'Australian style buttons' and where to buy them.

[Scumgriever]

Hi guys,

Just looking for a little bit of advice about buying buttons in Australia. None of the local suppliers seem to stock ‘brand name’ buttons as far as I can tell. Or maybe they do and just don’t particularly specify.

I’m looking to recreate my old ‘Final Fight’ days in the Sydney arcades and up until now I was thinking that Happ buttons would be the most similar to the ones I’m used to along with being the best quality buttons.

So the first of my dilemmas emerges.
I am going to buy an Ipac from OzStick and was hoping to buy the buttons from them at the same time. They don’t specify the brand of buttons that they sell (which I assume means that they aren’t Happ).
http://www.ozstick.com.au/prod_btns.html
So I was wondering if anyone knows what the buttons that OzStick sell are like?

They have different qualities so I assume I want the better quality button but I’m looking to get as close to the old Australian machines as possible so … maybe not.

But then today I noticed that at Arcade gaming Australia list the buttons that they sell as being an “Australian style button”. https://www.arcadegamingaustralia.com.au/cms/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=1&keyword=&manufacturer_id=&Itemid=5&orderby=pshop_product.product_name&limit=10&limitstart=0 Something which I’ve never heard before, until then I just assumed that US,UK & Aussie buttons would all be made in the same places and distributed internationally. Silly thinking I guess seeing as I'm using MCA sticks.

Would these Australian style buttons be more likely to be what I’m looking for?
I’m sorry I can’t give a better description than what I have. I know that the only other similar (dimple top) button I have noticed using in a commercially run machine, is what I am dreadfully avoiding are much higher and less responsive with further to push before the click.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated. I’m on the door step to forking out the cash on a LIMITED budget and don’t want to stuff up the selection because I’ll have to just grin and bear it.

Thanks,

[RetroBorg]

I'm no expert on these fighting games, can you remember if the buttons were concave or convex, if they were concave they were probably MCA buttons and that's probably what are on that arcadegamingaustralia link as well.

[Scumgriever]

That would make sense. I didn't know that MCA made buttons, but there used to be MCA sticks in this cab.

They were definately concave... thats the dimple top one right... Well they were inney as opposed to outie.

Any word on wether the OzStick ones are the same? I'd rather buy from them, or someone who can sell the IPAC4 at the same time just to cut down on shipping.

[feeras]

I gave a whole stack of those MCA buttons away earlier this year + a couple of MCA joysicks. I'm thinking you might want to join up to aussiearcade.com.au forum and ask there. There are some fans of MCA stuff there.... the ozstick guy regularly posts there too...

[vorghagen]

I bought my IPAC4 and buttons from OzStick and as far as I can tell they're exactly the same as the Final Fight machine I used to play at Avoca Beach.
Another place to look for australian parts is www.retromania.com.au
I picked up a few other bits and pieces from there and have not been disappointed.

[Fozzy The Bear]

But then today I noticed that at Arcade gaming Australia list the buttons that they sell as being an “Australian style button”.

Not sure where they get the idea that those are Australian style buttons..... The buttons shown in the picture are very clearly the same ones that are made for and sold by X-Arcade. To be honest they're not the best quality, and they're very clicky sounding. The springs in the microswitch make quite a pinging noise, unlike the Happ ones which have a quieter but more solid click to them, from the cherry microswitches.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[AlanS17]

The diagram from those buttons shows them to be convex.

[Scumgriever]

 Thanks heaps Vorghagen thats exactly what I was looking for, I played ALOT of machines in that era around the east coast of Oz (including Avoca beach, I lived in sydney but had driving holiday obsessed parents) and the difference between the buttons on 99% of them was negligable. Not to mention there weren't alot of machines in Avoca. You might have been competing against my highscores.

 Hadn't found that foum yet Feeras, I'll go check it out now.

Gotta say I'm pretty fond of this one though.

So much friendly help. Even considering my somewhat rambling confused question.
Cheers.

[spidermonkey]

MCA button resource..
http://www.bigtop.com.auhttp:///index.php?cPath=67

[Brad]

$5.00 & $6.00 per button!  I understand a margin but damn!

Brad

[Bones]

$5.00 & $6.00 per button!  I understand a margin but damn!

Brad

It pays to buy overseas even when you include the cost of freight. It sux, but thats just the way it is....

[Brad]

No doubt which is what I generally do. Hell a few years ago I also imported all my music. With conversion and shipping it was still way cheaper.

Brad
Damn thieves

[spriggy]

$5.00 & $6.00 per button!  I understand a margin but damn!

Brad

It pays to buy overseas even when you include the cost of freight. It sux, but thats just the way it is....

Unfortunately, Bones is smack bang on the button!!