Wanted dead volcano buttons

[rdagger]

Does anyone have any Atari volcano buttons with burned out LED's that you don't want?

[menace]

These are a fairly sought after item--you might be better with ebay as anyone who has them wouldn't give them away.  You might get lucky i guess though...

[rdagger]

The broken ones are sought after?
I figured after 20 years there are many Atari start buttons with burned out LED's that people have no use for.  I'm looking for dead ones, not NOS.

[menace]

Remember your audience--you're talking to people who build their own entire cabinets, a burned out LED is peanuts to that--good luck all the same though.

[SirPeale]

Yep!  Just because the light is burned out doesn't mean the switch is bad.  Just replace the LED and off you go.

Since these things aren't made anymore (who knows why) even 'broken' ones are worth something.

[spidermonkey]

Around here thats like asking people if they wanna give away their Star Wars yoke because it has a worn faded decal on the front. You don't really believe that just because a led is blown out that people around here would consider it trash do you ?  You may not know you're doing it but you're actually insulting our intelligence. Don't mean to sound harsh but just think about  the crowd thats reading your question. There's people around here who could pop a blown Atari volcano button in their mouth along with a working replacement led, swish it around in their mouth for a couple seconds and spit out a fully working button. Ok a little exaggerated but from the stuff I've seen people build around here its really not too far from the truth.  Start checking out populated control panels on Ebay rather then just the buttons themselves. I've seen both the Atari and Midway volcano buttons still on the control panels and sometimes you can find a much better deal by buying a whole control panel. The Midway ones are VERY close to the Atari ones. One Midway game that comes to mind is Omega Race but their are others. Good luck with your search.

[rdagger]

First off, I wasn't asking for anyone to give them to me.  I was just looking for a discounted price.  Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Every week, on eBay you can buy volcano buttons for about $10 each.  You can also buy them new from arcade vendors for $19 each ($22 with bezels).  I just bought some volcano buttons on eBay ($10 each with cones).  The seller claimed they were in good condition, but they all needed their LED's replaced and one of the cones had a cigarette burn.  I received 2 kinds of volcano switches.  On one switch the LED is relatively easy to remove (just unscrew and solder).  On the other kind, I had to drill out the rivets and then melt the plastic to remove the LED contacts.  Next I had to solder the contact to the LED and melt the plastic again to reinsert the contacts.  You have to be careful when melting the plastic not to damage the components of the microswitch.  I'm sure anyone here could do it, but it is a hassle for a $10 switch.  Still, you end up with volcano buttons that are brighter than the originals.

[SirPeale]

One of these days I'm going to bite the bullet and have these damn things repro'd and make a bundle.

[mushmouth]

Saw these, black ones, on e-bay 2 days ago. Think they were at 9.99 at that point.

[mushmouth]

Here's the link. Sorry, too late though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3256095165&category=13718

Pretty reasonable price.

[DARRYLICSHON]

I need to wire up three of those volcano buttons , for missile command , does any one know the wireing?

[rdagger]

There are 2 contacts for the LED power.  I replaced my LED's so they can take higher power loads, but if you have an old LED you should be careful, because too much power will burn out the LED or reduce its lifespan.  I would guess a 330 resistor with a 5v power supply would probably work.  One of the LED contacts is positive and the other is negative.   The LED wont work if you connect the power backwards.  

There are 3 remaining contacts: common, normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC).  Use common and NO just like any other pushbutton.

I thought the Missile Command buttons were not lighted.  You don't need to connect the LED's for the switches to work.

[RetroJames]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3258692928&category=13718

[mp2526]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3258404751&category=13718

Just the switches, no cones

[RetroJames]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3258404751&category=13718

Just the switches, no cones

I missed that.  Still, anyone looking for those buttons and cones will have good luck if they look for the Omega cps.  Can't beleve Oscar hasn't started making them yet.

[OSCAR]

I missed that.  Still, anyone looking for those buttons and cones will have good luck if they look for the Omega cps.  Can't beleve Oscar hasn't started making them yet.

I've had shop drawings complete and quotes for the Atari cones for over a year now.  I've been dragging my feet on fabricating them, though, hoping a suitable switch replacement would turn up.  I didn't want to have a couple hundred cones made and then someone produces or finds a switch that didn't match the Atari ones exactly so my repro cones wouldn't be compatible with them.

If there is enough interest in just the cones, I will look into having a batch made after the first of the year to see how well they sell.  Based on the quotes I received about a year ago, a pair of cones will likely sell for around $20 - $25.  That price can definitely come down if there is enough demand to warrant a larger shop run.

[RetroJames]

I missed that.  Still, anyone looking for those buttons and cones will have good luck if they look for the Omega cps.  Can't beleve Oscar hasn't started making them yet.

I've had shop drawings complete and quotes for the Atari cones for over a year now.  I've been dragging my feet on fabricating them, though, hoping a suitable switch replacement would turn up.  I didn't want to have a couple hundred cones made and then someone produces or finds a switch that didn't match the Atari ones exactly so my repro cones wouldn't be compatible with them.

If there is enough interest in just the cones, I will look into having a batch made after the first of the year to see how well they sell.  Based on the quotes I received about a year ago, a pair of cones will likely sell for around $20 - $25.  That price can definitely come down if there is enough demand to warrant a larger shop run.

Oscar, you are out of control.  I was being a fecicious when I questioned why you have not yet made the cones.  If you are ever in Atlanta give me a buzz.  BBQ and Beers are on me.  1HSC

[OSCAR]

Oscar, you are out of control.  I was being a fecicious when I questioned why you have not yet made the cones.  If you are ever in Atlanta give me a buzz.  BBQ and Beers are on me.  1HSC

The company I work for has an engineering/fabrication facility in Marietta.  If I have to make another trip there in the near future, I'll give you a ring.  I've never turned down beer or bbq!  

[RetroJames]

Oscar, you are out of control.  I was being a fecicious when I questioned why you have not yet made the cones.  If you are ever in Atlanta give me a buzz.  BBQ and Beers are on me.  1HSC

The company I work for has an engineering/fabrication facility in Marietta.  If I have to make another trip there in the near future, I'll give you a ring.  I've never turned down beer or bbq!  

Hey good deal.  Offer is open anytime.  I have a friend who just opened a BBQ joint in East Point called Patio-Daddy-O.  IMHO the best BBQ in town and a cool rockabilly atmoshpere.

[RetroJames]

Oscar, BTW, have you ever thought of manufacturing replacement boards?  I recently aquired a Omega cab that will be MAME'd for the shortrun until I can find a boardset (I am sure you know about the battery issue), but it got me thinking that the boards might not be that difficult to reproduce and god knows the ROMS are out there.  Assuming the legalities can be dealt with in some fashion, big assumption, but assuming they could, off the top of your head do you think it would be possible to repro the boards and make them reasonably cost effective for hobbyists?

[Tailgunner]

I've had shop drawings complete and quotes for the Atari cones for over a year now.  I've been dragging my feet on fabricating them, though, hoping a suitable switch replacement would turn up.  I didn't want to have a couple hundred cones made and then someone produces or finds a switch that didn't match the Atari ones exactly so my repro cones wouldn't be compatible with them.

If there is enough interest in just the cones, I will look into having a batch made after the first of the year to see how well they sell.  Based on the quotes I received about a year ago, a pair of cones will likely sell for around $20 - $25.  That price can definitely come down if there is enough demand to warrant a larger shop run.

Funny you should say that, I found an illuminated button that fits the thread on an Atari cone, though the actual button is 0.02" larger in diameter and the cone would need reaming out to work. I ordered a few of them, and they arrived with round nose buttons in a bright red. Nice buttons, though at $14 each they were a bit on the expensive side.

Here's a pic of one with a metal cone for size reference.

[RetroJames]

Does anyone have any Atari volcano buttons with burned out LED's that you don't want?

4 cone style buttons $7.99 volcano button lot
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=3259154524