Restoration of Bram Stokers Dracula finished...

[johnwartjr]

I just completed a restoration on a Bram Stokers Dracula today

I kept notes :)

The hisory of Bram Stokers Dracula machine S/N 52701053521
Manufacture date 04/12/1993
While the machine has a US serial # label and a US coin door, it came from a container. Go figure!

I won the machine from Kirk Weaver, eBay seller 'kaweaver' as a project, missing boards and parts back on June 28, 2004.
I paid $407.39 plus $28.52 sales tax for the machine, for a total of $435.91
It was eBay item #6104766123

Pics of the game as it was recieved are here:
http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/bsd2aspurchased

I won the sound board from Kirk as well, item # 6105051151 for $69.00 plus tax
I won the fliptronics board from Kirk also, item #6105051160 for $80.48 plus tax (10.46 total for both)
The driver board, CPU board and DMD board all came from eBay as well, but I can't find the auction numbers.

The playfield, translite, mist assy, speaker panel with flasher board, dracula coffin assy and manuals came from Mike McAndrew on 7/12/2004 for $171.65 plus some ROMS

The coin door came from Bryan Kellly
Lloyd Olson provided a set of NOS WMS 'blood red' flipper bats.

Playfield Renovations restored the playfield in 2004. The playfield was dropped off at Pinball Expo 2004, and was returned in early December of 2004. Total cost was $380.00 including shipping.
The playfield is chronicled here:
http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/bsdpf

To get an idea of the condition of the original playfield, see here:
http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/bsdpfold

Teardown pics are chronicled here:
http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/bsd_pf_strip

Pics of each assy as they were removed, torn down, and rebuilt with new coil sleeves and various parts, are here:
http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/bsd_component_teardown

The initial restoration began in January of 2005.
The restoration was restarted from fresh on Sunday July 27, 2008. For the last 10 months or so, it's just sat with a couple of evenings worth of work left to go on the game.

The restoration was completed on 10/15/2009 - 5 years, 3 months and 17 days after the game was won.

New parts going into the machine included
-NOS plastic set (Marco Specialties)
-NOS main ramp (eBay, sourced from Argentina!)
-NOS Coffin ramp (PBR)
-New complete target set, including drop target (PBR)
-Repro proto slingshot toppers (Illinois Pin ball)
-New flipper, start and launch ball buttons (PBR)
-New flipper coils, and all flipper parts. (PBR, Pinball Life)
-All new rubber, bulbs, coil sleeves etc (Pinball Life
-New 24 opto board (IPB)
-New DMD (Pinball Life)
-New leg bolt plates, legs and levelers (Pinball Life)
-Pincab cabinet protectors (Direct from Pincab)
-New playfield glass, translite glass and translite trim
Lots of other goodies picked up here and there, every board rebuilt, every part cleaned, tumbled, polished etc.

Finished pics:

http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/bsd_done

Right side of the cab isn't as faded as it looks, it's just the lighting. The left side is the better of the 2 sides, no doubt.

Sadly, I sold the machine this week. It's getting delivered tomorrow to another collector. I got my asking price, but I lost money on the deal - but I didn't restore it expecting to sell it. Just got in a bad situation. Also sold my DH and JY this week.

I didn't realize how much I loved BSD.. til I sold it.

I'll have to have another one someday. What a great game.

Now, to decide what to do next? I have all the parts on hand to restore 2 Creatures (1 is standard production, 1 is prototype, both have nicely decaled cabinets, PFR restored playfields) and the same applies to my Scared Stiff, only a nice original cabinet with a PFR restored playfield. Those 3 are in parts. I think I'm gonna do the prototype Creature next, then the SS, then the regular CFTBL. And have 2 IJs to do for a client, 1 with a PFR restored PF and 1 with a nice original. Then, I've only got 2 more torn apart and several working games that need PF swaps too :)

[Strangeways]

Thats really nice, John. The Cabinet looks to be one of the better ones I've seen over the years - Nice and Red. Playfield looks immaculate - I'd love to know HOW they restore and clearcoat - it is the great pinball "mystery" to me - they just look awesome when completed. I think after all that effort, I would have kept that machine. Just "too nice" to sell - just my opinion. I hope you track down another one soon.

I'd be going a CFTBL next. I've got one and I might need some hints 

Again - Great BSD - Really nice  You really brought that Dracula back from the dead !

[johnwartjr]

PFR does really great work, but where they've gone over the last couple years is super unfortunate. They have had my sample IJ playfields for 2+ years now, and a diamondplated whirlwind playfield of mine for quite some time too.

When I first took them this BSD playfield, they amazed me. I thought I 'knew' it, and they started pointing out other flaws, and I was amazed at their attention to detail and their eye.

This one took only a few months, the 2 Creatures they did for me took about a year each.

If you think this one was saved from the dead, the proto Creech will make your head spin! It came out of Eastern Europe, Croatia I think. And the thing about Eastern Europe is, they get the games that were worn out in Germany first :) It started out like someone drug it home behind the container!

I think I'll do that one next. I've been waiting on one impossible to find part, and I turned some up at IPB when James and Tim were there :) Made a 2nd trip over just to pick em up!

[bigdaddy]

Nice machine. Took a look at the rest of your collection. You really have a passion for your work. "There is no life without blood" sweat and pinball!

[ktm450]

Great job John 

[prowler]

As always your a magician when it comes to restorations.

[FreePlay]

I really like your posts John ...good work and thanks for sharing