Tempest Cocktail Found

[FrizzleFried]

Welp...I found a Tempest Cocktail...the guy wants $500.   I think i MAY be able to get em down to $400,  but that would be a big maybe.    I am not at all sure what in the heck it would be worth.  I saw the cabinet when I picked up my Atari cocktail.   It's in decent shape,  but certainly not "A".   I'd give it a "C" to "C+".   He didn't fire it up,  so I am not sure how well the monitor looks.   Looking for opinions before I even start to get excited.

[leapinlew]

Vector monitor right? I think theres a whole other world of issues that surround vector monitors.

That doesn't seem to be a good cocktail style game. The cabinet for tempest is so unique it literally sucks you in - almost like an environment cab.

Since your obviously headed for a divorce, make sure you buy stuff that she won't want half of.

[FrizzleFried]

Hahahaha Lew...yer a funny guy.

Actually,  I just found a Tempest cocktail in excellent condition on ebay for $555 so I am less than enthusiastic about this opportunity.   I pointed the seller to the auction to see just how far he would come down,  but unless he halfed the price I think I will pass.

Guy also has a Bezerk Cocktail and a Star Wars upright but won't part with `em.

[leapinlew]

Do you like cocktails or do you like good deals? I'm not a huge cocktail fan - but I've seen them as a way to get an arcade in the living room. Cocktail cabinets are kind of stealthy.

[ChadTower]

If it works well then $500 is reasonable.  You're talking a working color vector monitor and a $150 Tempest boardset.

[D_Zoot]

That will have a 19 inch Wells Gardner 6100 color vector monitor in it.  Fully working with minimal screen burn or less, the monitor alone could fetch $300+

While cocktail cabs generally don't get high prices, Tempest cocktails do pretty good.  I've seen good condition, fully working games sell for $800 and more.  Granted, prices are a little softer now then they were a couple of years ago.

I've got a minty, all original, non-molested, Tempest cocktail myself and wouldn't think about parting with it. 

Check to make sure it's complete, no missing parts.  See if the art on the top glass is in good shape (replacement glass w/artwork is impossible to source).  Repo control panel overlay's are available.   Power it up if you can and see if there are signs of life.   

I'd say if you can talk him down a little you would have a pretty good deal.

D

[FrizzleFried]

Welp,  I just shot him out a link to that ebay listing and got a response...

I am flexible on the price, it is in good condition, It works great.
You can take a look some time if you want.

Muahahahahahaha...I have `em where I want `em...

We shall see...we shall see...

EDIT: Spelling correction

[leapinlew]

how can you afford all this. Did you give up coke too? 

[FrizzleFried]

My Birthday is in 3 weeks...and the wife just got a job!   We've been doin' pretty well,  but her extra $300 a week is going to go a long way...all the way to my GARAGE!  Er...just don't tell her!

 

[modessitt]

Just got done repairing a Tempest Cocktail and an Upright for a guy (guess he like Tempest).

Just remember that the color X/Y monitors had a problem handling the attract "Tempest" screen and had a tendency to lose the picture quite often.  The monitor has to work harder to get the picture spread across the entire screen, especially the graphic-intensive title "movie".  I've seen some Tempests last 10 years with no problems, and others lose their monitor every 3-4 months or so.

The problem usually comes in the low voltage portion of the monitor chassis.  There is now a fix that is supposed to make the monitor "bulletproof".  It's called LV2000 and replaces certain parts on the low voltage board.  You actually have to strip off about 12 parts or so and solder in this mini board, so some skills are required, but the whole thing costs less than $50, I think.  (Just checked - $36)

Here's a link:  http://www.geocities.com/jeffhendrix67/lv2000/

We install this in every Tempest we do (if we can get the customer to pay the extra $36 for it) and haven't had a monitor go down that has had the upgrade added (although time will tell.)  The best part about this little board is that it has pots on it for fine-tuning the +26V and -26V for the low voltage board if you need to, although they're usually set when they arrive.  We don't put them in Star Wars, Space Duel, etc. unless the customer wants it or the game has a recurring problem.
 
The guy (Jeff Hendrix) actually has the schematics posted on his page, so you could probably even build it yourself if you had tons of time, tons of parts, and no money.

(And just in case you're thinking I'm a spammer trying to direct money to this guy, here's a free fix.)

Of course, even without the upgrade, you can help protect your monitor from being overstressed by the attract mode by adjusting your picture height and width down.  No longer needing to fill the entire screen will keep the monitor from working too hard.  You'll have to play with a smaller picture, but at least you'll have a picture.

Either way, good luck with your Tempest hunt.