nishijin pachinko

[David Walz]

I have a Nishijin Pachinko, 1971, Super DX, that I am going to work on, I have extensive research on it, so I am planning to dismantle the game and rebuild it from ground up. I am also going to build a wall unit for it. Since it is suppose to be accessed from the front. I am going to restore the lock function, restore the wood, stain the wood, restore the playfield, the lighting will be revamped with a modern LED lights, power supply, fuses, micro switches, everything.

It should be a interesting adventure. As you can see the playfield is faded and a chip in the top.

[Pinballwizard55]

Rots a ruck !

[Chris-socal]

Im a Pachinko fan but it is a lot of work to restore one, Especially when you can get a machine in good condition for $100-$150.  Most people think they don’t work and advertise as such. Nearly all Pachinko machines work, you just have to know the rules of the mechanics. I have 3, my limit of restoration is steel wool on the chrome, clean all surfaces, maybe some re-attach of loose trim pieces, replace plexi face.
Playfield replacement is a project all in itself. I would love to see pictures as you progress, there is little documentation on doing it. Hopefully you find it fun.
Chris

[David Walz]

It is a labor of love, they really need cleaning from the ground up to work 100%. Besides I do it for the enjoyment of it, taking my time, using screws and not staples.

I just made a key for the door lock. 

I am looking for a extra lock so I can have one key to fit everything, so I don't have to have several keys for the unit. I did the same for each of my slot machines, which is nice.

[David Walz]

I am thinking about building a cabinet along this idea.

[David Walz]

The wiring, power, lights, fuses are going to get a update, I am going to use a transformer built into the cabinet. Right now I am scrounging for parts. I am going to use micro switches.

[David Walz]

The background will look like this when I am finished. If you compare the two you can see just how faded out the old one really is.

[David Walz]

This is the old switch, fuse, light, looks like. I am working on a plan to hide the wiring, so it will look awesome.

[Chris-socal]

Wow! That will be beautiful.
I made a tube key blank out of brass that fits into the round locks, I took it to a local locksmith who is into creative challenges, one of those blanks on the left. A typical locksmith will tell you it is the wrong diameter for their cutters but there are creative solutions. He was able to use his pick tool to determine the cuts. For the key on the right the locksmith had a box of miscellaneous old keys, one of them was about right. I hammered it to get the matching curve to fit into the lock. He cut it by hand to match the pins.

[David Walz]

I am a master locksmith, my talent is specialized in safes and vaults with certificates, in my day I was on top, now I am semi retired due to getting old.

I started in 1978, and I am a true fabricator, when I started working on bit, and barrel keys every key was a masterpiece, it was hand cut, 90 degree cuts, level, no extra cuts, no cheating, it was a great job every time. I was able to secure a job as a contractor for Old Town in San Diego California where they have a lot of old locks from the 1800's that needed keys, service, repairs. So I was really, really, good with making keys by hand, and everyone of the bit and barrel keys are hand cut, no key machine. I have only manual key machines all of them predates 1980's, a key machine for the milled keys, a tubular key machine, a key machine from the 1940's for cutting specific flat keys with true 90 degree cuts.

Sorry for my long reply, I am passionate about my work, and being a locksmith, safe technician. 

[Chris-socal]

What a great history. If you offered a service of cutting keys for the front Pachinko lock you would be famous! It is the vital step to having a true wall mounted Pachinko.

[David Walz]

What a great history. If you offered a service of cutting keys for the front Pachinko lock you would be famous! It is the vital step to having a true wall mounted Pachinko.

Thanks,

My goal is to have this the way it was used for, in a cabinet, keeping it from getting dirty, making it much pleasurable to use. It will be a good addition to the game area of the house. I want to clean the machine cabinet, then seal the wood. I have some ideas for building the cabinet with lights, power, hidden wiring, a storage compartment, a perminate installation of the game and it's cabinet. I have been building the cabinet with heavy duty hardware that's hidden, but it will hold up the machine without any issues. I also have Pachinko lettering for the side of the cabinet.

I have the time, so I can do everything exactly like I have planned, but staying liquid for improvements, changed.

[David Walz]

Been working on the cabinet, I have a lot of heavy duty hardware, bracing inside of the cabinet. I have decided to bevel the door  a smidgen, this way it is a much nicer fit.

I was able to disassemble the machine without any issues. Now I have the playing field board being re-glued from age separation. The lower frame was not usable, so I fabricated another one. I'm probably going to clean all of the steel parts, and not paint them unless they are gross, I will maybe fabricate a couple of steel pieces that are damaged on the frame.

So I have been busy.

[BigWick]

You have to be careful because Pachinko machines tend to breed in dark corners.
I started off with one, then made two and a double-wide wall cabinet and now I got four with one being a late 90's Sankyo.
Other than cleaning the ball paths I find them to be really low maintenance but if you want more than a funnel on the top and a bucket at the bottom for handling balls there's a lot of creative ways to bring them back to the top.

[David Walz]

The play field is finally glued back together, it's solid. I painted behind the play field it was dry and painting would seal it up.
The door is coming along, three coats of paint after I got the wood cleaned up. I even painted the spacers The original color was bright yellow, so I am sticking with it.

[David Walz]

I have another window frame coming in, the original one was rusted.

[David Walz]

I have another lock coming in, this will be three total, I'll get the cabinet to work with one key.

[David Walz]

Getting more work done. The door is set in place, door hardware is going on, the key lock is working smooth. I definitely have been busy.

[David Walz]

The cabinet so far.

[David Walz]

Dry fit for the parts, installed alignment pins. I installed the angle bracket on the bottom of the door frame. Seems everything is custom fit and finish.