Restoring stadium seats

[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.

[Sparty1955]

Yesterday, through pure coincidence I came across a seat of three seats, I was told from Briggs/Tiger Stadium. The price is so cheap that it is a no brainer to buy. However as you can see they are in pretty horrendous shape. The wood will most certainly need to be replaced. The owner's wife has had them sitting in her garden for the last 20 years. I don't mind the challenge of the project. I could use all the advice I can get though. This isn't a 50/50 choice. More like a 99/1. What's odd is I don't see a single speck of green paint. Maybe someone painted them? You can see a layer if red, gray, etc. And the seat numbers (1,2,3) seem to be in a larger stencil than other Briggs seats I have seen???

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Sparty1955

Yesterday, through pure coincidence I came across a seat of three seats, I was told from Briggs/Tiger Stadium. The price is so cheap that it is a no brainer to buy. However as you can see they are in pretty horrendous shape. The wood will most certainly need to be replaced. The owner's wife has had them sitting in her garden for the last 20 years. I don't mind the challenge of the project. I could use all the advice I can get though. This isn't a 50/50 choice. More like a 99/1. What's odd is I don't see a single speck of green paint. Maybe someone painted them? You can see a layer if red, gray, etc. And the seat numbers (1,2,3) seem to be in a larger stencil than other Briggs seats I have seen???

Those are great! Too bad you don't have the pieces to make one good pair, due to the front slat missing on two. That said, maybe you could take a middle slat from the end seat and round the corners with a jig saw. Good luck!

[mrozie21]

Originally Posted by Sparty1955

Yesterday, through pure coincidence I came across a seat of three seats, I was told from Briggs/Tiger Stadium. The price is so cheap that it is a no brainer to buy. However as you can see they are in pretty horrendous shape. The wood will most certainly need to be replaced. The owner's wife has had them sitting in her garden for the last 20 years. I don't mind the challenge of the project. I could use all the advice I can get though. This isn't a 50/50 choice. More like a 99/1. What's odd is I don't see a single speck of green paint. Maybe someone painted them? You can see a layer if red, gray, etc. And the seat numbers (1,2,3) seem to be in a larger stencil than other Briggs seats I have seen???

Pm sent

[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.

[RTK]

I have them both ways, personally I prefer them unrestored. It makes me think of them still in the stadium, who was first person to sit in it and who was the last. One aspect to consider is the paint on older seats tends to flake off easily, it could be lead based paint, a potential hazard for little kids and pets. I have a figural Polo Grounds seat that's been restored, it can be sat in safely without any issues which is pretty cool. One of these days I hope to find a seat from Ebbets Field and I actually have no preference whether it's restored or not. Either way, they're a great addition to a collection, they always draw attention.

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by RTK

I have them both ways, personally I prefer them unrestored. It makes me think of them still in the stadium, who was first person to sit in it and who was the last. One aspect to consider is the paint on older seats tends to flake off easily, it could be lead based paint, a potential hazard for little kids and pets. Either way, they're a great addition to a collection, they always draw attention.

I’m leaning towards the unrestored for the same reasons. Just kind of cool to see and tell the story about them in the future.
I was also concerned about lead, so I bought a respirator to take them apart. I started restoring the plastic seats parts because they’re just gross.

I really appreciate all the helpful info everyone has provided.
Here’s what I have so far. Using a straight edge to scrape off the oxidation layer, followed by incremental grit sandpaper and eventually will buff with a wheel.

[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.