strange places to find arcade gear

[facesmiths]

ok the purpose of this thread is both for fun and a bit for information.

basicly where is the strangest (or maybe not so strange but unexpected) place or item you may have found something that could be or is normally used in arcade cabinets.

I will start off with these gems

microswitch cherry master type:
inside an exercise product (tread mill specificly)

whole button with microswitch:
in an old car sales and repair facility built back in the 50's (place looks like a building from the Jetsons)

 and one last one for those looking for hard drives

130gig maxtor IDE hard drive
in a DVR direct TV satellite receiver


there are more but I can't think of them right now but when I do I will post them

[Ginsu Victim]

130gig maxtor IDE hard drive
in a DVR direct TV satellite receiver

I don't see what's so hard to believe about this one. Also, it's more computer related than arcade.

[facesmiths]

130gig maxtor IDE hard drive
in a DVR direct TV satellite receiver

I don't see what's so hard to believe about this one. Also, it's more computer related than arcade.

4 MAME arcade cabinets

and I did not find it really strange I just thought it would be informative  cause I know a lot of people who think a very small hard drive is in those things or some sort of ram so when they find out what I have pulled from units I have picked up for like 2 or 3 bucks at thriftstores they are utterly  amazed .

just thought it might be a cheap alternative for those looking for extra hard drive space to hold all those roms 

by the way you did not comment on the other items.

and to keep on topic completely

optical encoder and wheel
in that treadmaster (yes I forgot about that because I put it in storage not realizing I will be needing such an animal to build a proper spinner )

[Singapura]

I don't see the point of this thread. Almost all arcade parts can and have been used in other equipment. Joysticks are used in anything from cranes to hospital machines. I've seen buttons that looked suspiciously like standard Happ buttons in vending machines, on ships, even on airfield walkways. I guess manufacturers can't afford to cater only to "specialised" industries and must diversify.

[CheffoJeffo]

I found a pair Cherries in the dishwasher when I was fixing the latch once ...

[leapinlew]

I found joysticks mounted on a control panel of a old arcade game I bought to convert to a mame machine! 

[Ginsu Victim]

I found joysticks mounted on a control panel of a old arcade game I bought to convert to a mame machine! 

LIAR!
Calling you out on this one...

Pics or it didn't happen!

[ChadTower]

As a kid I used to go back and forth between Maine and Nova Scotia a lot via the M/S Scotia Prince.  It had tons of slot machines and such... and in one dark stairwell that barely ever got used there was a Satan's Hollow.  Sitting in the dark corner of an ocean liner stairwell gave the art and the red stick a whole new ambience. 

[SithMaster]

I don't see the point of this thread. Almost all arcade parts can and have been used in other equipment. Joysticks are used in anything from cranes to hospital machines. I've seen buttons that looked suspiciously like standard Happ buttons in vending machines, on ships, even on airfield walkways. I guess manufacturers can't afford to cater only to "specialised" industries and must diversify.

Well there is a point at least for those who have some of these items or can acquire them for free who haven't thought of taking the parts.  He's just making a list of what he's found to help others who might need these parts.

[mountain]

I don't see the point of this thread. Almost all arcade parts can and have been used in other equipment. Joysticks are used in anything from cranes to hospital machines. I've seen buttons that looked suspiciously like standard Happ buttons in vending machines, on ships, even on airfield walkways. I guess manufacturers can't afford to cater only to "specialised" industries and must diversify.

You just contributed to the point of the thread 

[ahofle]

If you live in Europe, you could find an actual arcade monitor in your old TV. 

[Hoopz]

A lot of newer vending machines use cherry switches. 

[SithMaster]

If you live in Europe, you could find an actual arcade monitor in your old TV. 

Those must be some big tvs if they can fit both an arcade monitor and the tv tube in the case.

[Hemi]

In all reality, you're not going to find any "real" arcade parts unless it's in an arcade cab, and there is nothing strange about that. If you want to call some of these other parts "arcade gear" well that's fine, but not really true.

[Ginsu Victim]

In all reality, you're not going to find any "real" arcade parts unless it's in an arcade cab, and there is nothing strange about that. If you want to call some of these other parts "arcade gear" well that's fine, but not really true.

Welcome, voice of dissent!

[RayB]

Arcade buttons on blood pressure machine.

[Ginsu Victim]

Arcade buttons on blood pressure machine.

Yeah, I noticed that in Wal-mart. Looks like Happ standard concave pushbuttons.

[facesmiths]

As a kid I used to go back and forth between Maine and Nova Scotia a lot via the M/S Scotia Prince.  It had tons of slot machines and such... and in one dark stairwell that barely ever got used there was a Satan's Hollow.  Sitting in the dark corner of an ocean liner stairwell gave the art and the red stick a whole new ambience. 

man what a visual. that level of atmosphere is what I hope to accomplish with my Automat.

[TOK]

In all reality, you're not going to find any "real" arcade parts unless it's in an arcade cab, and there is nothing strange about that. If you want to call some of these other parts "arcade gear" well that's fine, but not really true.

If you drink a 12 pack of Budweiser and eat half a pound of peanuts, you will probably wake up with Asteroids in your underwear.
 

[DaOld Man]

Cherry microswitches have been used in industrial equipment for several years, I would say probably before arcade machines.

[crashwg]

A Pop'n Music button is used at the finish line of Ninja Warrior!