Oliver Whales wood?

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geofflove
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Oliver Whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

So I'm working through my pile of Allwins to restore. I'm now embarking on an Oliver Whales Easy 9.

The case isn't too bad but I'll need to make a new cash door as it's missing. Does anyone know what wood they used? It's not oak. I suspect it's a hardwood but not sure what. Maybe some weird redwood?

Any ideas what to replace it with for the best match?
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brianh
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Re: Oliver whales wood?

Post by brianh »

Probably not going to be of help here but attached was an Easy 9 I got from Elephant House a few years back and as far as I know the cash door was the original. Pic attached in case cabinet wood is same as yours and anyone can identify wood used for the cash door!
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coppinpr
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Re: Oliver whales wood?

Post by coppinpr »

I don't know if it is, but the grain looks much like cherry wood. There are several types and shades but it looks like the lightest and most common one. All wood is expensive now but cherry has never been exceptionally pricey.
geofflove
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Re: Oliver whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

Thanks. That’s interesting. I made a table in cherry once! I’ll take a look.

Interestingly my version of different to the pic above. That’s an oak case. Mine is the style with the flash in the top above the door and as stated in a different wood to that. The playfield is the same though.
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pennymachines
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by pennymachines »

Are you saying that, unlike Brian's Easy 9, the cabinet on yours isn't made of oak? What part of the machine is pictured above? Agreed, it isn't oak. Maple, ash, cedar?
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JC
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by JC »

Can we see a full picture of the case? I don't think I've ever seen a Whales machine built in anything but oak. Could well be that it's not the original case.
geofflove
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

OK. Some confusion. Due to the pile of broken allwins I have I think the part I showed was actually from a Whales Allwin Deluxe, not the Easy 9, of which I have 3 in the pile! The Easy 9 does indeed appear to be oak. However the Deluxe is indeed a different wood. Don’t laugh at the state if it. It’ll buff out!
Actually they scrub up amazingly well. The worst job though is getting the seized flick and win mechs out without damaging them. I’ve tried penetrating oil, heat etc but it’s still a frustrating and grim job. Hey ho!
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arrgee
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by arrgee »

Flipping heck Geoff, that's quite a pile of work there :shock:
pennymachines
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by pennymachines »

It's difficult to tell with all the old varnish and crud, but are you sure it's not oak? Just after the war, they had to use what they could get, but like JC, I don't think I've seen an OW allwin of this period that wasn't oak cased. Is the base piece (which hardly shows) different from the rest perhaps?
geofflove
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

It is possible it’s just an unusual bit of oak I guess. It looks very red for oak. I guess once I get sanding a bit I’ll know for sure.

Yes it is a bit of a pile of work! I keep getting distracted by pinball machines but hoping to get a few more done in the coming weeks!
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JC
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by JC »

geofflove wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:58 pm It looks very red for oak.
Funny you should mention that, because I initially thought the grain structure looks very mahogany, which would be very strange as mahogany was never a timber of choice in British wall machines !PUZZLED!
geofflove
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

When I first saw it I immediately thought mahogany too, but discounted it as I thought it was unlikely. Maybe not...
cheeky
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by cheeky »

I reckon oak too. I've seen it in various guises over the years pre and post stain. I had some cases made ages ago and no longer own the machines. The cabinet maker said that they were old varieties of oak. Having said that, it might not be. 😉
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moonriver
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by moonriver »

Based on that image I think it's very sun bleached mahogany. It looks identical to mahogany long bench widow seating at my parent's house which had been in south facing sunny location for 50 plus years.
geofflove
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

So I sanded a bit today. I’m pretty sure it’s mahogany!
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moonriver
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by moonriver »

you'll be able to use your 'rare mahogany case version' price label now! :D
pennymachines
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by pennymachines »

Does it match the rest of the case?
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moonriver
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by moonriver »

if it does I wouldn't be rubbing any more of it down, and lose all that nice age wear and patina
geofflove
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by geofflove »

In terms of whether it’s matches the case I need to look through the pile to check. But yes I think it might match one. In terms of ‘patina’ they all look like they’ve been pulled out of the river (actually they were stored in a damp boat house for 50 years) so the current ‘patina’ doesn’t look too good. Sanding and start again really is the option.
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arrgee
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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Post by arrgee »

geofflove wrote:they all look like they’ve been pulled out of the river
That would explain the 'current' patina then Geoff. :lol:
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