Cabinet questions

[MattMaan]

Hey all!  I'd like to start by saying just how helpful this website is -  it's been the largest inspiration to this crazy dream I've got of putting together a MAME cab.  When a friend sent me a link to a nice cabinet about a month ago, I had no idea how one would go about building something so cool, and now I'm just about ready to start attatching buttons and putting them into a machine.  

But I've also learned a lot about ethics,  and the preservation of old cabinets.  Now, don't get me wrong - I'd never dream of cutting up a cabinet that actually ran, or even had potentially working parts - but I've been lucky enough to discover a store just down the street which sells classic cabs and parts.  When I approached the owner about purchasing gutted or inoperative cabinets,  he told me that he gives them away, free (), sans the innards, moniter, buttons and the like.    

So now I'm wondering just what I should do.  Pick up one for free?  I'm assuming the quality will be low, as the guy is a devoted restorer of the classics.  But if I do, what kind of options are open to me?  Is cutting the cab a sin?  I haven't planned out a CP yet because I'm leery to change the one that I get, if I decide not to build my own.  What are the rules on artwork?  Does it depend on the quality?

I don't intend on destroying a piece of history, but I dont know if I want to conform to someone else's design, no matter how classic.  Buidling an entirely original cabinet is a route I wouldn't mind taking, if I have good reason... but "free" is a pretty sweet word. And on the other hand, he leaves them out back until someone takes them; otherwise they go to the dump....  

So.... any help with this moral dilemma would be much appreciated!

-Matt

[rampy]

before we can help you with your moral dilemna... you must tell us where you are located... and the contact info of the generous collector.

We will help you, by bogarting all the free stuff (also known as the byoac effect)... =p you wil have no decision to make... make your time.  all yer free cabinet are belong to us.

Seriously though, where you located (in a general sense if you prefer)

rampy

[anthony691]

It's okay, you can tell us (evil laugh/ getting 2 wheeler and moving blankets into my car)...

[OSCAR]

Forgive the expression, but you would have to be crazy not to take a free gutted cab, especially if it suits your needs and not beyond repair.

If a classic restorer isn't interested in restoring the cabinet and it is completely gutted, I say have at it and customize it to suit your plans especially if it is some kind of generic jamma cab.  Many old cabinets are built very sturdy, and you will learn a lot about arcade cabinet construction just by checking out the details of an original cab; i.e., how the speaker panel is mounted, how the marquee is held in place, how the control panel is held down, how the monitor glass/bezel is held in, and so on....

That aside, you will obviously save some $$ just in the construction material.

[MattMaan]

Hahaha, well, maybe I'm just keeping the secret so I know there'lll be one left next time he throws some out back...

But seriously, I'm up in Canada. Edmonton Alberta, to be exact.  The business is Don's Vendors... but don't get too excited, I've never seen what shape they're in, and he's apparently pretty sporadic in dolling them out.

He's also got lots of leaf buttons & joysticks... it's a great little shop.

-Matt

[android]

I'd say go for it. Don't waste your time on moral dilemmas. The cabs are gutted and will eventually end up as landfill anyway. God knows it takes more than an empty cabinet to restore a classic. The true sin is hacking a perfectly functional classic. So save yourself the trouble while saving a tree and a classic cab. Just MAME-it!

-- Android

[hyiu]

yeah... when its free... let's go get a piece before its all gone....

when people here are talking about restoring an old cab... usually, they're talking about more of those "popular old cabs with a theme..."

you know... ms pacman... defender.... tron... and so on....

if they're giving it away... most likely.... they'll be giving you a generic black cab.... for that.... (although I can't say for all)... I think most people will have no pblm modding it to a mame and fix it to your need....

also.... if he has more than 1 that can give away.... try to check out the wood (especially the bottom...) and get one with minimum or no water damage.... that will make your life easier when fixing it up....

good luck... and post some pics....

and once you got your free cab.... (if there're other free ones for pickup...) post his info here and it'll be all gone the next day.... haaa haaa haaa.....    

[shmokes]

Ethics are overrated.

[MattMaan]

I agree ethics are often overrated, but I've been collecting old consoles off and on for a few years now, and I know how much it sucks to discover someone's trashed something beautiful... besides, I dont wanna do something in my ignorance that'll cause me to look back, 10 years from now, and scream "WHYYYY?"

I doubt there's anything to worry about anyhow, though.  I've been talking to him more, and it sounds like most of the cabs he gives away aren't nearly as nice as he makes'em sound... perfectly good cabs, but nothing to drool over.

-Matt