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1st pinball machine - GOT ONE!!! SORCERER 1985
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vintagegamer:
OK, now that my Asteroids and Ms Pac machines are running, the tractor beam is sucking me in and making me consider a CHEAP first pinball machine...

Anyone know of one in the ballpark of $500 or less?  OK if it needs work.

VINTAGEGAMER
SavannahLion:
Heh, I read that title and thought you were looking for the first pinball machine. That'd be one hell of an acquisition.
Buddabing:
I think that for $500 you can get a working electromechanical (EM) pin in good condition.

Modern pins typically cost more. $500 usually will get you a pin with a trashed-out playfield and/or backglass.

Guaranos:
I got a 1986 Motordome pinball machine for $300 last year.  It needed some help (2 new transistors, 1 coil, and a few playfield touchups) but plays great now. 

If you want one for under $500 that isn't an electromechanical, your best bet is to look for one of the less popular models, like Motordome.  What I found is that since even fixed up, these less popular games sell for only $600 or $700, a lot of the pinball repair/sell guys won't "waste" their time on them even if it's an easy fix.  They'd rather spend that same amount of time fixing a more expensive machine.  I can kind of see the logic.  I mean, if you only have an hour to spend working on things, do you want to spend your hour fixing the machine that will only sell for $600, or the one next to it that will sell for $1500?
shardian:
You can definitely get a working pin for $500. Just start a local search on ebay for pinball. They'll show up every once in a while. Post your location and maybe someone on here can get you into the local pinball loop.
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