I'm officially a polygamist...

[shardian]

As of this Saturday, I've taken in a second Bride....of Pinbot that is. 

Popped up on the local craigslist with about the worst ad I've ever seen. The listing title:

Pinball: $850
the listing contents...

HERE COMES THE BRIDE!

THE MACHINE: BRIDE OF PINBOT Pinball by WILLIAMS!

WATCH HER TURN HEADS!

She's a woman of the '90's. Clever, imaginative, playful - really put together. Turn THE MACHINE on and you'll marvel at her fabulous features!

No pics, no description, no anything. Just the lame lines from the flyer. I figured it was a scam, but wrote the seller anyways. Got some pics and a number of the lady. Talked to her to get a bit more info, then told her if I was interested I would call her back when ready to buy - seller was moving. Talked it over with friends and wife. Finally decided to pass. I wrote the seller to tell them I would pass, but then said that if she hasn't sold it by moving day, I would buy it (at a lower price of course). I wrote it off, but then the lady wrote me back the next day basically saying "bird in hand = 2 in bush". Needless to say, I made arrangements to pick up the next morning. It was about a 45 minute drive, and my wife accompanied me. Seller said her husband would help me.

I get there and meet the husband. We walk in and he of course says "it's down here in the basement"....no one EVER mentioned a basement. Not only was it a basement, but at the bottom of the narrow staircase there was a 180 degree turn.

Checked the allegedly fully working machine out. There were things I felt were better than the pics, and things that were worse of course. Game was fully operational, but was in want of maintenance. The mouth kicker didn't fire, all pops were dead, and most of the lighting was out. The biggies (decent cabinet, displays, boards, head) were all present and nice though. The non-mylared areas of the playfield are faded, and there are two wear marks.

Getting it up the stairs was a real pain and I am still feeling the after effects. Dude had a dolly thankfully which did help a bit. Got her loaded, paid the man, and then headed to a well deserved lunch at Moe's. Had a great time with the wife on the trip. She's such a good sport in dealing with this hobby.

[Jeff AMN]

Best alphanumeric pin out there, if you ask me.

But only ask me, because you might get dissenting opinions otherwise.

[JeepMonkey]

Nice score.  So what is your current lineup?

[shardian]

Lethal Weapon 3, Whodunnit?, Bride of Pinbot.

Whenever I get a chance to do shop-outs, Lethal Weapon will get sold off, and I'll probably try to trade Bride for a Funhouse.

[shardian]

Yeah, best of luck with THAT trade.

Refurbished Bride for an unshopped non Diamondplate but working funhouse - you feel that isn't a fair trade? Of course I don't expect to get a mint condition game in return.

[JeepMonkey]

Did you sell the POTC for the Whodunnit?

How is the used pinball market in your area?  That may be a factor in trading BoP for FH.

[shardian]

Did you sell the POTC for the Whodunnit?

Trade+cash.

[JeepMonkey]

No offense, but working, unshopped desireable games are in pretty short supply.

Very true in my area.  I would love to find good titles that work, but are just dirty / not shopped to save some cash.  Haven't seen one I was interested in since I started looking two years ago.

[shardian]

No offense, but working, unshopped desireable games are in pretty short supply.

I've found 2 local for good deals (PotC, Bride) for unshopped, working and desirable titles. It's working out good for me so far!

[Jeff AMN]

I've seen a few Funhouses going at around $1,300 that were complete, but they had good amounts of wear on them. I think you could probably strike a balance between too much wear and not complete enough to make a trade close for a cleaned up Bride.

[Mauzy]

Best alphanumeric pin out there, if you ask me.

But only ask me, because you might get dissenting opinions otherwise.

+1

Theres a large arcade/amusement park on the west side of Indiana that has a nice BoP. Played that as much if not more than any of the DMDs (They had AF, TZ, ToM, TSPP, TNG, etc) and the Funhouse they had. Watching people walk by with shocked looks on their face during some of the sound effects on that machine was hilarious as well.

[Gorotsuki]

Congratulations!
That is by far my most favorite
pinball machine.
I'm so jealous.

[Q*Bert_OP]

Lethal Weapon 3, Whodunnit?, Bride of Pinbot.

Whenever I get a chance to do shop-outs, Lethal Weapon will get sold off, and I'll probably try to trade Bride for a Funhouse.

Hah! You'll need to add at least $1000 cash for that to work out! BoP is only worth $800-1000!

[shardian]

I expect to get $1100 for this one shopped out. I always get what I expect for my stuff.

[Q*Bert_OP]

I expect to get $1100 for this one shopped out. I always get what I expect for my stuff.

With severe cabinet fade? 

[Jeff AMN]

I expect to get $1100 for this one shopped out. I always get what I expect for my stuff.

With severe cabinet fade? 

A clean Bride of Pinbot will get $1,100 no problem. It's been on the rise lately as far as price goes.

[shardian]

With severe cabinet fade? 

Lol. you're funny dude. I realize you think you are the all-knowing expert, but yes I fully expect to get that much. Would I get that much selling to you or Jim? Hah! Would I get that much selling to an individual that wants a nice clean pinball? Without a doubt. I have a guy coming over tonight to look at other "outrageous snicker snicker' priced games tonight.

Anyways, I'm happy I've entertained you. Carry on.

[Jeff AMN]

Yes, Bride of Pinbot has been selling for over $1,000 consistently as of late.

We can't all go over to High End Pins with $100 in our pocket and bring home two Big Bang Bars and a Cactus Canyon. It would be nice, but apparently you guys have this crazy Jedi mind control secret to somehow bring home pins for less than the wood is worth that makes up the cabinet.

[pmowry]

Congratulations!
That is by far my most favorite
pinball machine.
I'm so jealous.

I have to agree.  I loved this machine, and Adams Family.  I spent way to much time in front of those machines instead of in Calc class

[LLUncoolJ]

I think you'd get your price in STL, there is not a whole lot available right now. I sold my ES in a day for $1200 and it was far from a collector. I've been on the lookout for a replacement since. The few that are out there...let's just say the owners are very proud of them.

[shardian]

Took the helmet and face #1 off tonight to see what was up. All switches function properly in head. The mouth solenoid just doesn't fire. Getting into that mechanism for the solenoid is going to be a real PITA - no access from the top. For the time being, I have went the S&M route and taped her mouth shut. The mouth hole isn't necessary for game play. There is a switch at the head entrance that triggers the action. The ball just rolls down to the ball lock and pops out as it would anyways after the mouth would kick out.

[shardian]

Oh and for my buddy Q-bert:

I just took down payment on the Lethal Weapon for $1200 tonight. Now I just have to shop it out.

[JeepMonkey]

Good deal on the LW3.  Did you at least enjoy playing it?  I am sure you posted it, but did you ever get all of the problems worked out?

[shardian]

Good deal on the LW3.  Did you at least enjoy playing it?  I am sure you posted it, but did you ever get all of the problems worked out?

Game plays great and 100%. Needs shopped out, and the DMD issue resolved. DMD is fine, problem is HV source. Machine will be here until I finish shopping it out. Then he'll pay it off, pick it up, and drop off his Comet pin for repair.