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Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 12:39:34 am

Title: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice...........
Post by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 12:39:34 am
I picked up this badboy tonight on Craigslist.  The guy wanted $100, but I had to bribe him to sell it to me ahead of two others who didn't include their phone number.  Anyways, the backglass is in perfect condition.  The cabinet is an 8.5/10. 

There are two issues that I have questions about: 1) Are there companies that sell exactly the correct size rubber for the bumpers and flippers?  and, 2) There is no key to access the inside of the machine.  Should I get a locksmith?  Drill it out?  Any other suggestions?  And on a side note, was this an okay deal, good deal, or great deal in your opinion?  I don't know a lot about pins, but the price just seemed fantastic. :cheers:
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 12:40:23 am
 :applaud:
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 12:41:51 am
Here is a flyer I found with a quick google search:
(http://www.tilt.it/pics/flyers/chicago_coin/playtime_1968_f_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 12:54:51 am
I did find a rubber kit on ebay for $25.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: crsdawg on May 03, 2007, 01:13:44 am
give these guys a shot for your parts ($25 for a rubber kit seems kinda high):

http://www.pbresource.com/ (http://www.pbresource.com/)

there is another (several probably) supplier of parts as well, but i don't have the link and can't remember the name.

also check the rec.games.pinball (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.pinball/topics?hl=en) newsgroup for general pinball info and this site is full of great advice:

http://www.marvin3m.com/fix.htm (http://www.marvin3m.com/fix.htm)

sorry if that is stuff you already know about, but eh just in case.

the pin looks nice, for $150 you got a good deal. i had a '72 klondike that i'm still kicking myself for trading off.
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: shardian on May 03, 2007, 07:51:16 am
That machine looks to be in excellent shape. What shape are the plastics in under the cardboard pieces?  I think you got a great deal. I wish I could find a pin for that price. The best I can do in my area is $400-$500 for a beater.
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice...........
Post by: Buddabing on May 03, 2007, 08:37:49 am
Does the machine work?
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: shardian on May 03, 2007, 08:39:27 am
Dang I just looked at that pin over at IMDB, your pin is in WAY better shape than the ones they have pictures of.
IMDB Playtime entry (http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=playtime&search=Search+Database&searchtype=quick#3894)
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice...........
Post by: AndyWarne on May 03, 2007, 08:43:54 am
I find Marco Specialities are the best for range and delivery of pinball parts. They do complete rubber kits.
I love ElectroMechanical Pinball machines. They fetch lower prices than the later ones but much more enjoyable with all the noise being "real" rather than generated through a speaker. Looking in the backbox of an EM while in play is a delightful mix of relays arcing, score reels clunking.
One of my favorite pieces of design is the "knocker" which signifies a reply. Just a sodding great solenoid which bangs against the cabinet!
EMs can take a bit of looking after but the main tip is, if you gate a strange fault, don't try to analyse it until you have gone through every relay with a close-up inspection as this can spot most faults. Try doing that with a logic board!
My machine:
(http://www.ultimarc.com/images/P1010022.jpg)
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 09:48:36 am
Wow, thanks for the replys fellas.  While I'm waiting on the rubber to arrive, do you guys have any suggestions about what to do with the lock?

Also, Budda, it does work!
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: shardian on May 03, 2007, 09:59:11 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_pick

If you can get it open, you can take them off the cabinet and have a locksmith re-key them.

If you don't care if they are original, just drill them and get new ones.
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: RandyT on May 03, 2007, 11:01:00 am
For its age, that pin looks to be in great shape.  I'm assuming the original owner placed the cardboard over the plastics to protect them from UV while in storage.  Have you had a chance to remove them yet?  Based on the condition of the playfield, I would expect the plastics to be in good shape as well.

For $150, it's a good deal.  A working pin for the price, and in that condition is pretty uncommon. 

But there are a couple of possible negatives.  The EM pins can be a real bear to maintain.  As the old adage goes "More moving parts means more things that can break."   Logic boards don't fail nearly as often as relays do. 

The other, and perhaps the most important one, is that the game itself doesn't really look especially entertaining as pins go.  The playfield is pretty sparse, with a limited number of target types.  You might find that you play the heck out of it for few days and generally taper off until you finally curse it for taking up the space, assuming space is any concern for you.

The only reason I say this is I bought a Williams High-Speed last year.  I spent a lot of time fixing it up, painting bad areas on the cabinet and playfield, put all new rubber on it, etc.  I played it hard for a couple of weeks, then went to a game every couple of days, and now, I think it's been over 2 weeks since I last fired it up and before that it was a month.  I wouldn't  want to get rid of it because it's still a fun game, but it takes up a good chunk of a room for something that doesn't get used very often.  If the game wasn't still enjoyable, it would be gone.

As for the lock, I wouldn't drill it unless I had an identical replacement in hand.  Considering the condition and the age, it might have some value to a collector somewhere.  The more original it is, the more value it will retain. If the above is of any concern to you, at least get a picture of the lock before you destroy it so you can make sure the replacement is the same.

RandyT 
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on May 03, 2007, 04:05:58 pm
Thanks Randy!  I think you hit the head on the usage of the pin.  I've been mulling it over with the wife, and I think that if we can't find a spot for it, I'll take it out to my mothers so the grandkids will have something cool to play with.  I don't know why the guy covered the art, but your reason sounds very feasible.
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: shardian on May 03, 2007, 04:57:04 pm
If you were near me, I would buy it from you. ;D
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: Kevin Mullins on May 04, 2007, 09:43:38 am
I don't know why the guy covered the art, but your reason sounds very feasible.

Boobs ....

Maybe the guy was religious or there were kids around or something to that effect.

 :dunno

Fantastic deal by the way. I am jealous.
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: RayB on May 04, 2007, 10:15:51 am
I don't know why the guy covered the art, but your reason sounds very feasible.

Boobs ....

Maybe the guy was religious or there were kids around or something to that effect.

 :dunno

Fantastic deal by the way. I am jealous.

.. the devil's squeeze toys!
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: RandyT on May 04, 2007, 10:30:19 am
Boobs ....

Maybe the guy was religious or there were kids around or something to that effect.

 :dunno

Could be.  And what's the deal with the "ball saver"  It looks painted over.   Maybe because it had the word "ball" on it and it was red and popped up when things got too exciting?  :scared 

 :laugh2:

RandyT
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on August 08, 2007, 06:25:31 pm
It's been awhile, but I did get the playing glass off with the help of Buddabing.  Everything except the rubber was in great condition.  I replaced the rubber, cleaned all of the parts and also replaced the lights on the playing field.  My local hardware store happened to have a bunch of the exact lights that they had ordered in for another guy with a pin.  What are the chances?  Anyways, everything works great and as soon as I get it situated, I'll post some more pics!
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: Hoopz on August 08, 2007, 08:15:04 pm
My local hardware store happened to have a bunch of the exact lights that they had ordered in for another guy with a pin.  What are the chances? 

Chances arent that great if its the same guy who sold you the pin...  ;D

Cool that you got them though.  Pics are always welcome!
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: Jeff AMN on August 09, 2007, 01:46:54 am
I picked a pinball machine up this week as well. Here she is:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/jar155/BYOAC/DSC02081.jpg)
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on August 09, 2007, 06:41:13 am
Holy crap that looks cool.  Mine is much more basic then that.  Congrats! :cheers:
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: shardian on August 09, 2007, 08:29:49 am
Holy crap that looks cool.  Mine is much more basic then that.  Congrats! :cheers:

Yeah but he also paid way more than you. ;)
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice...........
Post by: Havok on August 09, 2007, 12:29:59 pm
And yours has boobs!

 :D
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice...........
Post by: TheOtherBob on August 09, 2007, 04:59:37 pm
And yours has boobs!

 :D

Boobs and Pinball.... two great things that go together well.  Dinosaurs are ok too.... but I gotta give the win to "Boobs".....

Nice EM you got there mccoy178!  Great price too!
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: Sir Auros on August 09, 2007, 05:14:35 pm
I picked a pinball machine up this week as well. Here she is:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/jar155/BYOAC/DSC02081.jpg)

 :o

I hate you.
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: mccoy178 on August 09, 2007, 07:52:35 pm
Okay, here are pics with and without flash.  There is one thing not working and that is the action points buttons.  The action points are always 200, and it looks as though the two little buttons used to raise the amount are not working.  It doesn't affect play as all the other bells and whistles work, you just don't get the actual true game play.  It's still fun though.  I think it will be cool for the kid.

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=81298;image)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=81300;image)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=81302;image)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=81304;image)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=81306;image)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=81308;image)
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice.........
Post by: shardian on August 10, 2007, 08:38:04 am
hehe, when you take into account all of the art and then add the "Advance action score" and "action score" into the mix, that game becomes rated r or worse.
Too bad yours is stuck on 1st base.:laugh2:
Title: Re: Bought my first pinball machine for $150. Need some general advice...........
Post by: JeepMonkey on August 10, 2007, 08:52:04 pm
Nice pin.  I wold like to have come across that deal.