet. Rare pin. So beautiful.
And here is the beginning of the point of this entire tale. Brotherhood.
Once I brought her home and played her, she played like donkeyballs in Walt's garage. urk.
Our daughter's hated it. Turned them off immediately. I was sad. I knew I needed Drano's help.
I sold the pin to Drano so he could "do his magic". Please fix the pin and make her play. Drano does nothing but deliver.
Then, Drano was busy, and so was I. (and so were many of our bro's) Rob said he would take the pin and house her and "do her up". Sweet.
Well, as the photos can state, Rob has done a stellar job of restoring this pin in no uncertain terms.
There is no others I would have been able to accomplish this "particular" journey with other than Hanley, Drano and Spiro.
This hobby is fantastic. The participants I have been blessed with and empowered by to meet and know and do even greater things are nothing short of spectacular.
Moving forward, positive posts and thanks and gratitude from my statements and tales only. Thank you to all my great friends.
Sure, I have dibs from Drano on this pin. We merely house it. It is it's own entity.
As long as we play, enjoy and appreciate it, it resides where it will, and needs to be.
Thank you gentlemen.
You are all top shelf.
All the very best.
Cheers. Salut.
It's been months since my last confession online, but it is time to state credit when it is due.
This Melody was and is still a "grail" for me. It is my favourite pin pre 1960 and you have to go back to pre 1935 to have one I love more.
When I first purchased this example, I knew I loved it. Mike at Church of Silver Ball is responsible for that feeling. Thank you muchly Mike.
Drano and I were in Allentown one season many moons ago... The minivan was ready for 3 pins to bring home. Go Time! And then, well, I happened and then I happened a bit more. Pretty sure Drano was bored of me hunting. (Don't fret - Drano's days of hunting came soon after)
So, I had reserved a U-Haul just in case already. I went and picked it up. We filled the minivan. We filled the Uhaul trailer. 13 pins between Drano and I is what I recall... My poor (wife's) Sienna...
There was NO room for this Melody. BUT, I could not leave it.
For perspective, Walt (Brewmanager) and myself had our kids out at Mike's long ago. (Church of the Silver Ball)
Our 2 daughter's fav. game was Melody.
I just had to bring this home. No Space.
I asked Mike Hanley for assistance and advice.
Mike brought this pin back to Canada for me and I am grateful.
550 made. Likely 50 ONLY left on the planet. Rare pin. So beautiful.
And here is the beginning of the point of this entire tale. Brotherhood.
Once I brought her home and played her, she played like donkeyballs in Walt's garage. urk.
Our daughter's hated it. Turned them off immediately. I was sad. I knew I needed Drano's help.
I sold the pin to Drano so he could "do his magic". Please fix the pin and make her play. Drano does nothing but deliver.
Then, Drano was busy, and so was I. (and so were many of our bro's) Rob said he would take the pin and house her and "do her up". Sweet.
Well, as the photos can state, Rob has done a stellar job of restoring this pin in no uncertain terms.
There is no others I would have been able to accomplish this "particular" journey with other than Hanley, Drano and Spiro.
This hobby is fantastic. The participants I have been blessed with and empowered by to meet and know and do even greater things are nothing short of spectacular.
Moving forward, positive posts and thanks and gratitude from my statements and tales only. Thank you to all my great friends.
Sure, I have dibs from Drano on this pin. We merely house it. It is it's own entity.
As long as we play, enjoy and appreciate it, it resides where it will, and needs to be.
Thank you gentlemen.
You are all top shelf.
All the very best.
Cheers. Salut.
Last edited:
DRANO
Super Member
When Rob first sent me the pics of this cab I had a smile on my face for an hour 
It's one of those machines that I had never heard of or considered a few years ago but it stole my heart pretty quickly after trying it.
I'm indebted to Rob for the meticulous work he's done on this one. Just a little playfield work on my end and it will be a true showpiece I'll always treasure.
Thank you sir!
She's a beaut!
It's one of those machines that I had never heard of or considered a few years ago but it stole my heart pretty quickly after trying it.
I'm indebted to Rob for the meticulous work he's done on this one. Just a little playfield work on my end and it will be a true showpiece I'll always treasure.
Thank you sir!
She's a beaut!
singlezero
Active Member
awesome work Rob! ... ummm nice world fair. ! so do your stencils work for only one off or are they good for several paints? maybe I speed read through and .. just like pictures too. that being said. I have a sing along with a new bg coming .. id have to see how the color changes line up
Really remarkable !
Really remarkable !
singlezero
Active Member
Stencils are cut from a velum-like material and can be reused. Got a lot of mileage out of the Volley ones.
The Melody was an exercise in masking, measuring and making extensive notes and drawings...I didn't have any stencils cut for the project save for the stars. The only difference between Melody and Sing Along seems to be the switch of light blue and dark blue colours.
Painting cabinets into November! I could probably keep going and pull another game from my pile of projects to tear into, but I think it is time to shut it down for the season. I finished off with two projects I did simultaneously.
Drano’s Williams Heat Wave
This game had been repainted at one point in its 50-plus year life. Designs were added to the coin door area, silver spatter was used instead of the original black webbing, and, to top it off, it was shellacked. It had yellowed with age and gave the game a sickly, nicotine-stained look. Gel stripper made relatively fast work of the shellac and non-factory paint. From what I could see of the original finish, the game looked like it needed the first re-paint job. Extra geometric shapes were added to the coin door to spruce it up a little, I guess—its original finish from the factory was plain white. In researching the project, Drano found that Williams used two different coulor schemes for the backbox face. He chose to stick with what was originally on the machine, and I was able to confirm that the original paint underneath in fact matched what was repainted.
Here are the two different backbox designs, Drano's game looked like the right version,
which would be emulated in the repaint.
The final product:
Spiroagnew’s GTB 2001
I figured I’d blow the dust off this 2001 and knock off the paint job at the same time as the Heat Wave… because they both used a webbing base, and they both used the same white-blue-red colour scheme. I’m really drawn to this cabinet design for some reason. It is beautiful in its simplicity. The “chaos” of angles stands in stark contrast to the symmetry of the Heat Wave, and other titles of the era. I’ve got a few projects on the go, and I really didn’t really want to throw another onto the burner, but this way I have a game I can move onto during the winter months and not have to worry about having it in a chipped, gouged and peeling cabinet.
The final product:
Drano’s Williams Heat Wave
This game had been repainted at one point in its 50-plus year life. Designs were added to the coin door area, silver spatter was used instead of the original black webbing, and, to top it off, it was shellacked. It had yellowed with age and gave the game a sickly, nicotine-stained look. Gel stripper made relatively fast work of the shellac and non-factory paint. From what I could see of the original finish, the game looked like it needed the first re-paint job. Extra geometric shapes were added to the coin door to spruce it up a little, I guess—its original finish from the factory was plain white. In researching the project, Drano found that Williams used two different coulor schemes for the backbox face. He chose to stick with what was originally on the machine, and I was able to confirm that the original paint underneath in fact matched what was repainted.
Here are the two different backbox designs, Drano's game looked like the right version,
which would be emulated in the repaint.
The final product:
Spiroagnew’s GTB 2001
I figured I’d blow the dust off this 2001 and knock off the paint job at the same time as the Heat Wave… because they both used a webbing base, and they both used the same white-blue-red colour scheme. I’m really drawn to this cabinet design for some reason. It is beautiful in its simplicity. The “chaos” of angles stands in stark contrast to the symmetry of the Heat Wave, and other titles of the era. I’ve got a few projects on the go, and I really didn’t really want to throw another onto the burner, but this way I have a game I can move onto during the winter months and not have to worry about having it in a chipped, gouged and peeling cabinet.
The final product:
DRANO
Super Member
If you haven't ever done any research into the original webbing and how to recreate it, there have been a lot of attempts over the years using a variety of methods and materials. I've seen a few of these jobs up close and most guys just don't get it right. I have never attempted it myself but I have followed the frustration that many restoration artist have faced with this finish. By comparison, recreating the splatter effect seems much easier.
Rob has come as close as anyone I've ever seen to nailing the consistency, size and frequency of the factory webbing. It's the little details that make the job.
I was always a bit 'on the fence' about repainting old cabinets and restoring old playfields but, seeing the level of detail that Rob puts into getting his projects right and the renewed vibrancy of these machines, I'm firmly in the camp that believes these old warhorses are deserving of a refresh and some new life. I get the purist/Smithsonian mindset on this topic, but taking an old machine and making it look and play as great as the day it was made has got to be a good thing in anyone's book. It's not an artifact... it's a toy and it should look and play great!
And, as you can imagine, with Melody and Heat Wave taking up semi-permanent residency in the lineup soon, I am scrambling to make space
Sweet work once again Rob!!!
Rob has come as close as anyone I've ever seen to nailing the consistency, size and frequency of the factory webbing. It's the little details that make the job.
I was always a bit 'on the fence' about repainting old cabinets and restoring old playfields but, seeing the level of detail that Rob puts into getting his projects right and the renewed vibrancy of these machines, I'm firmly in the camp that believes these old warhorses are deserving of a refresh and some new life. I get the purist/Smithsonian mindset on this topic, but taking an old machine and making it look and play as great as the day it was made has got to be a good thing in anyone's book. It's not an artifact... it's a toy and it should look and play great!
And, as you can imagine, with Melody and Heat Wave taking up semi-permanent residency in the lineup soon, I am scrambling to make space
Sweet work once again Rob!!!
superjackpot
Active Member
Gotta say I like the looks of the refreshed 2001. That's a nice design. Excellent work Rob!
This is where I am torn between full or partial restoration, ... or any.
Yes, I absolutely want the machine to play like it did day 1. This is mandatory in my books. After all, I plan to play the game. Replace the rubbers, rebuild the flippers, get the pop bumpers working with vigour again. Fix anything that isn't working like it is supposed so. As for the playfield, I feel that if the inserts, for example, are all raised or cupped badly thus affecting ball trajectory, the playfield needs work. You can spot fix or redo the whole playfield. I'm game either way - depends on overall playfield condition at this point.
But I have a soft spot for an original cabinet. Take my Hurdy Gurdy for example. It was 'restored' by the previous owner. The worn lockdown bar corners were replaced. The bell in the backbox was polished. All playfield posts and plastic lane dividers are new. New shooter assembly. New flipper buttons. There are chromed parts under the playfield even! I appreciate the work. It looks great. Fortunately the original playfield is in great shape so it wasn't touched. There are worn insert keylines but ball path is true and gameplay is not negatively impacted. (Need to replace the pop mylar platters though)
However, the cabinet is original and was untouched, intentionally, and I'm glad for it. There's a bit of history there, like the high score somebody carved in the head. I think this looks neat.
The cabinet is worn in other places. Understandable for a game nearly 50 years old. I'm ok with that too.
It shows character... you might say it reminds you of a bygone era? Like the worn original Gottlieb Manufacturer's Certificate, this game is not hiding the fact that it's been around. I can almost imagine it on location.
Having said that, if your cabinet artwork looks like this, well, this just needs to go. Time to call Rob!
This is where I am torn between full or partial restoration, ... or any.
Yes, I absolutely want the machine to play like it did day 1. This is mandatory in my books. After all, I plan to play the game. Replace the rubbers, rebuild the flippers, get the pop bumpers working with vigour again. Fix anything that isn't working like it is supposed so. As for the playfield, I feel that if the inserts, for example, are all raised or cupped badly thus affecting ball trajectory, the playfield needs work. You can spot fix or redo the whole playfield. I'm game either way - depends on overall playfield condition at this point.
But I have a soft spot for an original cabinet. Take my Hurdy Gurdy for example. It was 'restored' by the previous owner. The worn lockdown bar corners were replaced. The bell in the backbox was polished. All playfield posts and plastic lane dividers are new. New shooter assembly. New flipper buttons. There are chromed parts under the playfield even! I appreciate the work. It looks great. Fortunately the original playfield is in great shape so it wasn't touched. There are worn insert keylines but ball path is true and gameplay is not negatively impacted. (Need to replace the pop mylar platters though)
However, the cabinet is original and was untouched, intentionally, and I'm glad for it. There's a bit of history there, like the high score somebody carved in the head. I think this looks neat.
The cabinet is worn in other places. Understandable for a game nearly 50 years old. I'm ok with that too.
It shows character... you might say it reminds you of a bygone era? Like the worn original Gottlieb Manufacturer's Certificate, this game is not hiding the fact that it's been around. I can almost imagine it on location.
Having said that, if your cabinet artwork looks like this, well, this just needs to go. Time to call Rob!
Last edited:
DRANO
Super Member
Damn... why can't I see these pics?
Luckily, in the case of Melody and Heat Wave, I was dealing with really flaking cabinet paint on one and a bad and incorrect 'restoration' with yellowed varnish on top on the other. Heat wave did have a ton of old scores carved into the head... which I also thought was kind of cool.... but I'm not sad to see the old cabs go.
I have several original cabs that have a little character but they are still very nice and it would be somewhat sacrilegious to strip and redo them.
Luckily, in the case of Melody and Heat Wave, I was dealing with really flaking cabinet paint on one and a bad and incorrect 'restoration' with yellowed varnish on top on the other. Heat wave did have a ton of old scores carved into the head... which I also thought was kind of cool.... but I'm not sad to see the old cabs go.
I have several original cabs that have a little character but they are still very nice and it would be somewhat sacrilegious to strip and redo them.
superjackpot
Active Member
spiroagnew's Gottlieb North Star
First one of the 2017 painting season! And it’s nice that it’s one of mine, and not for someone else! I finally tore down my Gottlieb North Star for a re-stenciled it after owning it for nearly two years. The cab was repainted by a previous owner, but it was painted with a brush and the webbing was not recreated. It was OK as far as home paint jobs go…but it needed some attention.
Nothing special to note here. Just some fresh paint on a keeper game.
First one of the 2017 painting season! And it’s nice that it’s one of mine, and not for someone else! I finally tore down my Gottlieb North Star for a re-stenciled it after owning it for nearly two years. The cab was repainted by a previous owner, but it was painted with a brush and the webbing was not recreated. It was OK as far as home paint jobs go…but it needed some attention.
Nothing special to note here. Just some fresh paint on a keeper game.
DRANO
Super Member
I remember when people had one or two rough EMs in their lineups just for some variety. They were usually ugly duckling machines that had the air of something that had lived many lives.
These cabinet repaints really do help put these classics on par aesthetically with any pin in anyone's lineup.
Nice work as usual! Love that webbing!
These cabinet repaints really do help put these classics on par aesthetically with any pin in anyone's lineup.
Nice work as usual! Love that webbing!
Drano's GTB Spin Out
I'm more than willing to work in trade for project games and/or parts. This, however, is the first of a series of games I'll be painting for Drano, as I've traded my cab services in partial trade for an actual working game (!).
The Spin Out came in as a bit of a challenge because the cabinet was pretty beat up, but I really liked the colours and design of the art package, so I chose this one to begin with. I'd have to say that I don't really enjoy the gameplay of Spin Out (roto-targets are balls, IMHO), but the stenciling on the game some of the best Gottlieb put out. I think a GTB Sweethearts is the next project Drano has selected in the "Trade Series of 2017", but it's owners choice. Until then, I have a bit of a lull and I can knock out the stenciling of my Star Gazer.
I'm more than willing to work in trade for project games and/or parts. This, however, is the first of a series of games I'll be painting for Drano, as I've traded my cab services in partial trade for an actual working game (!).
The Spin Out came in as a bit of a challenge because the cabinet was pretty beat up, but I really liked the colours and design of the art package, so I chose this one to begin with. I'd have to say that I don't really enjoy the gameplay of Spin Out (roto-targets are balls, IMHO), but the stenciling on the game some of the best Gottlieb put out. I think a GTB Sweethearts is the next project Drano has selected in the "Trade Series of 2017", but it's owners choice. Until then, I have a bit of a lull and I can knock out the stenciling of my Star Gazer.
DRANO
Super Member
Damn... That's nice!
One day I'll have to line up all my Spiro-cabs in a nice little row and just stare at them for hours.
One day I'll have to line up all my Spiro-cabs in a nice little row and just stare at them for hours.
luch
Super Member
spiroagnew's Stern Star Gazer
I picked up a Star Gazer about a year ago...it was a project game, and imported from France. The game was early in the production run (4th game off the assembly line if the serial number tells the correct story), and wasn't a total lost cause, but it certainly needed a lot of work. I may detail the work done to the game in another thread, but here I just want to feature the cabinet re-stenciling. The game has no spatter/webbing, and only features two colour art, blue and white, so the job was really straightforward. The Pinball Pimp cut me a deal on the stencils, so I was in business there. I can't say enough about the quality of the Pinball Pimp's product: very easy to work with and Jeff is a reasonable guy to deal with too. I'm very happy with the results. I was even happier that I was able to preserve the serial number of the game (see photo).
The game has since been completely reassembled with a CC'd original playfield and new repro backglass. It plays great, and certainly lives up to all the hype.
I picked up a Star Gazer about a year ago...it was a project game, and imported from France. The game was early in the production run (4th game off the assembly line if the serial number tells the correct story), and wasn't a total lost cause, but it certainly needed a lot of work. I may detail the work done to the game in another thread, but here I just want to feature the cabinet re-stenciling. The game has no spatter/webbing, and only features two colour art, blue and white, so the job was really straightforward. The Pinball Pimp cut me a deal on the stencils, so I was in business there. I can't say enough about the quality of the Pinball Pimp's product: very easy to work with and Jeff is a reasonable guy to deal with too. I'm very happy with the results. I was even happier that I was able to preserve the serial number of the game (see photo).
The game has since been completely reassembled with a CC'd original playfield and new repro backglass. It plays great, and certainly lives up to all the hype.