Post by snick on Dec 11, 2019 20:02:37 GMT
So a little back story... I originally purchased this table from a bloke in St. Louis in 2004, and sold it on in 2007. Located the buyer last month, and found he had downsized his home and couldn't keep the table -- so had placed it in a storage unit. I was able to buy it back, and have been enjoying it thoroughly with my 14 year-old, after I was able to introduce him to the game while away on vacation in the UK last month.
Turns out the mechanism, while fully functional, is not actually accepting the coin we drop into the slot. Typically the coin tumbles out of the 10pt chute in the baulk, and the handle pulls and starts a game that runs right around 18 minutes.
Upon closer inspection, it appears that the spring loaded "lock" plate that grabs and binds the handle in the event of a "no coin" condition has been adjusted to where it does not drop down firmly into the slot on the handle -- essentially converted to "free play." If I adjust the tension on the plate it returns to its original function -- but we are forced to manually place a coin in the slot in order to start a game!
I would like to return the mechanism to proper working order, since the mechanism accepts either the old florin or old 10p coins -- and dropping a coin in the slot is part of the experience of the game. After exchanging photos with Chris, he has confirmed that I am simply missing the thin sheet metal cover -- which is easily enough fabricated -- but also the attached coin funnel/cup that directs the dropped coin into the operating slot in the mechanism.
I am posting to see if by chance there are any spares available -- possibly from a table that did not survive and was scavenged for parts.
Failing this possibility, would wonder if anyone would have a spare they could temporarily lend out for me to copy? I have two options -- having a close friend nearby with a 3-D scanner/printer (essentially a replicator for small parts), could reproduce one in plastic. I am also (very amateurly) skilled in casting small parts out of resin. For this one typically uses a poured silicone mold -- but now the silicone comes in a high temperature-safe formulations that permit use of certain metals (pewter, other proprietary 'pot' metals) that would have some real potential for a part such as this -- which sees neither high temperatures nor any real structural stresses.
Would be willing to do the following: provide a deposit via PayPal, etc, which would be refundable (less your shipping costs to Texas) upon return of your original part (in completely un-altered and unharmed condition) -- plus one additional reproduction part for your assistance (because if you are going to go through the effort to make one, why not make several?).
Thoughts?
Turns out the mechanism, while fully functional, is not actually accepting the coin we drop into the slot. Typically the coin tumbles out of the 10pt chute in the baulk, and the handle pulls and starts a game that runs right around 18 minutes.
Upon closer inspection, it appears that the spring loaded "lock" plate that grabs and binds the handle in the event of a "no coin" condition has been adjusted to where it does not drop down firmly into the slot on the handle -- essentially converted to "free play." If I adjust the tension on the plate it returns to its original function -- but we are forced to manually place a coin in the slot in order to start a game!
I would like to return the mechanism to proper working order, since the mechanism accepts either the old florin or old 10p coins -- and dropping a coin in the slot is part of the experience of the game. After exchanging photos with Chris, he has confirmed that I am simply missing the thin sheet metal cover -- which is easily enough fabricated -- but also the attached coin funnel/cup that directs the dropped coin into the operating slot in the mechanism.
I am posting to see if by chance there are any spares available -- possibly from a table that did not survive and was scavenged for parts.
Failing this possibility, would wonder if anyone would have a spare they could temporarily lend out for me to copy? I have two options -- having a close friend nearby with a 3-D scanner/printer (essentially a replicator for small parts), could reproduce one in plastic. I am also (very amateurly) skilled in casting small parts out of resin. For this one typically uses a poured silicone mold -- but now the silicone comes in a high temperature-safe formulations that permit use of certain metals (pewter, other proprietary 'pot' metals) that would have some real potential for a part such as this -- which sees neither high temperatures nor any real structural stresses.
Would be willing to do the following: provide a deposit via PayPal, etc, which would be refundable (less your shipping costs to Texas) upon return of your original part (in completely un-altered and unharmed condition) -- plus one additional reproduction part for your assistance (because if you are going to go through the effort to make one, why not make several?).
Thoughts?
