Oscar Spinner

[jonnyv1000]

I prurchsed an Oscar spinner a few years back and the USB interface that I also purchased from Oscar controls is fried.  Does anyone know where i can purchase a new one?

Thanks

[Havok]

Oscar is long gone. Try something better:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_85&products_id=260

[Minwah]

Oscar is long gone.

Shame, he sold some nice stuff. Particularly missed are the classic spinner knob reproductions he did, like the Tempest and Discs of Tron ones.

[erictrumpet]

I miss Oscar too, I liked his products. I have a Vortex that is a nice unit. Mine has the push kit which adds a button when the knob is depressed. I ran it off an OptiPac from Ultimarc. But I got an Apache push-pull spinner about a year ago and have not looked back! This is a great spinner, with a built-in interface. I run my trackball off it too. The OptiPac and the Vortex sit in a box waiting for another project (but if I built another cab, I would probably just get another Blackhawk from Apache!) It works great and has gotten great reviews. The push-pull is a great addition that once you use it and begin mapping it to various functions in dozens of games, you will wonder how you ever lived without it.
http://www.apachecontrols.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1&zenid=486c59ef3700cfda3bf834ad37a2bfd3

Eric.

[Minwah]

Looks like a nice spinner, knobs are pretty nice too. I used to have the Oscar DoT reproduction spinner, but for various reasons ended up getting rid of it. I kept the DoT knob tho

[erictrumpet]

Yeah Oscar's old DoT spinner was a decent design but the footprint was really big and the leaf switches needed tweaking all the time. I like Apache's microswitch design, plus the footprint is not too big, I think it is 3 inches square, or close to that. The position of the microswitches is adjustable, also. That way you can set up how much up/down travel activates the button. The microswitches are mounted in slots, so when you tighten down the screws they stay put. Very smart design, and very strong.
You can see in these picture how they did it:
http://www.apachecontrols.com/regular/Primary8.html
http://www.apachecontrols.com/regular/Primary5.html
Just check out that chassis. That's one solid hunk of metal. This thing is built to last two lifetimes
And you are right about the knobs, they are killer. They perfectly match the shape of the original DoT knob, but the knurling is better. I also have amassed a bit of a collection of SlikStik knobs and I like these better... and that's really saying something, since Slik's knobs are very nice.
I'm a big fan of Apache. Customer service is great too.

Eric.

[jonnyv1000]

Thanks to all who replied.  I wish I could easily change out the spinner since Oscar is no longer in business but I already had the Oscar mouted to my custome cabinet and if I replace it with another product, I don't think the holes will match up so....I think I'm going to order the spinner interface from http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_85&products_id=260

Hopefully this is compatible with the Oscar Spinnner

[Minwah]

Yeah Oscar's old DoT spinner was a decent design but the footprint was really big

Remember Oscar's was a direct replacement for the original machine tho, as well as for us BYOACers.

I like Apache's microswitch design, plus the footprint is not too big, I think it is 3 inches square, or close to that. The position of the microswitches is adjustable, also. That way you can set up how much up/down travel activates the button. The microswitches are mounted in slots, so when you tighten down the screws they stay put. Very smart design, and very strong.

Looks very nice, I must say

And you are right about the knobs, they are killer. They perfectly match the shape of the original DoT knob, but the knurling is better. I also have amassed a bit of a collection of SlikStik knobs and I like these better... and that's really saying something, since Slik's knobs are very nice.

I must admit that looks wise I slightly prefer the knurling on the Oscar one I have which is a copy of the DoT one. And I know people seem to like them, but, with one possible exception, I can't stand the SlikStik ones. They just look too chunky and not retro enough for my liking.

Still, I am lucky because as well as the DoT one, I have an Oscar black Tempest knob and the 'natural' finish Tempest one 

[jonnyv1000]

Just an FYI to anyone who has an Oscar spinner....this product is totally compatible

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_85&products_id=260

I can now play Tempest again!!!

[Havok]

I just upgraded my spinner knob to the Electron spinner, and I love it:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=316

[Dazz]

I think my Oscar Spinner is fried as well... haven't been able to use it in about 2 years now.  How does this board from GGG connect to the Oscar?  I looked on the site and couldn't find directions anywhere... 

[loess]

In fact, I haven't heard it for a long time

[Ummon]

...I can't stand the SlikStik ones. They just look too chunky and not retro enough for my liking.

What is this 'chunky' you speak of? I think the original SS tops were just flat cylinders, like DOT except no overlay. The newer, anodized ones were pretty trick.