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Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: ChadTower on June 23, 2005, 12:23:24 pm

Title: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: ChadTower on June 23, 2005, 12:23:24 pm

Look here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6188444702&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1).

How big, approximately, is this?  Is this as big as, say, an early 80s Bally (e.g. Laser Cue)?  If this goes cheaply, I'm thinking of picking it up for my kids.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: TheOtherBob on June 23, 2005, 06:20:28 pm

Looks to be about standard size?

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: paigeoliver on June 23, 2005, 06:23:30 pm

Those non-commercial pins are about halfway between toys and real pins. Smaller than real pins, and not built to last as long.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: USSEnterprise on July 01, 2005, 01:38:44 am

I would just get a real EM Machine. Their older, but are cheaper and sometimes more fun. Bells are better than electronic sound.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: Chris on July 01, 2005, 10:05:27 am

For the price it went for, you can probably find a real machine.  Scour your local classifieds....

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: ChadTower on July 01, 2005, 10:09:28 am

Yeah, didn't buy it because the price went too high.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: Chris on July 01, 2005, 10:20:07 am

What is nice about these home pins is that they usually take up only about 3/4 of the space of a real pin.  But they don't have any play depth.  I had one as a kid, and it had two bumpers and a few targets, and all they did is score; there were absolutely no other rules other than to hit the targets.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: ChadTower on July 01, 2005, 10:20:57 am

I was going to buy it for a 6 year old and a 3 year old... depth isn't their preference right now.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: Stingray on July 01, 2005, 10:24:32 am

Quote from: Chris on July 01, 2005, 10:05:27 am

For the price it went for, you can probably find a real machine.  Scour your local classifieds....

Chad already owns at least a couple real pins (that I know of). I think this one was just for novelty factor, and as he pointes out, for the kids.

-S

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: Chris on July 01, 2005, 10:28:54 am

Well, one of those home pins might be just the ticket, then.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: USSEnterprise on July 01, 2005, 10:47:22 am

I would just go for a full size em. you can find them on ebay for as low as $150

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: ChadTower on July 01, 2005, 11:06:47 am

I have four pins right now.  I specifically wanted a small, unobtrusive pin that was simple.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: Chris on July 01, 2005, 11:17:07 am

Quote from: ChadTower on July 01, 2005, 11:06:47 am

I have four pins right now.

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: USSEnterprise on July 01, 2005, 11:36:43 am

Also look for "Bally Fireball" on eBay. Sears sold a home model in the early 80's

Title: Re: Noncommerical pin question
Post by: ChadTower on July 01, 2005, 12:18:40 pm

I've seen that wall mounted machine... the walls in my kids' rooms are slanted, it's finished attic space.  Plus, wtf, pinball via remote control?  Talk about lazy!