# Episode 48 - EM Backglass Preservation **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-04-28 **Duration:** 14m 38s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-48-em-backglass-preservation --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge discusses best practices for preserving and restoring electromechanical (EM) pinball backglasses, covering damage prevention, repair techniques, and restoration options. He addresses common causes of damage like temperature fluctuations and bulb wear, explains when to use clear coat sealers like Krylon TripleThick, and recommends three backglass reproduction manufacturers (Ron Webb/PinballGlass, Shay Arcade Group, and Classic Playfield Reproductions) for damaged glasses that cannot be saved. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Screen-printed backglasses on EM/Bingo machines are works of art superior to modern translites — _Nick Baldridge, opening of episode, personal opinion on aesthetic merit_ - [HIGH] Rapid temperature changes cause contraction/expansion in backglass ink, leading to bubbling and flaking — _Nick Baldridge, technical explanation of damage mechanism_ - [MEDIUM] Krylon TripleThick clear coat may itself shrink with temperature changes, potentially creating the same problems it prevents — _Nick Baldridge, based on reports from others and logical inference_ - [HIGH] Best protection for backglasses is maintaining a temperature-controlled environment, including bringing glass indoors during winter if necessary — _Nick Baldridge, primary recommendation_ - [HIGH] Hand-painted touch-ups on backglasses are visible when lamps are turned on unless done by skilled airbrush artist — _Nick Baldridge, personal experience with touch-up attempts_ - [HIGH] Ron Webb at PinballGlass is a Gottlieb licensee specializing in Metal Rail backglass reproductions — _Nick Baldridge, direct statement about licensing and specialization_ - [HIGH] Shay Arcade Group specializes in Gottlieb Wood Rail backglass reproductions — _Nick Baldridge, based on website review_ - [HIGH] Classic Playfield Reproductions occasionally produces EM backglass reproductions including Solar City and Target Alpha — _Nick Baldridge, stating from website information_ - [HIGH] LEDs generate less heat than traditional bulbs for backglass lighting but produce inferior visual appearance — _Nick Baldridge, personal aesthetic preference despite technical background_ ### Notable Quotes > "These are works of art in a way a translite never could be." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~0:45 > _Sets up the episode's theme about the aesthetic value and preservation importance of EM backglasses_ > "Over time, those images may flake away and you're left looking like a fool at a bare sheet of glass with a few sad light bulbs behind it blinking or shining constantly." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~1:15 > _Vivid description of the problem that motivates backglass preservation_ > "I only use that if a glass is really flaking badly." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~2:00 > _Conservative approach to Krylon TripleThick application, contrasting with common wisdom_ > "I absolutely hate doing [touch-ups]. First of all I have no artistic ability at all but secondly if it looks right, especially if you're hand painting." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~4:30 > _Explains why professional restoration is preferable to amateur touch-ups_ > "The best protection is to have your glass in a temperature controlled environment." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~8:00 > _Core preservation principle for EM backglass maintenance_ > "I just do not like the look of an LED in a pinball machine." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~9:30 > _Personal aesthetic stance despite technical knowledge, reveals designer preference tension_ > "There are however several Backglass production companies that are still in existence that make reproductions of these wonderful EMs." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~16:00 > _Transitions to practical solutions for unrestorable glasses_ > "A touched up glass will usually look wonderful until you turn the lamps on behind it." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~18:30 > _Key insight about the visibility of amateur touch-ups when backlit_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only podcast, EM pinball enthusiast and restorer with experience in backglass preservation | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo pinball podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge | | Ron Webb | person | Backglass reproduction specialist and Gottlieb licensee, operates PinballGlass, specializes in Metal Rail titles | | PinballGlass | company | Backglass reproduction company run by Ron Webb, produces Metal Rail backglass reproductions | | Shay Arcade Group | company | Backglass reproduction company specializing in Gottlieb Wood Rail titles, operates at ShayArcadeGroup.com | | Shay | person | Operator of Shay Arcade Group backglass reproduction company | | Classic Playfield Reproductions | company | Backglass reproduction company that occasionally produces EM titles, located at ClassicPlayfields.com | | Krylon TripleThick | product | Spray-on clear coat product commonly used for sealing deteriorating backglasses, though speaker questions its long-term effectiveness | | Gottlieb | company | Classic pinball manufacturer whose games' backglasses are focus of restoration discussion | | Jack and Jill | game | Gottlieb Wood Rail pinball game, backglass reproduction mentioned as seen at York show | | Humpty Dumpty | game | Gottlieb EM pinball game, backglass reproduction mentioned as previously produced by Shay Arcade Group | | Incredible Hulk | game | System 80 game, backglass reproduction by Shay Arcade Group mentioned as observed by speaker | | Solar City | game | Gottlieb EM title, backglass reproduction produced by Classic Playfield Reproductions | | Target Alpha | game | Gottlieb EM title, backglass reproduction produced by Classic Playfield Reproductions | | Pop Card | game | Game owned by Nick Baldridge with damaged backglass that underwent restoration attempts | | York show | event | Pinball show or convention where Nick Baldridge observed backglass reproductions | | RGP | organization | Pinball community forum where backglass preservation techniques are discussed | ### Topics - **Primary:** EM backglass preservation and restoration techniques, Damage mechanisms (temperature, moisture, physical wear) affecting backglass artwork, Backglass reproduction and restoration services, Clear coat sealers and their effectiveness - **Secondary:** Hand-painted vs. airbrush touch-up techniques, LED vs. traditional bulb lighting for backglasses, Collector practices and DIY restoration approaches - **Mentioned:** Licensing of Gottlieb backglass reproductions ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0.5) — Educational and practical in tone. Speaker is passionate about preservation but realistic about limitations of DIY restoration. Positive toward reputable reproduction companies. Slightly negative about LED aesthetics despite technical appreciation. ### Signals - **[restoration_signal]** Detailed guidance on EM backglass preservation including prevention of temperature-related damage, identification of wear sources, and when to apply clear coat vs. pursue repairs (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge provides systematic approach to assessing damage, preventing further wear through buffering, and decision-making on sealant use - **[restoration_signal]** Speaker emphasizes that amateur hand-painted touch-ups are visible when backlit, and only airbrush work by skilled artists can be effectively invisible (confidence: high) — Direct personal experience with unsuccessful brush touch-up on Pop Card backglass; comparison to professional airbrush results - **[product_concern]** Potential issue with Krylon TripleThick: the clear coat itself may expand/contract independently with temperature changes, potentially reproducing the damage it's meant to prevent (confidence: medium) — Speaker reports hearing this from others and provides logical reasoning about material behavior, but notes reports rather than confirmed testing - **[market_signal]** Active market for EM backglass reproductions with at least three established manufacturers (Ron Webb/PinballGlass, Shay Arcade Group, Classic Playfield Reproductions) serving collectors (confidence: high) — Three companies identified with websites, licensing information, and recent production of reproductions - **[collector_signal]** Collectors pursue various strategies for damaged backglasses: DIY touch-ups, clear coat sealant application, reproduction purchases, and environmental controls (confidence: high) — Speaker outlines multiple approaches and discusses trade-offs between them - **[design_philosophy]** Strong preference for traditional incandescent bulb lighting over LEDs in pinball machines despite technical knowledge and digital background, suggesting design aesthetics remain valued over technical optimization (confidence: high) — Direct statement: 'I just do not like the look of an LED in a pinball machine. And this extends to the very modern as well in some cases' - **[operational_signal]** Recommendation that collectors maintain temperature-controlled environments for backglasses, including seasonal indoor storage during winter months (confidence: high) — Identified as 'best protection' with specific guidance on seasonal management - **[community_signal]** Active discussion of backglass preservation techniques in community forums like RGP, with emerging techniques like UV-treated glue being discussed and tested (confidence: medium) — Speaker cites RGP recommendations and expresses interest in trying newer techniques --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's 4 Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to 4 Amusement Only, this is Nicholas Baldridge. Tonight, I wanted to talk about back glass preservation. One of the most eye-catching and beautiful pieces of The images of an EM or Bingo are their wonderful screen printed backlashes. These are works of art in a way a translite never could be. The images on the backglass are central to the theme of the game. Over time, those images may flake away and you're left looking like a fool. At a bare sheet of glass with a few sad light bulbs behind it blinking or shining constantly. So what do you do to prevent that kind of damage? And what do you do if your glass is already damaged? Well, the common wisdom is to use Krylon's TripleThick, which is a clear coat in a spray can. and shoot that on the back of the back glass. For me personally, and this is only my opinion, I only use that if a glass is really flaking badly. If it's not, the first thing I do is assess the damage. So if I take the glass off and I see that a bulb or The edge of the head or something of the like has been rubbing the glass and has taken the artwork off in that area. I do what I can to try to prevent that from happening, be it with strips of felt or some other type of buffer. The other thing if a bulb is has worn away the art, I'll just take the bulb out and hopefully it's worn it away in a way that you can't see the socket behind it anymore. The other thing I may do is touch up the glass but that's something that I absolutely hate doing. First of all I have no artistic ability at all but secondly In the room looks right, especially if you're hand painting. Now the best you can do is to airbrush. But airbrushing on a backglass that isn't sealed can be very difficult and nerve-wracking. Because the way that you ensure that you don't get overspray when using an airbrush is to seal off the surrounding area with some kind of tape or cardboard or something. And if your glass is Cartooning device so those instancegeordOS in if absolutely must a touch I would use cardboard But again it depends on the amount of damage to the glass So what kind of stuff can happen I already mentioned like a bulb wearing against the glass when there wasn adequate padding but there are certainly other things that can happen to damaged The most basic cause of damage to backglass ink is rapid changes in temperature. For example, if you have a game in a cold or unheated space and turn it on to play, as the bulbs heat up quickly against that ink, they'll cause a contraction and possibly The In the end what you're going to wind up with is bubbled artwork Which is incredibly unattractive and if you're really unlucky, it'll start a chain reaction of flaking That you really won't be able to stop unless you seal So if the glass just has some minor rub then I won't seal it perform черtayмотр at a chegman�s both the influence in if it's really major and i feel like trying my hand with Khairstens he n program just liking than having a simple thing Now I've heard some reports that triple thick will shrink with changes in temperature and you'll wind up with the same problem. And I'm sure that that's the case because if you think about it, you're sealing it with just a clear paint, essentially, that you're spraying on the back of it. And so it's going to have its own expansion and Contraction rate just like the ink underneath of it does and the glass that it's bonded to. So certainly that can be a contributor, especially if you tape off score Real Windows and the like, then you're going to have all kinds of weird forces at play when that glass heats up from a cold environment. So again, the best protection is to have your glass in a temperature controlled environment. If that means that you have to bring your glass into the house during the winter months, then so be it. It's also a killer if you leave your glass out in a very, very humid area and turn it on to play because you'll get condensate that's burned off by the bulbs as they're on. Another thing that some folks like to do is to use LEDs behind the back of their and certainly that an option and they do not generate nearly as much heat as a bulb however I just don like the look of them to be quite honest and this is coming from somebody who has a very strong background in digital technology and I love making circuits and doing all kinds of stuff with chips and the like but I just do not like the look of an LED in a pinball machine And this extends to the very modern as well in some cases Ass üzerine, the gunnehmen found him too in Dunning-Jewen, etc. I know he can be fire. Simplify Subtitles Think hard and do your called in! There's even one more signifying the suitable section at least Kat McC san went transporting canea Cadenin on a seven and protecting the glass with some kind of minor buffer. Shattering is a concern. As well as cracking, breaking, all those kinds of things. It's a painted glass. So you want to handle with care and if your glass is already cracked or broken, there are a few different things that you can do about it. I've seen recommended on RGP several times a UV treated glue. That sounds very interesting and I'd like to try it one day. Another thing that'll work temporarily if your glass has flaking or missing artwork and it's broken is to tape it in such a way that all the Left sinister basing against Raza PicasaاخlycelQL��� beside the Ha guess that Andres Whats As you can see on the camera it's turned out Even better than watching a digital There's a way to misalign simply by using a pencil But it's still stănk Because also That said first off Tomorrow We can sell our Filming And the translates turned out pretty well, I think, but they're not not the same so All that said take care of your glass Because it's the only one you got Many games are not reproduced There are however several Backglass production companies that are still in existence that make reproductions of these wonderful EMs Ron Webb at pinballglass is a Gottlieb licensee and he makes beautiful glasses I have a repro in my pop card All of the faces on the back glass as well as all the flesh tone had flaked away A lot of the yellow had flaked away And that was my first attempt at a touch and used a brush not an airbrush and it did not look good when I was finished The Ron Webb Repro is quite a bit better. It looks great. A touched up glass will usually look wonderful until you turn the lamps on behind it. At that point you can almost always tell that it's been touched up unless the artist is using an airbrush, Franchi collaps organic tôi acá Morgen 접종 tills came as try extinct tengo ID on say in tği tattoo which the currently tá han the coil, So, second repro backlash manufacturer is Shay from the Shay ArcadeGroup. That's at ShayArcadeGroup.com and they have many Gottlieb Wood Rail titles. Ron Webb has more of the MetalRail titles. From the website, they look like beautiful work. I've never had a ShayRepro. I have seen the ShayRepro IncredibleHulk Backglass, which is a System 80 game. However, I have never seen one of his EM or Wood rail repros. Oh, I take that back. Actually, at the York show, I did see a repro Jack and Jill, and that was a thing of beauty. Actually, now that I think about it, I think he did Humpty Dumpty a few years ago, and I've seen that one too. Well, I take it all back. I've seen those and they look great as well. The third is Classic Playfield Reproductions. They're at ClassicPlayfields.com. Occasionally they'll do an EM title. They've done Solar City and Target Alpha from Gottlieb. and that also looks great from the website those I have not seen in person so those are your options if you have a roached out back glass well thank you again for listening my name again is Nicholas Baldridge you can reach me at for amusement only podcast at gmail.com and you can find us online at for amusement only dot libsyn dot com You can listen to us on iTunes, stitcher, via RSS, on facebook, or on our website. Thanks very much for listening and I'll talk to you next time. _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: c894b2d9-f89b-4033-8413-3664bcad6ede*