Black Knight Restoration

Restored in 2009. Black Knight is the first machine with a raised upper playfield. Combined with 3 ball multiball and the newly released speech board, Williams created quite a smash hit pinball machine. It’s no wonder this game took such a beating in arcades and needed a full restoration. View the images below to see before and after comparisons of each area of the game we restored. 

Before & After gallery

This Black Knight got himself very dirty, must have had quite a few battles in his day!
This Black Knight got himself very dirty, must have had quite a few battles in his day!
But after a good bath and a little touch up here and there, he cleaned up pretty well.
But after a good bath and a little touch up here and there, he cleaned up pretty well.
This backglass isn't going to work, luckily we were able to find a high quality reproduction backglass to replace this with!
This backglass isn't going to work, luckily we were able to find a high quality reproduction backglass to replace this with!
This picture certainly doesn't capture the impact a new backglass makes.
This picture certainly doesn't capture the impact a new backglass makes.
After sliding the glass off, here's what we have to start off with. The playfield will come out so we can separate the upper and lower playfields to clean it right. That hold-down bracket in front will be removed and all that rust will be gone. The score card apron is scratched pretty bad but I was able to locate a better one to replace it with.
After sliding the glass off, here's what we have to start off with. The playfield will come out so we can separate the upper and lower playfields to clean it right. That hold-down bracket in front will be removed and all that rust will be gone. The score card apron is scratched pretty bad but I was able to locate a better one to replace it with.
Here the playfield is cleaned up in all the nooks and crannies and the process of putting things back together has begun! I painted the interior side walls of the cabinet and refinished the rear playfield glass channel and the front hold-down bar assembly. I make sure all the playfield parts go back on tight and pay attention to detail.
Here the playfield is cleaned up in all the nooks and crannies and the process of putting things back together has begun! I painted the interior side walls of the cabinet and refinished the rear playfield glass channel and the front hold-down bar assembly. I make sure all the playfield parts go back on tight and pay attention to detail.
I went through the trouble of separating the upper and lower playfield so I could get in those hard to reach areas and give it a good cleaning and tighten everything up under there.
I went through the trouble of separating the upper and lower playfield so I could get in those hard to reach areas and give it a good cleaning and tighten everything up under there.
Now you can put the playfield together knowing it's clean even in the places only the ball can see!
Now you can put the playfield together knowing it's clean even in the places only the ball can see!
Black Knight has 4 banks of drop targets that took a good beating over the years and the old decals were all faded and looked terrible. Luckily I was able to locate some new drop target decals. But 1st we have to give all the drop target assemblies a good cleaning and going over.
Black Knight has 4 banks of drop targets that took a good beating over the years and the old decals were all faded and looked terrible. Luckily I was able to locate some new drop target decals. But 1st we have to give all the drop target assemblies a good cleaning and going over.
Here's a good shot that shows the old decals next to the new ones, makes a terrific improvement.
Here's a good shot that shows the old decals next to the new ones, makes a terrific improvement.
Here's the left side of the cabinet before cleaning and touch-ups.
Here's the left side of the cabinet before cleaning and touch-ups.
Here's the left side of the cabinet after a good cleaning and all touch-ups are done.
Here's the left side of the cabinet after a good cleaning and all touch-ups are done.
Right side of cabinet before cleaning and touch-ups.
Right side of cabinet before cleaning and touch-ups.
Right side of cabinet after cleaning and touch-ups.
Right side of cabinet after cleaning and touch-ups.
Here's the playfield all assembled waiting to be played for the 1st time after re-assembly. Now comes the tweaking process.
Here's the playfield all assembled waiting to be played for the 1st time after re-assembly. Now comes the tweaking process.
bk (16)
bk (17)
Previous
Next
Back to Restorations

Stay up to date with NY Pinball!

To get updates on the latest inventory and pinball machine news, simply add your email address to our mailing list:

Copyright © 2022 New York Pinball. All Rights Reserved. Website design by Brendan Bailey.

Close Menu