Valley Model 7450 20C Bar Table

11/24/2008 4:52:09 PM

Valley Model 7450 20C Bar Table

I am taking a shot in the dark here but I recently acquired a late 1960's Valley bar-style 6' pool table which is in very nice shape considering its age.

I looked online at the Valley home page and couldn't find the pool table.

I need a working description or picture of the Valley ball release system for this table. It is a Valley model 7450 20C coin-operated pool table, and I've learned that there are no parts available for this particular model.

I'm posting on the off chance that someone has one and doesn't mind taking a picture of the inner workings of it. That would be great. Also, if anyone has worked on this particular Valley model and might be able to walk me through how to make it work again, that would be nice too.

Thanks,
Mike

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Valley Model 7450 20C Bar Table

Replies & Comments

user1543788377 on 12/2/2018 2:06:18 PM
Was the 7450 20C Valley pool table a slate pool table?

billiardsforum on 12/8/2018 6:53:05 AM
I have always thought that all Valley coin-op pool tables had slate playfields. In just about every Valley brochure I have it specifically calls it out.

I can't find a brochure that lists the specific model in the original question here (the 7450 20C Valley pool table), but with some confidence I can say that it was likely a slate-based pool table.

user1543788377 on 12/8/2018 6:55:26 AM
Thank you, I'm acquiring one tomorrow.

billiardsforum on 12/8/2018 6:57:17 AM
Excellent.

It would be great if you could post a few photos when you get it set up and let me know for sure that it has a slate playfield.

user1543788377 on 12/8/2018 7:00:52 AM
I'll see what I can do. I'm getting it for almost free. Going to need a little work but I think it will be worth it. It was converted for home play years ago but seems to be in decent shape. This is current condition.

billiardsforum on 12/8/2018 8:52:16 AM
Thank you very much for the photos.

Not sure if you saw the Valley pool table serial number cross reference document, but your serial number falls in this entry in terms of date of manufacture:

VA13457 to VA15125: July 1960 to December 1960

Just by looking at the photos, I'd say its a great find if the price is very low as you mentioned. Little TLC and light restoration work and this pool table will be mint.

What does this say? I can't make it out.

user1543788377 on 12/8/2018 12:29:58 PM
Thanks for the information. I'm pretty sure those score keepers were added later. I think they say "easy count".

Any advice on taking a table like this apart? The legs and ball return look straightforward but I had planned on removing the slate as well to travel. I've never seen or taken apart a table this old. Do the rails unscrew from the outside edge and the slate lifts out like a standard valley bar box?

Interesting, someone is selling the old trade print ad for the table on eBay. Wonder if I can find more information there.

billiardsforum on 12/8/2018 1:07:03 PM
Wow, what are the chances? And funny this is one of the few that doesn't specifically call out the "slate playfield" (though I am still quite sure it has one).

I am not familiar with this model so I don't have any information on how the rails are engineered. I do know that these older Valley coin-op pool tables were built to be serviced by mom and pop coin machine company operators, so there is a good chance it will be straight forward.

For others looking, here is the Valley 7450 print ad:

Also, I found a color version, from 1959 apparently. And YES - it does reference the "slate playfields" noting that the slate is USA-sourced.

...and one more that has been restored:

user1543788377 on 12/8/2018 1:15:46 PM
Wow, you've been a great help.

I am corrected, those easy counts are original. Looks like a great table restored. 535lbs is lighter than I thought. And slate like you said. I only questioned it because I came across a wood playfield Valley home pool table from the 1950s in someone's basement.

I think I might get that print ad off eBay as well, be kind of neat to have it framed.

billiardsforum on 12/8/2018 1:19:06 PM
Agreed. For the price of the brochure, I'd do the same.

Looking forward to seeing your setup once you get it all done.

user1543788377 on 12/8/2018 1:20:34 PM
Thanks, me too. I hope to progressively get it done in the next year.

The pool table moved really easily, and I was able to disassemble it in minutes. It looks good now but after a little work I think it will be a nice pool table.

I looked behind the coin mechanism, unfortunately it has been pretty much gutted.

Work on the pool table and game room begins.

billiardsforum on 12/10/2018 2:01:00 PM
It looks amazing! Thanks again for sharing and we'll watch for the "after" photos.

user1545979135 on 2/2/2019 12:09:06 PM
Are the measurements of the area inside the rails is 32" x 64" on this pool table?

If so, then I have one of these Valley 7450 pool tables also. See my other post ID an Old 5 1/2 Foot Slate Pool Table

user1543788377 on 2/2/2019 12:14:02 PM
The slate on the Valley 7450 pool table is 68"x36". It is a 6-foot pool table.

I can't tell whether your pool table is a Valley 7450. It looks like it's been worked on a lot.

By the way, I managed to design and print out a replacement rack holder. If needed it's on thingiverse.

Carter.S on 7/15/2019 9:42:30 PM
I believe I have this same Valley pool table (original).

I'm also wondering in another post about the value of a Valley 7450 pool table in a different post, if anyone has any insight into how much they are worth.

JINX KB on 8/25/2020 12:34:55 PM
I have one of these Valley 7450-20C pool tables as well. I am in the process of restoring it, and converting it to use a magnetic cue ball in place of the over-sized cue ball.

This has been a difficult task so far with no mechanical diagrams for the ball carriage mechanism. I'm currently working on the linkage between the coin chute and the lower carriage.

I am also converting the sub rails from a wood screw to a through bolt using a threaded insert in the sub rail. Most of the solid wood on this table turns out to be mahogany. So i'm trying to restore as much as I can.

I'll add a link to an imgur album of my progress thus far for anyone interested.

OP, if you see this, I found your rack holder plans on Thingiverse and used your model to make one out of wood. Thanks for that! Also, mine looks to be the same color as yours, a dark red/brown color. Minwax "red mahogany" stain seems to be a good match for color.

If anyone else has one of these Valley 7450-20C pool tables with any of the internal coin op mechanism in tact, I'd LOVE to see some photos. It would really help me in the restoration process.

Here is the patent for the ball return/carriage mechanism in the Valley 7450 pool table, U.S. patent #3115341 - "Pool Table with Ball-Releasing Means", filed Oct. 27, 1960. Nothing is to scale, but the mechanics are shown here. I have been using this as a guide for building the missing components. Hopefully this helps someone else as well. It took me a while to dig this up.

Also, here is an album of my progress on the Valley 7450 pool table conversion and restoration on my Valley 7450 coin-op restoration and magnetic cue conversion project.

There is lots more work to do...

Is there anyone with one of these pool tables which has a working coin-op mechanism?

RayMills on 8/25/2020 3:21:15 PM
This is probably a stupid question, but why are y'all restoring the coin system for pool tables that you'll use in your homes? Are you planning on reselling them after?

When I had one of these, I removed the plastic "glass" to access the balls. Are they still plastic, or were they originally glass?

My Valley pool table was the first one where I took the time to muffle the ball-clunking chutes.

JINX KB on 8/26/2020 7:07:50 AM
I enjoy coin-op machines. I also have a 1950s EM pinball machine.

The function of the ball return is what makes these coin-op pool tables unique. Restoration is a labor of love. I worked in a pool hall for years, practically lived there. So restoring this pool table to its former glory is not only nostalgic, but is also fun and somewhat therapeutic.

I have no intention of selling this pool table. It will be very unique. As I said, its a labor of love for billiards and of these old machines.

user1634664766 on 10/19/2021 10:32:47 AM
This may be late but I have a working coin mech.

user1543788377 on 10/19/2021 10:51:56 AM
JINX KB, really cool, funnily enough, I ended up printing one out in wood filament as well and used the red mahogany stain by minwax too. I've done a lot of work on my table since last working on it, I'll try to find some photos. Made new feet for mine out of aluminum plates, fixed the rails, and reclothed it in a Wine color.

user1543788377 on 10/19/2021 10:54:52 AM
I also designed and printed out replacement score keepers that fit the table, they're blank with no lettering except for the numbers. I coated mine in automotive clear coat. If anyone is interested, I can post them somewhere like cults

user1543788377 on 10/19/2021 11:03:51 AM
new score keepers, cloth and customer cover

btw, with the rack holder, to make it more real looking, I embedded a lithophane model of woodgrain in to the rack holder face before printing it.

Valley Model 7450 20C Bar Table

Title: Valley Model 7450 20C Bar Table
Author: guest
Published: 11/24/2008 4:52:09 PM
Last Updated: 12/8/2018 7:05:03 AM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)