WTB: Atari Volcano/Cone Buttons

[Rick]

Hey all,

I'm looking for these...



Rare, eh? I understand the originals came with aluminum cones and some repros have had plastic cones, but I'm definitely looking for input as to what is most common and desirable. If you have them, please let me know!

[HaRuMaN]

I has one, you can't has...  (mainly because it's attached to my Battlezone)...

Whatcha makin?

[Rick]

I has one, you can't has...  (mainly because it's attached to my Battlezone)...

/sadpanda

Whatcha makin?

​I asked my supplier in China if they carried the volcano buttons, and it sounds like they may have access to the buttons/switches, but not the volcano surrounds.​ They asked if I could send them a sample, and they may be able to fabricate them. (!) So, I figured if they're able to reproduce them at a good price, I'll have them make up as many as I can buy, and sell them off when people need them.

[yotsuya]

I got plenty of those bad boys!

[JDFan]

I asked my supplier in China if they carried the volcano buttons, and it sounds like they may have access to the buttons/switches, but not the volcano surrounds.​ They asked if I could send them a sample, and they may be able to fabricate them. (!) So, I figured if they're able to reproduce them at a good price, I'll have them make up as many as I can buy, and sell them off when people need them.

They seem to be pretty hard to come by these days (was looking around a bit awhile ago (was thinking about building a Missile command bartop) but couldn't find them and the ones I did see were about $30+ per button so making a CP with 5 of them and a trackball was gonna be a bit pricey  so gave up on the idea !! If they could reproduce them at a decent price point there would probably be a decent demand.

[Rick]

I got plenty of those bad boys!

Any you'd care to sell? You know, for science?

[HaRuMaN]

I got plenty of those bad boys!

Any you'd care to sell? You know, for science?

Yots is my #2 shill, so... you'll have to get approval from me first.  Now that Malenko's gone rogue, making you art and stuff, Yots might be moving up to #1! 

[Rick]

Yots is my #2 shill, so... you'll have to get approval from me first.  Now that Malenko's gone rogue, making you art and stuff, Yots might be moving up to #1! 

Dude, you're like - what - one of three suppliers in the U.S.? And you dare make demands like that to the "Boss of Bosses" in Canada?

[HaRuMaN]

[yotsuya]

I ain't nobody's shill, mother--smurfers--!

What exactly do you need, Ricardo?

[HaRuMaN]

I sense someone's Harubux expiring soon...   

[yotsuya]

I sense someone's Harubux expiring soon...   

I still need to get the deposit back on my tools!

[HaRuMaN]

I sense someone's Harubux expiring soon...   

I still need to get the deposit back on my tools!

hehe

[Rick]

What exactly do you need, Ricardo?

I'm looking for everything.  Lighted aluminum buttons, black plastic volcano buttons, or basically anything I can get my supplier to make a prototype from!

[yotsuya]

Are you needing the actual buttons, the cones, or both? You post sounds like the supplier might have the buttons but not the cones.

[Louis Tully]

.

[JDFan]

Are you needing the actual buttons, the cones, or both? You post sounds like the supplier might have the buttons but not the cones.

Sounds like he needs one full setup -- the China manufacturer is probably wanting to reverse engineer the entire unit so would need a complete unit to make sure they can produce all the parts.

[Le Chuck]

I can check my drawer, I know I have both metal and plastic cones with lit and unlit buttons.  I think on metal I only have the tall cone but not sure.  On plastic I have both tall and short cones.  What do you want - I'll send you one for deals on buttons later. 

[yotsuya]

Hey, if Chuck wants to send you everything, go for it. Between Tempest, Missile Command, Centipede, and Asteroids, I need to hang on to all that I've got. But if you just needed cones, I've got spares you could use for reverse-engineering.

[Rick]

Are you needing the actual buttons, the cones, or both? You post sounds like the supplier might have the buttons but not the cones.

I'll be honest - with the language gap, I'm not certain if they want the whole switch and cone assembly, or if the cones themselves would do. I would prefer to be safer and provide them with the whole assembly, just to be sure everything was reproduced appropriately.

I can check my drawer, I know I have both metal and plastic cones with lit and unlit buttons.  I think on metal I only have the tall cone but not sure.  On plastic I have both tall and short cones.  What do you want - I'll send you one for deals on buttons later.

I'd be stupid not to take you up on that offer! Thanks so much!

From what I learned on the wiki, the aluminum buttons usually came with lighted red buttons, and in two flavours - the taller ones that were actually used as play buttons, and shorter ones for the 1P/2P 'selections. Now, here's the question: understanding that you may not have the shorter ones in aluminum - were they the same size as the plastic ones you DO have? If they are - then my humble ask would be for at least one red light-up switch assembly and one unlit switch assembly, one tall cone and one short cone. I would then, request a quote from my supplier on every applicable variation... ...so, switches in both red led models and black non-lit models, and short and tall cones in aluminum (or worst case - in aluminum colored plastic, ugh) and short and tall cones in black plastic. If I'm way out of line with my request, just let me know.

(One thing I would definitely recommend is to have a dollar value in mind for your buttons, "just in case". I'm going to be as clear as I possibly can with my supplier that I need (not want, need) the originals back - but if the worst happens and they don't return them, or return them in less than the same condition as they were, I want to be able to pay you for the loss.)

Hey, if Chuck wants to send you everything, go for it. Between Tempest, Missile Command, Centipede, and Asteroids, I need to hang on to all that I've got. But if you just needed cones, I've got spares you could use for reverse-engineering.

Thanks, sir. I think we may just be covered. I definitely do appreciate the offer!

I'm excited to get this ball rolling - thank you everybody for working towards a possible solution to the "volcano drought"!

[yotsuya]

No problem. But I would be remiss if I didn't share with you that ArcadeFixIt.com has reproed cones for sale. Buttons, no; cones, yes. He has both silver and black in Aluminum.

http://www.arcadefixit.com/category.sc?categoryId=85

Study plastic cones or reproed switches would be nice. I do buy my cones from ArcadeFixIt and he is a great seller.

[Rick]

No problem. But I would be remiss if I didn't share with you that ArcadeFixIt.com has reproed cones for sale. Buttons, no; cones, yes. He has both silver and black in Aluminum. http://www.arcadefixit.com/category.sc?categoryId=85 Study plastic cones or reproed switches would be nice. I do buy my cones from ArcadeFixIt and he is a great seller.

Thanks for the tip! Worst case scenario, if Le Chuck doesn't like my proposal, I'll buy up his stock and see what can be done from my supplier. As an aside - I've been searching for these online for a week now, and NEVER found this site. I guess my search wasn't broad enough. I never searched for "Atari arcade parts". Duh.

Thanks again!

Edit: Looks like he does have the switches. A touch expensive, mind you. Link.

[yotsuya]

No problem. But I would be remiss if I didn't share with you that ArcadeFixIt.com has reproed cones for sale. Buttons, no; cones, yes. He has both silver and black in Aluminum. http://www.arcadefixit.com/category.sc?categoryId=85 Study plastic cones or reproed switches would be nice. I do buy my cones from ArcadeFixIt and he is a great seller.

Thanks for the tip! Worst case scenario, if Le Chuck doesn't like my proposal, I'll buy up his stock and see what can be done from my supplier.

As an aside - I've been searching for these online for a week now, and NEVER found this site. I guess my search wasn't broad enough. I never searched for "Atari arcade parts". Duh.

Thanks again!

No problem. If you could get a reasonably-priced button repro done, THAT would be awesome.

[Rick]

No problem. If you could get a reasonably-priced button repro done, THAT would be awesome.

Interestingly enough, long before I knew much more than the words "Atari volcano buttons", my supplier had asked me, "about the Atari-style "volcano" buttons,i want to know what brand,is it cherry??"

So - it's very possible that this has come up before, and maybe they have a supply of the proper switch types available. We shall definitely see!

[Le Chuck]

I'd be stupid not to take you up on that offer! Thanks so much!

From what I learned on the wiki, the aluminum buttons usually came with lighted red buttons, and in two flavours - the taller ones that were actually used as play buttons, and shorter ones for the 1P/2P 'selections. Now, here's the question: understanding that you may not have the shorter ones in aluminum - were they the same size as the plastic ones you DO have? If they are - then my humble ask would be for at least one red light-up switch assembly and one unlit switch assembly, one tall cone and one short cone. I would then, request a quote from my supplier on every applicable variation... ...so, switches in both red led models and black non-lit models, and short and tall cones in aluminum (or worst case - in aluminum colored plastic, ugh) and short and tall cones in black plastic. If I'm way out of line with my request, just let me know.

Yeah I can do all that.  Send me your address and I'll get them in the mail this week.  You PP me the shipping and we call it good.  If they never come back - probably not, we just figure out something else down the line.  I'm not using them right now the way Yot is and I think I know where I can get some more so it's not a huge issue.  That said I'm excited to be a part of maybe possibly getting these available to the community at a reasonable rate. 

[PL1]

A source for new, reasonably-priced LED Volcano buttons -- both tall and short -- would definitely be great.   

Maybe a version that looks like the original, but mounts in a wood panel (without routing) would be worth looking into as well.   

Here are a few Volcano-button-related threads from the list o' links for anyone pondering alternative approaches.

 * Measurements from several different cones: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,11123.msg86988.html#msg86988

 * Alternate swtch (EAO brand) attempt: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,129195.msg1321097.html#msg1321097

 * There's an LED pushbutton here that looks and feels pretty good, if we can find a way to put a cone over it and mount it using something like the base of a Seimitsu PS-14-DN.


Scott

[Le Chuck]

Ready for post

[Rick]

Ready for post

I'm not sure if I've said thank you enough, so, THANK YOU!

[dmckean]

Did anything ever come of this?

[behrmr]

A Missile Command would only have 2 LED lit buttons for both starts. The rest are not lit.

[Le Chuck]

Did anything ever come of this?

---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, yeah, where my buttons at yo!

[Rick]

---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, yeah, where my buttons at yo!

I've still got 'em here! Sorry for the HUGE delay, but I still haven't shipped them over to China to see if they can replicate them. (Apologies! Life got in the way huge on this one.) I can definitely return them to you, if you need them back, or pay you for them if you'd like.

I do still plan to ship them over, if you'll permit me to have them a little longer. I'm working full-time now for a logistics company, so the cost to ship may be a lot less to get them there - if I go with a current shipper, I'm looking at a $60+ cost to get them there, including tracking.

[Le Chuck]

---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, yeah, where my buttons at yo!

I've still got 'em here! Sorry for the HUGE delay, but I still haven't shipped them over to China to see if they can replicate them. (Apologies! Life got in the way huge on this one.) I can definitely return them to you, if you need them back, or pay you for them if you'd like.

I do still plan to ship them over, if you'll permit me to have them a little longer. I'm working full-time now for a logistics company, so the cost to ship may be a lot less to get them there - if I go with a current shipper, I'm looking at a $60+ cost to get them there, including tracking.

Hey man, you gotta spend money to make money Ya mean? Hang onto'em and try to get them to China this year.

[Ahigh]

---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, yeah, where my buttons at yo!

I've still got 'em here! Sorry for the HUGE delay, but I still haven't shipped them over to China to see if they can replicate them. (Apologies! Life got in the way huge on this one.) I can definitely return them to you, if you need them back, or pay you for them if you'd like.

I do still plan to ship them over, if you'll permit me to have them a little longer. I'm working full-time now for a logistics company, so the cost to ship may be a lot less to get them there - if I go with a current shipper, I'm looking at a $60+ cost to get them there, including tracking.

I just ordered a couple of these for $38 each.  If the price comes down significantly, I would buy more.  Just saying there is a demand at $38/each right now I think, and plenty of room for margin on a NOS that is 100% compatible with the Cherry design.

[Rick]

I just ordered a couple of these for $38 each.  If the price comes down significantly, I would buy more.  Just saying there is a demand at $38/each right now I think, and plenty of room for margin on a NOS that is 100% compatible with the Cherry design.

I have shipped the samples provided to my suppliers in China, and am awaiting a quote on production of these. I'm sincerely hopeful that they come in significantly lower than $38 per piece, as this price seems a bit prohibitive to me!

I'll keep you all updated, once I have more information.

[Ahigh]

I just ordered a couple of these for $38 each.  If the price comes down significantly, I would buy more.  Just saying there is a demand at $38/each right now I think, and plenty of room for margin on a NOS that is 100% compatible with the Cherry design.

I have shipped the samples provided to my suppliers in China, and am awaiting a quote on production of these. I'm sincerely hopeful that they come in significantly lower than $38 per piece, as this price seems a bit prohibitive to me!

I'll keep you all updated, once I have more information.

Awesome.  I appreciate the work that you have put towards this and I think it is awesome that you've taken the initiative to bring back these memorable lighted switches at a lower price point.

[Rick]

Awesome.  I appreciate the work that you have put towards this and I think it is awesome that you've taken the initiative to bring back these memorable lighted switches at a lower price point.

Thanks! The only challenge I have now is, the shipment is untraceable.

I shipped it via DHL, who passed it off to Hong Kong post, and damn it if they don't offer up any tracking on the package. I have to contact them directly, to make sure it's where it is supposed to be.

That being said, once my suppliers have them in their hot little hands, I really, really hope to bring this little dream to fruition!

[GearHead]

FYI - Atari also used Licon switches that are pretty much the same thing as the Cherry switches. It might be worth contacting them as they have all the molds and tooling. I got some samples from ITW/Licon about 10 years ago. They sent me some switches and black and red plungers. The only thing that didn't work out was that the samples I got used regular bulbs and not LEDs as I gave them the wrong part numbers.  I never had the time/motivation to follow up and see what they would do for a small run of them. I did not ask them about the cones.  I think the Licon switch with the LED was part number 01-700157.  I've seen 76-7151 out there too.

I've been thinking about experimenting with 3D printing the cones. Someone has modeled the button on Sketchup. https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=8de67f5f5b69e8fded0d804498912ba8

[dmckean]

Did your suppliers ever get these, Rick?

[Rick]

Did your suppliers ever get these, Rick?

I shipped these over a month ago, with tracking, and received sporadic responses from DHL. The last info I received was late January when it was handed over to China Post.  It's conceivable that it's still in transit, but I'm concerned that they are lost.