The price of restoration?

[Jeff AMN]

How much does it typically cost to restore an arcade classic? If I wanted to hunt down a Ms. Pacman machine, restore it, and keep it as a dedicated cab, what's a ballpark figure for how much that should cost me?

My wife and I are house shopping right now and she's given me the green light to dedicate a room of the house to an arcade room. I definitely want to fill it with classics, but I'd like to know the financial commitment to restoring stuff from the '80s.

[horseboy]

It is a really tough question that is hard to put a specific price on. It depends on a plethora of different variables...

Does the cab have the original game? or are you converting something back to it's original form?
What is the overall condition of the cab?
How is the sideart? CPO? Marquee? Bezel?
Do you want it to be minty? or just pretty good condition?


Ms. Pac Man (and Pac Man) is a bit of an odd beast when it comes to this stuff. Twobits is the only company authorized to reproduce the artwork (as well as other stuff). The side art is $295!!! However these are the big vinyl stickers that only cam on a handful of Ms. Pacs to begin with. The vast majority of Ms. Pacs (and all Pacs) have stencilled side art. Some people did a group buy a while back from some online stencil place. I only saw 1 person review it, and they hated it (I think it tore up in shipping, so I am not sure how good the stencils would have been). Legally, nobody is allowed to produce a stencil for it except Twobits (who doesn't make a stencil for it). Anyhow a Ms Pac probably isn't a really good measuring stick here.


I am about to start a Burgertime restoration. Side art stencils will be $99. Repro CPO will be $45. Marquees will be about $40. The bezel will be anywhere from $25 to $50. Kickplate art will be $30. Paint will be $20 give or take. That is around $280 just for the artwork. That also will be the cost to make it look minty fresh. Then there are all kinds of misc thing like coindoors and speaker grills that can add to cost if you need to replace them or work on them.

Sorry for the ramble. I guess I am telling you it all depends on what that cab needs and how far you want to take it.

Oh, I forgot the most important thing. Your cost will skyrocket when you realize that time is money. You will need lots of time.

[Jeff AMN]

Ok, so I get the whole variable aspect of it. But I'm just looking to make it look good, I'm probably in the $500-$600 range, right? Time isn't an issue since it's one of those things I'll just work on here and there. I'd like to get it running first, and then just chip away at the restoration aspect until it's nice.

I can't believe that stencils cost as much as they do. My dad owns a few CNC machines and I think I could actually make my own high quality stencils out of thin plastic if I can get the vector art for the sideart. I guess I could always trace it.

[leapinlew]

If you just want to make it look good. I assume you mean things like making it work isn't important. So, to make a cab "look good" $500 -$600 should be fine.

Now, if you want a working PCB, Power supply, monitor - it could cost you much more. You could say the ceiling is $2,500. At that price - you can buy a Galaga/Ms. Pacman repro that they currently make.

[horseboy]

Ok, so I get the whole variable aspect of it. But I'm just looking to make it look good, I'm probably in the $500-$600 range, right? Time isn't an issue since it's one of those things I'll just work on here and there. I'd like to get it running first, and then just chip away at the restoration aspect until it's nice.

For $500-$600, with some frugal shopping/ebaying you could have a stripped cab looking really nice. That is if you can find/make good stencils.

I can't believe that stencils cost as much as they do. My dad owns a few CNC machines and I think I could actually make my own high quality stencils out of thin plastic if I can get the vector art for the sideart. I guess I could always trace it.

Well the Ms. Pac is a 3 layer stencil I believe so that adds to the complexity of producing them. If you could make good Pac and/or Ms. Pac stencils (and apply them to your cab so everyone could see the quality), you could easily sell a handful just on this forum and pay for your restoration. FYI, the arcade art library has vectors for Pac and Ms. Pac. You should check out prOk's site. It has a bunch of restoration info including using professional stencil (which he makes) and making your own stencils.

[Kaytrim]

You lucky dog.  Wish my wife would be more open to this hobby.  She thinks this is all a waist of time and money.

Two other things to keep in mind are the condition of the monitor and the boards.  You say that you want to get it up and running first.  Those are the two biggest defining items as to the condition of the machine.  I'd start looking on Craig's list and eBay in your local area.  Don't forget to check the local newspapers for auctions either.  I'd take some time cruising the boards here for other sources and ideas as well.

Good luck and keep us posted on your successes. 

Kaytrim

[Jeff AMN]

Maybe I should stop asking about pricing and just do it. I don't want to scare myself away before I even get started. Guess it's time to start checking Craigslist each day until I can hunt one down. I do know where a broken cab with beatiful side art is just sitting in an older arcade. Maybe I can send my wife in, batting her eyelashes, to ask nicely how much they'd take to part with it.

[leapinlew]

Maybe I can send my wife in, batting her eyelashes, to ask nicely how much they'd take to part with it.

Don't forget the lessons taught to us by the great Woody Harrelson

[Jeff AMN]

Maybe I can send my wife in, batting her eyelashes, to ask nicely how much they'd take to part with it.

Don't forget the lessons taught to us by the great Woody Harrelson

Yeah, well, if the arcade operator could make it rain with arcade cabs...

Oh, he also has a Defender running on Free Play. It almost never gets played, and he's not making money off of it, maybe that's an easier target for the time being.

[RayB]

A few hundred is probably a good ballpark, though shipping is the big killer here, especially if you have to source parts from different locations or "spread it out" over time.

[More Cowbell]

It also depends on if you want to have fun with them or if you want an absolutely original machine. I've done my rehabs with an eye on looks and functionality. I  restore the cabs to their original state but use MAME to run them. This way, I get an 80's arcade that is much less prone to failure and have spent much less money. Doing it this way can take time in hunting down the old computers and monitors to use. My most expensive restore to date has been a Donkey Kong that I've put no more than $320 into.
Cab - $40 (barely salvageable)
Computer and monitor - $40 (craigslist 500 mhz and 19in monitor)
Bezel - $45
Marquee - $20
Sideart - $45
Paint - $12
Plexi CP overlay - $35
Hardware - $20
Key Encoder - $25 (keywiz)
Coin door replacement coin acceptors - $32
Misc bolts and stuff - $5

Good luck whichever route you choose. 

[Deefish]

Hey Jeff, funny timing. I just picked up a all original Ms Pacman and am in the process of restoring it. This one was advertised in the local classifieds for $500, I went and looked at it and talked him down to $300. It is the older ones with the painted on artwork, and it is very faded on sideart, front art and the Marquee. I recommend looking for one of the painted one as you can get the paint codes from appollo and go get quarts of the paint cheap at Home Depot, now it will take a steady hand and small brushes, but it will be cheaper in the end than the vinyl graphics, plus IMHO I think those look better.

I just purchased a CPO on ebay that is a twobits repro for $30 shipped, much cheaper than buying it from them. I did get the marquee from them, but you if you are vigilant and watch ebay you can fined NOS Ms pacman items for decent prices sometimes. If you really want it to be original I say go this route, as the original artwork, cpo, and marquee all have @coyright 1981 Bally Midway on them and the new stuff is licensed Namco, just an FYI if you like it to remain original, some other sites will have other parts for them, like the joysticks, centering grommet thing, speed up chips, coin door parts, etc.

So far with initial purchase and parts that I have gotten I am at around $450, I this Ms pacman doesn't work %100, it has blur and fade in the monitor that I will have to check out, I hope I don't have recap the monitor as I haven't done that yet, but cap kits are relatively cheap compared to replacement of the whole thing.

So if you work the local area and hit the RGVAC and BYOAC for parts and pieces, you could very well get an awesome bargain on one. It just may well need a bit of elbow grease to get it shining, but that's part of the fun of collecting.

Oh that idea about your wife going into the arcade may very well work, but keep in mind the arcade owner probably thinks he is sitting on gold even if it doesn't work or is beat up. He would prob say he could get $1000 for it on Ebay. If that's the case give your number and a price you will pay and tell him to call you if he doesn't sell it.

Good luck,
deefish

[ArtMAME]

I just restored a Robotron pretty much from scratch...no original parts except for the cabinet and hardware... about $600 or so total, could have been much more if I did not have some of the stuff on hand already...check it out:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63639.0

Here is approximately what I remember I spent on it (not including shipping on some parts):

Cabinet $80
Sideart stencils $80
Paint for sides $40
Black, Red, Blue, and Clearcoat Spray Paint cans $35
CP Overlay $40
Bezel Glass $65
Marquee $40
T-Molding $10
Dead CGA Monitor $10
Monitor Repair $75
Molex connector for monitor $2
Blue Translucent buttons $8
Wico balltop joysticks $30
GroovyGameGear Keywiz (Eco model) $20
ATI Radeon 9250 Video Card $40
Retired PC to run MAME $Free 
PC Speakers $10
Misc Supplies (Sanding discs, belts, hardware, etc.) $20
Time 50-100 hours 

Fullfilling your childhood dreams...

$$$ PRICELESS $$$   

[Jeff AMN]

ArtMAME, deefish, your two posts have been inspiring. I think I'll try to get this rolling as quickly as possible.

[ArtMAME]

I had a lot of fun with that restoration...definitely worth all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into it...

...mostly sweat...   

BTW... what are you thinking of restoring?

[Jeff AMN]

I had a lot of fun with that restoration...definitely worth all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into it...

...mostly sweat...   

BTW... what are you thinking of restoring?

Well, for about the past 10 years or so I've really wanted a Ms. Pacman cab, so that's hopefully where I can start. I'd like to add a Strikers 1945 III, Donkey Kong, Robotron 2084, Mario Bros., Galaga, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, and a few more.

One of the houses we're looking at right now has a pretty sizable room that I could dedicate to this. Money won't be the biggest limiting factor, it will be time. There are still a few arcades in the area, so I think I might have some luck tracking down cabs.

I guess I never let go of that childhood dream, you know?

[CheffoJeffo]

I'd have to agree with horseboy (where is that tom?? tag when I need it?).

Not only does the condition/nature of the cab play a part, but so does your patience.

My first "restoration" was a VS Super Mario Bros which required some paint, new art, a cleaned up CP, new VS SMB board and a cap kit. Total invested less than $150.

Next was a Galaga, which required paint, a new monitor, boardset, CPO, joystick, bezel, marquee, kickplate, kickplate artwork, power supply (I didn't feel like fixing the bloody boat anchor that it came with). Total invested about $600 and am still missing the marquee. But it is a FUN, FREAKING GAME.

I have become more patient however ... I am only about $110 into Tron and have everything except a wiring harness (and I can do that) and new art (not really necessary). Took me a year (!) to find a cheap (&pristine!) blue handle.

About $200 into Pac and missing a boardset and bezel. And the bloody ghost is purple! (which my family ALL prefer).

Good luck, enjoy and, every now and again, FINISH a cabinet ... otherwise the wife/SO will be justified in deeming this hobby a waste of time. Just make sure that it isn't so often that you inadvertently raise the bar on your own performance.

Cheers.

[Jeff AMN]

Haha, I plan on finishing projects before moving to the next one. Obviously if I stumble across something I can't pass up, I'd grab it at that point. However, I won't really be actively looking for more cabs while I have others in an unfinished condition.

[CheffoJeffo]

Haha, I plan on finishing projects before moving to the next one. Obviously if I stumble across something I can't pass up, I'd grab it at that point. However, I won't really be actively looking for more cabs while I have others in an unfinished condition.

Yeah, yeah ... sure ... think I said that myself once ... until I found a bunch of things that I "couldn't pass up" ...

 

[horseboy]

I'd have to agree with horseboy (where is that tom?? tag when I need it?).

**horseboy crouches in the bushes next to SOAPboy and sharpens his sword.

[CheffoJeffo]

I'd have to agree with horseboy (where is that tom?? tag when I need it?).

**horseboy crouches in the bushes next to SOAPboy and sharpens his sword.

Keeping each other warm ? Maybe I should get Zakk ...

* Cheffo Jeffo wonders why horseboy used the color tag instead of the me tag ... no SMF-fu ?

Cheers

[horseboy]

I'd have to agree with horseboy (where is that tom?? tag when I need it?).

**horseboy crouches in the bushes next to SOAPboy and sharpens his sword.

Keeping each other warm ? Maybe I should get Zakk ...

* Cheffo Jeffo wonders why horseboy used the color tag instead of the me tag ... no SMF-fu ?

Cheers

I honestly don't even know what the color and me tags are. Teh innernets is too smart for me. 

[Wade]

I've restored several games, and believe me when I say that it almost always costs more to restore a game to very nice condition, than it costs to just buy a really nice example.  I still get sucked into it occasionally because I (apparently) like to do it, or because I have a game nearby and I don't want to drive to get a nice one.

http://usergallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/wadelanham

Wade

[ArtMAME]

I've restored several games, and believe me when I say that it almost always costs more to restore a game to very nice condition, than it costs to just buy a really nice example.  I still get sucked into it occasionally because I (apparently) like to do it, or because I have a game nearby and I don't want to drive to get a nice one.

http://usergallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/wadelanham

Wade

That's true... during the course of my Robotron restoration, a really nice all original Robotron came up locally for $700!!!  Of course... I did not have anywhere near $700 at the time.  Of course, that was a rare occurrence.  Robotrons in any condition do not pop up around here very often...

I am sure it would have cost me more than that if I did not have some of the components on hand... But I did have a great time restoring it, and I learned a lot... Plus I end up with a totally mint example.

[leapinlew]

Here is approximately what I remember I spent on it (not including shipping on some parts):

Yeah... thats the way to be happy with what you spent. Don't keep track. 

[ArcadeMaze]

X

[johnvv]

If you want a really nice restoration, it is best not to figure out the cost - it will be expensive.  I've done a number of them.  If you get into tracking down NOS parts, your costs will quickly be up the $1500+ range.

Aside from the parts, don't forget the tools.  If you have them already, great, if not, you'll probably spend a few hundred on various tools, paint, brushes, etc.

Never attempt to caculate your total hours of labor.  If your wife found out, you'd be divorced - which costs even more money.