720 Restoration

[nash]

I had time last weekend to sand down my 720 cabinet, and tomorrow I'll be applying about 3 coats of polyurethane, and then after doing a light sand and tack clothing it, I'll be applying the vinyl.

I ordered samples from 3 different vinyl companies a few weeks ago and one of the self adhesive vinyl samples I got is a near perfect match to the original material. It changes its hue depending on how you look at it and/or the amount of light that's hitting it, which is how the original stuff reacted. A .jpg image can't properly represent what it really looks like in person but there are a few below.

One thing to keep in mind, and I was talking with Rich at ThisOldGame about this the other day, is that over the course of 24 years the vinyl on all the various 720s out there will have been hit with differing amounts of sunlight. The more sunlight a particular cab got hit with, the lighter the vinyl will become. In the case of my 720, the sides of "head" were darker than the sides of the boom box, and the sides of the main cabinet body were even a bit darker than the sides of the head. I matched to the area of the main cabinet body just underneath where the monitor overhangs, as that's a place that seemed to get the least amount of sun exposure in my case. There was no side art on mine when I got it, but for those that do still have the original art, peeling a bit away will expose virgin vinyl underneath, which would be probably the best representation of the true color.

I rebuilt the rotary controller recently and applied a new cpo and marquee overlay (Phoenix Arcade art) last weekend. I have the side art from Arcadeshop sitting here as well. Thanks again to WadeLanham, Rikitiki, and jayrowthee for working together to get the "720 ultimate aerial" piece done. Mine is intact but yellowed so I'll be happy to replace that when it gets completed. I'm happy to finally getting close to finishing this cabinet and and getting it inside the game room.

Now I have a question for those with 720s. On the top part of the front of my cab there was a small plate secured by 3 Atari OEM-style screws, and in the middle of the plate is a bolt hole.

There is also a bolt hole that's on the front part of the control panel, and you can see the bolt and hole shown in the manual below. The manual doesn't show the plate though, but I am thinking that this plate was an original piece. The bolt's purpose is to keep the control panel secure from the front (as the latches are rear-mounted)

Do any other 720 owners out there have this type of black plate on the top part of the front of their cab too?

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I have the hole (it is kind of mangled too) but no plate.

I think my brothers may have the plate though. I will see if I can get him to confirm.

 

[JeffC]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Hi Nash,

OK! We're officially taking over these boards with 720 posts!

First off, very nice sanding and prep job. It's so thorough I'm tempted to tell you just to stain the wood and go for a "natural" cab. I'll be very curious to see how the vinyl application goes, as I may want to follow suit someday.

Unfortunately I'm not much help with your question. My 720 was like many I've seen: Missing a big chunk of the front of the cab, due to that front bolt either being ripped upward, or the peice just cracking off due to the front panel being weaked by having a large hole so close to the edge. I've even seen some which had metal plates put on the outside of the top-front of that panel to correct for the cracked/broken hole there.

here was mine when received:

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Nevermind. Just found this pic of my brother's, and it has a huge plate on it. Probably installed by an op.

Here is mine. Notice the spot for the large bolt, but no other holes. If it ever had the plat on it, you would expect to see three additional small screw holes.

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Your vinyl looks like a pretty good match. Mine, like yours, is darker on the body than the head.

 

[nash]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Nevermind. Just found this pic of my brother's, and it has a huge plate on it. Probably installed by an op.

Here is mine. Notice the spot for the large bolt, but no other holes. If it ever had the plate on it, you would expect to see three additional small screw holes.

Yes you're right Kevin. The 3 holes would be there if it was original. Thanks so much for the confirmation. It's strange that Atari designed them to have a bolt there but with no plate to secure it to. Should I just fill those holes then, or just leave the bolt hole as is and fill the little wood screw holes?

Yes I can see how light the sides of your boom box pieces are. I love that cup holder you have (I've said that before I'm sure)!

Thanks again for all the pics.

Hi Nash,

OK! We're officially taking over these boards with 720 posts!

I know, I love it.

Those that don't like the game must hate coming here these days though lol.

First off, very nice sanding and prep job. It's so thorough I'm tempted to tell you just to stain the wood and go for a "natural" cab. I'll be very curious to see how the vinyl application goes, as I may want to follow suit someday.

Thanks so much. The vinyl's going to look really nice (the 'natural' look is clean though I agree). I should have it done by tomorrow afternoon so I'll post some pics to this thread. The hardest part (the sanding) is over. Thanks for posting the pics too!

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Can't wait to see the pics. Your machine is going to look new.

For mine, I actually have the black vinyl from This Old Game that I am going to install. My machine is missing the cp bolt, yet the cp is totally secure. I was thinking about using wood filler on that hole, and then applying the vinyl.

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I love that cup holder you have (I've said that before I'm sure)!

Thanks again for all the pics.

That cup holder has held many a beer

It encourages two player games too! Or maybe just double fisting

 

[nash]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I love that cup holder you have (I've said that before I'm sure)!

Thanks again for all the pics.

That cup holder has held many a beer

It encourages two player games too! Or maybe just double fisting

Lol nice. Mine will be sitting in between a Rampart and a Paperboy so I can't do something similar. Very cool placement of that thing.

Can't wait to see the pics. Your machine is going to look new.

For mine, I actually have the black vinyl from This Old Game that I am going to install. My machine is missing the cp bolt, yet the cp is totally secure. I was thinking about using wood filler on that hole, and then applying the vinyl.

Cool. Well if it's secure without the bolt, then there's no need for it. I can see the need for it if the 720's being operated on location somewhere of course.

I have a piece of Rich's front kickplate vinyl on hand for the front. I think I'll go fill that bolt hole and the 3 small screw holes now then, and sand in the morning. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Brentradio]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Nash, the Atari God!

Can't wait to see this game when it's done.

 

[wg]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I noticed some 720's have a white ball on the joystick while others have a black ball. Mine has the black one. Is there any reasoning behind this?

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

heh... the white ball on the pic above (my brothers machine) is a freaking cue ball. I have actually seen this a couple times, but it is not factory.

 

[ThisOldGame]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

after looking at Those pics thosecould be 2 differnet colors of vinyl alltogether 1 darker for the base and a light uptop to simulate the boom box more of a slightly silver. one way to tell for sure would be to look at the back side of the vinyl. WADE that sample you sent was that from the top or bottom of cabinet??

 

[ataritoobin]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I'd be interested to see if this vinyl is a match for Xybots. They probably used the same material since the games were mfd. around the same time.

Since nobody locally is interested in a Xybots, I might as well restore mine

 

[WadeLanham]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

after looking at Those pics thosecould be 2 differnet colors of vinyl alltogether 1 darker for the base and a light uptop to simulate the boom box more of a slightly silver. one way to tell for sure would be to look at the back side of the vinyl. WADE that sample you sent was that from the top or bottom of cabinet??

Good question, I'm starting to wonder if the boombox is supposed to be lighter purposely? Krakboi's is the only unpainted 720 I've seen in a long time, so maybe his is correct? From his pictures before, I figured the top just APPEARED lighter because the sides of the boombox angle in slightly and thus they'd reflect the light different thant he rest of the cabinet.

My sample was off the monitor section, which appears to be the same color as the lower portions, at least on mine. I'll try to get a sample from the boombox too, just to see if it looks the same on mine or is lighter also.

Wade

 

[WadeLanham]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

BTW Krakboi -

I think your 720 is the nicest original condition 720 I've seen. Your boombox and Ultimate sticker are hardly yellowed, if at all!

Things makes me wonder... does anyone have a super nice original? I can't remember ever seeing one on the net or ebay.

And why is it that SO many 720's had the sideart removed and the cabinet painted grey or black?? Did they just age or yellow strangely and look like ass, or what? I don't get it. Mine seems to be in pretty nice shape if it weren't for the GREY paint.

Wade

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I had a closer llok today, and it still could be reflection. I need to pull the machine out, and have a closer look.

Mine is pretty nice, but the sideart is new, and the boombox overlay was replaced with a NOS piece (by the previous owner). The overlay, ultimate sticker, and sides are pretty nice though. I was considering a resto, but it is too nice. I think I will do the front, and that is it.

 

[mrpeepers]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I seem to remember something about dudes peeling off the large side art stickers. They made awesome skater room decoration.
My machine's vinyl is in pretty nice shape, but the large stickers are missing. I have really poor lighting in the room, but the ghetto blaster sides look to be same as the cabinet.

 

[nash]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

I'd be interested to see if this vinyl is a match for Xybots. They probably used the same material since the games were mfd. around the same time.

It's possible Steve. I haven't seen a Xybots up close in some time but there's a good chance they used the same stuff for it.

I seem to remember something about dudes peeling off the large side art stickers. They made awesome skater room decoration.

Yes that's why most all 720s you come across never have side art.

So the polyurethane took longer to dry than I thought so that set me back on completely applying all the vinyl. The head and boom box are done though, and the front is done too. I just need to do the main body sides and the base.

Guys I am 99.9% certain that just one shade of vinyl was used for the entire cab. Those boom box sides are angled which makes them reflect light differently than the sides of the head and cab.

You can see the angling here:

Here's a straight shot of one of the boom box sides:

This is a comparison to the marquee:

And this one is really telling. That's the same vinyl used on both the head and the boom box side.

 

[RadArcade]

Re: 720 Restoration Question

Wow... That thing is going to look AMAZING. That stuff does look like a good match for sure.