QUESTIONS AND GUIDES


 

How are the playfields printed?

All our playfields are genuine spot-color silkscreened just like the old days, on our big American M&M Viking silk screen press. That means one color at a time gets laid down with a big squeegee. Most PFs are at least 9 colors so that means at least nine trips through the silk screen press to get all the colors down.


Where does the artwork come from?

Artwork comes from a variety of sources... initially we tried to use the original factory films but quickly found that most of the films are long gone and those that survived were often preproduction that contained some mistakes, sometimes a lot of mistakes. Now that we have learned to be VERY cautious of factory films we prefer to have the artwork completely and freshly redrawn by an artist on our art team. These guys and gals are the engine that drive pinball restoration for us. We make what they draw and they usually draw want they need for themselves or for their friends.


Where do the inserts come from?

All the inserts we use come from the same original factory molds used for the last 50-60 years in Chicago, and from the same factory that made them for your original playfield !   We occasionally have to deal with lost molds, but have our own made at the factory to produce the same part, from their equipment. Getting a mold made is horrendously expensive but sometimes it has to be done if you want the playfield to ever get made. Lately we have been trying to get some inserts from Germany but the distance and some small molding differences has made that a challenge.


What kind of wood are CPR's playfields made from?  **NEW**

We have traditionally used seven layered 17/32" plywood from American Hardwoods Inc (formerly Weber Inc.), which was the supplier for Stern and many other playfield makers since the sixties. However American Hardwoods, in an effort to stay liquid in the downturn a few years back sold off the equipment needed to make plywood of the quality we had been using. Instead of looking at this as a negative we looked at this as another opportunity to yet again improve our Playfields.

American hardwood had been using Maple veneers and sweet gum wood cores. While the Maple veneers are hard at a density of 46lbs/cuft the Sweetgum cores were fairly soft with a density of only 33lbs/cuft. We think this low density core wood was a contributing factor to the rapid dimpling noticed in all new playfields. So we took this opportunity to get rid of the cheaper Sweetgum cores and introduce White Ash which with a density of 41lbs/cuft makes for a much denser and tougher wood and consequently a tougher Playfield. How much denser? Well, the weight of a blank Playfield went up by almost five pounds!  Our Playfields now are much tougher than any playfield ever made before and much more resistant to dimpling from ball hits. Yes, it's more expensive BUT why settle for second best? 


How do I know what is going to be made in the future?

Take a look at what the Art Team is designing.  That is essentially your crystal ball into CPR's future product line.  When they design it, we make it.  It's that simple.  Some artists may take 2 weeks to prepare their project, others may take 2 years.  They all work at their own pace, and will deliver results on their own timeline.  Please don't email us to inquire about deadlines or expected production dates of items you see the Artists working on.  There are no deadlines or expectations.  We're all in this for the hobby, and the Team works at this stuff as their private lives allow it. 


Nothing that the Art Team has chosen to design is of any interest to me or my collection.
I want (insert part here) to be made.

In the repro arena, the egg comes before the chicken.  Everything stems from artwork.  If there is something you want CPR to put on its calendar, get the artwork to us.  Artwork doesn't come out of thin air, though.  Far from it.  It takes work, skillz, and dedication.  There are ways to get your artwork to come to fruition:   a) If you bump into one of the artists on RGP, at a show, or at a pinball party, you can try your chances at pitching them your project idea.  No guarantees - they are busy.  b) Draw the artwork yourself  c) Commission a colleague, buddy, or relative to do the artwork.


What about "third party" themed pinball parts?

While CPR had some luck at a few simple third party themed repro parts, they are not the norm and take a tremendous amount of effort to secure the proper permissions from VP's and lawyers who manage those rights.  In 2009 and onwards we are chock full of enough generic-themed projects to keep us busy for years, we simply don't have the time or resources to reach out and make all those phone calls and legal manouvers to line up simple or complicated third party permissions or licenses.  As of Jan 1 2009, if an Art Team member or external project torchcarrier is interested in a third party themed repro part to be made, CPR needs to be approached with artwork AND complete written permission/licensing in hand before the project can be accepted.  That way the road to production is clean and wide.

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MISCELLANEOUS GUIDES


REMOVING BELL POSTS from Original Plastics
FLIGHT 2000 Plastics - Installation Help & Video
(this also helps with ANY riveted bell-post removal from old plastics)

Click here for Guide



Reproduction Playfield - Swap Prep and Care Help
Click here for Guide


Reproduction Plastics - Swap Prep and Care Help
Click here for Guide


Reproduction Backglasses - Swap Prep and Care Help
Click here for Guide





BASICS of VECTOR TRACING TUTORIAL

SLIDE SHOW (PDF)  Click Here to Download   (6.1 MB)
AUDIO GUIDE (MP3)  Click Here to Download   (11.5 MB)