Advice

[tirwin88]

My son is interested in pinball machines.   I am looking to get him something for Christmas but because this is a last minute decision I need to keep it relatively cheap.   I found a home pinball machine made by Mattel.  It is the Las Vegas machine.   The pictures seem to be in good condition but I cannot find any information on these machines on the web.   The owner states it is in excellent condition and I plan on going to see it this weekend.   He was asking 400 and I asked if he would take 3 and he said yes.    Are these machines any good?

[ChadTower]

Way too high.  $150 tops unless it's minty fresh.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Those home games can be fun but some of the parts were specific to the games and can be hard to replace/repair if they do.  read through the ken layton post you posted on for a good feel of how they go.

Agree with CT - I'd buy a nice one but only for under $200.  Remember, you can get a completely working, fun, playable, serviceable 70's/80's solid state pinball for $500 and there's a lot of support out there for it - parts and knowledge.  If you have any DIY/repair/soldering capability that is a fun way to go.  That skill is necessary for any level of pinball ownership however, even home models.  Unless you live in the chicago metro area, there are not a lot of repair guys around.

[tirwin88]

Thanks!   I also found an Amazing Spiderman one.   I believe from 1980.   She is asking 850 for it.   Seems like a good price?  I work in the IT world so I have some knowledge of "fixing" things.    Never touched a pinball board though!

[TopJimmyCooks]

That is a real commercial pinball machine by Gottlieb.  price is ok if everything works and cabinet, playfield and backglass are all nice. 

Pinball boards are much easier to work on than contemporary (tiny trace, surface mount) boards.  everything's huge. 

If you go to look at spider man check back for a couple of things to look out for and test before you buy. 

[tirwin88]

I will be looking at the Spiderman tonight.  I am hoping to talk her down on the price?   I am thinking 750?  She has a Deep Down Earth one as well?

What should I be looking for?  I am clueless to pinball machines. 

[ChadTower]

1)  Does it work?  Play the game and take note of anything that you think should fire but does not.

2)  Paint damage on the playfield and/or backglass.

3)  Broken plastic parts on the playfield.  Decorative plastics as well as functional parts.


Those are my advised priorities for you in this situation.  If you become a pinball person then priorities 1 and 2 will swap eventually.

I have never heard of a Deep Down Earth pin. 

[tirwin88]

Sorry it was Middle Earth.

[ChadTower]

Middle Earth is a much better game but parts are way harder to come by.

[tirwin88]

Thanks.   I was also looking at a Gottleib Aloha machine.   it looks to be in good shape, especially for its age.   I went and saw that one last week.   The flippers on it seemed so short.  Is that the way they are?   Also the bell sound was a little dull.  My boss told me it just needed to be loosened.  He is asking 350 for it.   

Do you recommend an older one over a newer model with all the bells and whistles?  I am also looking at a Raven for 700.  But looking at the sheet of prices on this site...it seems like 700 is too much to pay?

[Ken Layton]

My son is interested in pinball machines.   I am looking to get him something for Christmas but because this is a last minute decision I need to keep it relatively cheap.   I found a home pinball machine made by Mattel.  It is the Las Vegas machine.   The pictures seem to be in good condition but I cannot find any information on these machines on the web.   The owner states it is in excellent condition and I plan on going to see it this weekend.   He was asking 400 and I asked if he would take 3 and he said yes.    Are these machines any good?

Here is a website:

http://mattelhomepin.blogspot.com/

Here is the repair information including the owner's manual and service manual:

http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mattel

[tirwin88]

Thanks Ken!   I think I am going to pass on the Mattel one though.  He is asking way to much.  He had a 400 tag on it but said he would take 300.   Still too much apparently. 

Any advice on an Aloha (older one) and a Raven?

[ChadTower]

I wouldn't start the kid on an electromechanical pin. 

$700 is too much for Raven unless it's a really nice one.

[Ken Layton]

Never heard of Aloha before. Know nothing about it.

A friend had a Raven on his route 20 years ago. From what I remember about the game was that it was boring.

[tirwin88]

Here is the Aloha.  I went to see it and liked it alot.  Then I had a monetary issue and wasnt able to buy it.  I emailed him to see if it is still available.  Waiting for a reply back.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/vgm/3407259259.html

[ChadTower]

Cabinet is painted over badly, backglass has serious flaking, $400 is about $150 too high assuming it fully works.

[Ken Layton]

That Aloha in that ad has a very bad backglass. Major sections of artwork are gone. Also, I see on the playfield he has stretched a rubber ring over a kickout hole thus blocking the ball from entering. I bet he has a problem with that kickout hole and couldn't fix it so he blocked the ball from going in there. I think in your case if you are not able to fix machines or cannot afford/find a new backglass then I would **RUN** away from this machine.

[tirwin88]

Wow thanks guys.     Guess that one is out! 

I have 2 more I am supposed to look at.

Deep Earth and Spiderman from 1980.   Is 850 a good price if it is in good condition?  If not it looks like my son will not be getting a pinball machine for Christmas this year! 

[ChadTower]

850 is probably high unless (as always) it's really nice.