Restoring stadium seats

[sschauer]

What's the opinion on restoring stadium seats? i.e. removing the rust and repainting old seats like crosley or wrigley? Does it lower their value, raise it or stay the same?

[Rob D.]

I think this is an area of the hobby in which you have a good chance of getting a 50-50 split on opinions. It seems as though I see offered for sale/auction an equal number of seats in original condition as those that have been refinished. I think a key to holding value in refinished examples is -- not surprisingly -- the quality of work that has been done and staying true to the original colors of the seat if any repainting is done.

All my Cleveland seats are in original condition, but that's just a personal preference and how I got them. I wouldn't be opposed to having a refinished seat in my collection, if it was done right. The one thing that I really dislike and don't understand why people do it is affixing a plaque to the back of the seat identifying the stadium, city, etc. This kind of addition does nothing for me and would be enough to prevent me from buying a seat that had it.

If you had a seat that was in such bad shape that it was missing a wooden slat or two or other pieces of hardware, I think the consensus would be to restore it. If it wasn't in rough shape and its flaws were just some missing paint and light rust, my inclination would be to leave it in original condition.

[Tedw9]

I think Rob D put it best. I could not have said it better myself.

I only have one seat in my collection, but it is original shape which I believe adds to it's charm.

[khkco4bls]

i personally would never change anything if you didnt have to. i have triple polo ground seats but had to change the wood because it was shot. orig. paint i wood leave alone.

[sschauer]

Now to throw a kink in thing I picked up a row of seats removed from crosley in the 30s but then used in a fairgrounds and painted over by the fair. Would you restore back to crosley green? http://www.forsythesauctions.com/

[steve B]

You might not have to repaint.

There;s a technique where you use paint remover on small sections and don't let it sit. When it's wiped off it only takes a bit of the top layer.

I saw it on a show about restoring a frescoe, and tried it on a couple things I have,(Bikes, not seats) and it works pretty well. Slow, but the results are nice if the original underneath was decent when it got painted over.

I've got 3 seats, Fenway - original, atlanta fulton county - restored and with paperwork, texas stadium - original, but it's plastic anyway.

Steve B

[mr2686]

I'd leave the seat as is, slab it and have it graded

[sschauer]

Originally Posted by mr2686

I'd leave the seat as is, slab it and have it graded

That was plan 2 but the shipping costs are crazy

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by sschauer

What's the opinion on restoring stadium seats? i.e. removing the rust and repainting old seats like crosley or wrigley? Does it lower their value, raise it or stay the same?

What Rob said is pretty accurate. 50-50 seems to be the split.

The questions I'd ask are these:

1. What do you want to do with the seats?

2. Are you married?


I own two seats. One is from the original remodel of Yankee Stadium. It was repainted before I got it in 1973. It sits in my office, right inside the front door of my home. It's one of the first thing you see when you come to visit.

I also own a double seat from The Boston Garden. It's in it's original condition, which means chipped paint, one slat repaired and never repainted, with gum stuck to the bottom of the seat. It sits in the back corner of my garage, hidden from view. If I were to restore it, I might stand a chance of getting it in the house. As is, no chance.

Hence, the "What do you want to do with the seats?" and "Are you married?"

[bdwood]

Hello,
The carriage bolt came from a pair of seats removed during the Yankee Stadium refurbishing during 1973 -1975. The size is 1/4" x 1 3/8". I have not been able to find exact length with the larger head 3/4". Any idea where I can find 20?
Thank you.

[ooo-ribay]

10 years later, I gotta tell russyurk I absolutely love that turnstile! I have always wanted a Candlestick Park turnstile but space considerations have always stopped me. Still, if the price was right....

[Sparty1955]

I recently purchased a set of plastic blue Tiger Stadium Seats. I am on the fence as far as restoration. I love the original look, even the faded blue but my concern is the rust and how to keep it from getting worse.
Michigan State, Detroit Sports, Kalamazoo sports - always interested

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Sparty1955

I recently purchased a set of plastic blue Tiger Stadium Seats. I am on the fence as far as restoration. I love the original look, even the faded blue but my concern is the rust and how to keep it from getting worse.
Michigan State, Detroit Sports, Kalamazoo sports - always interested

If they’ll be displayed inside, I wouldn’t worry one bit about the rust. It’s unlikely to progress any further.

[Sparty1955]

I have them on my porch, so they're covered from rain but not humidity. I planned on keeping them on the porch during the summer and bringing them in once Fall starts until Spring.

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by bdwood

Hello,
The carriage bolt came from a pair of seats removed during the Yankee Stadium refurbishing during 1973 -1975. The size is 1/4" x 1 3/8". I have not been able to find exact length with the larger head 3/4". Any idea where I can find 20?
Thank you.

You can find them if you google “stadium seat bolts”
A few websites should pop up at the top.

I’m purchasing some as well. My seats had rivets put on which over time has loosened and seats wobbled

[DamagedCase]

This is my new project. Dodgers Stadium field seats.
Thanks for all the helpful info on here.
These have been sitting outside in the LA sun since 2005. Beyond faded and corroded.
I found a way to properly restore the plastic seats and have been flip flopping with painting the metal legs/frame. Two different yellow colors appear. I’m guessing the first layer (light yellow) is closer to original. I can see red oxide primer under the yellow.

Since it’s still a 50/50 split on full restoration I’ve come here for advice.
I need to attack the rust issues first and I know it will disturb the paint anyway.

Any advice? Leave it? Or repaint?

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by DamagedCase

This is my new project. Dodgers Stadium field seats.
Thanks for all the helpful info on here.
These have been sitting outside in the LA sun since 2005. Beyond faded and corroded.
I found a way to properly restore the plastic seats and have been flip flopping with painting the metal legs/frame. Two different yellow colors appear. I’m guessing the first layer (light yellow) is closer to original. I can see red oxide primer under the yellow.

Since it’s still a 50/50 split on full restoration I’ve come here for advice.
I need to attack the rust issues first and I know it will disturb the paint anyway.

Any advice? Leave it? Or repaint?

These seats were pulled by my Dad from Dodger Stadium after the original construction in 1962. I had 20 at 1 time that were preserved under my grandmothers house until 2008. We had 8 in the backyard growing up that were painted a multitude of colors over the years.

When I wanted to redo a pair for my office, I wanted them as close to the way I remembered them as a child going with my grandfather. We sat Field Box Aisle 16 Row D Seat 7 & 8 every Sunday afternoon. I researched colors and repainted the rails as close to the original color that I pulled from the crawl space. They were in pretty good condition, but I wanted them re-done.

The backs were unpainted and again wanted them as close to the original colors I could find from that ERA and memory. They pay homage to my dad for his hard work in helping construct the stadium and my grandfather who took me to the most memorable games of my lifetime. I see both of them sitting in them smiling at me from time to time.

Hope that helps and wishing you a happy restoration whichever you choose.

[Bpm0014]

If anybody needs any parts for Shibe Field seats let me know. I have some extra backs and seats.

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

These seats were pulled by my Dad from Dodger Stadium after the original construction in 1962. I had 20 at 1 time that were preserved under my grandmothers house until 2008. We had 8 in the backyard growing up that were painted a multitude of colors over the years.

When I wanted to redo a pair for my office, I wanted them as close to the way I remembered them as a child going with my grandfather. We sat Field Box Aisle 16 Row D Seat 7 & 8 every Sunday afternoon. I researched colors and repainted the rails as close to the original color that I pulled from the crawl space. They were in pretty good condition, but I wanted them re-done.

Hope that helps and wishing you a happy restoration whichever you choose.

That’s amazing. Such a nice restoration. Do you remember the name or paint number you used for the grey?
Do you recall if the 1975 remodel had the arm rests painted grey? Mine have yellow splashed on so wasn’t sure if they planted yellow over the grey and over time it wore off.

I live the homage to your dad. My dad took us to many games in the 80s and we always sat in field sections because they were company tickets.
Years later he admitted to me that he hates baseball but only went because my brother and I enjoyed going 😂

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by DamagedCase

You can find them if you google “stadium seat bolts”
A few websites should pop up at the top.

I’m purchasing some as well. My seats had rivets put on which over time has loosened and seats wobbled

I bought a few hundred of them from American Seating (the same people who built most of the stadium seats back in the early 1950s through today.) I can sell them for $1.50 each, minimum 10, postage $3.00 regardless of quantity bought.

They have a star head, 3/4 inch diameter face, 1 3/4 inches long. Bolts are aluminum, and the nuts are one-piece washer and nut. Since I got them directly from the company that makes the seats I assume this is what they were using a few years ago and maybe still today.

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I bought a few hundred of them from American Seating (the same people who built most of the stadium seats back in the early 1950s through today.) I can sell them for $1.50 each, minimum 10, postage $3.00 regardless of quantity bought.

Thanks for the offer but I would only need 4 to fix mine but I also need the square Robertson head to match.