There are really many other questions that need to be asked when
trying to find out what the best pinball machine is. You have to
consider what type of game you and your friends are going to enjoy
playing the most. Here is a good deal of information that hopefully
will meet your needs. As well as a number of links to reputable
dealers and other information.
Decide what sort of machine you want
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Games available for home purchase fall into three categories: Used electro-
mechanical, used solid-state, and new (all new games are solid-state). Which
is right for you depends on what you want, how much you're willing to spend,
and whether you ever intend to sell or trade the game.
Think a bit about why you want a game. If you want it to play, chances
are that you want a solid-state game. They play faster, and the software
has features that could take you some time to uncover.
If you're looking for something to tear apart, down to the bare wood, and
build back up again (only better), buy an electro-mechanical. Doing the
fix-up on a solid-state game wouldn't be as fruitful--At some point,
you'd be staring at an IC-laden circuit board, and that's way beyond
cleaning contacts and tightening springs.
Aside from knowing why you want a game, you should zero in on which game you
want. The market is fat with choices, and there is a fair chance that,
if you look in the right places, you can eventually find what you want. But
you can't go into the market saying, "Oh, just find me something you think
I'll like." It goes deeper than issues of color and whitewalls or no: You
will fare best if you have a wish list of games you are interested in.
How much will it cost? It depends on the popularity and rarity of the
game, the condition of this particular machine, and whether or not you live
in California. (Not a joke ... Prices run higher in The Golden State!)
A semi-functional older solid-state machine can be had for as little as
$100, while a new game fresh from the factory runs about $3500. Typical
price for a game that's seen a couple years of use would be $400-$1000.
An electro-mechanical game can run anywhere from $150 to $750, with
real collector's items (like Humpty Dumpty) significantly more.
If this is your first machine, it's highly recommended that you get a working
one! Picking up a cheap junker may be tempting, but you'll never get it
going without experience, specialized equipment, and a stock of spare parts.
Try to buy from someone who'll deliver it in working condition, and stand
behind it for a while. Ask for references!
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Go looking for one
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The path a pinball machine travels typically looks like this:
Manufacturer--->Distributor--->Operator--->Collector or junkyard
Unless you have very deep pockets, you won't be buying your machine
from the manufacturer or distributor. Operators are the ones who
put machines out in the field and maintain them...They're usually
willing to sell used machines once they stop pulling in the quarters.
Go to your favorite machine in the field, and ask who owns it. If the
location doesn't, there's probably a sticker on the machine pointing you
to the operator. Another way to find operators is to hit the Yellow Pages,
and call up the companies listed under "Amusement Devices." First ask
them if they sell machines for home use, then ask for the specific machines
you're looking for.
Part II of this faq also includes pointers to several sources for
used pinball machines. These are typically large operators.
You can also buy machines from collectors. In fact, this is pretty much
the only way to go to find an Electro-mechanical. You probably aren't
going to find an EM in the field, or with an operator.
For both EM's and solid-state machines, the little ads in periodicals like
Game Room are an excellent source of leads. (See list of periodicals
below) Also, you can try to find something locally. Buy every newspaper
you can, including the little "nickel ads" type, and check the classifieds.
Keep doing this for months. Takes time, but good deals occasionally pop up.
You can also find a "broker," a sort of super-collector in business
to buy up old used games, fix them up, and resell them. Again, you can
reach these people through the publications listed below.
Also, believe it or not, check with a dart supply store! I know of two
in my area (Boston) which sell used pins, and at least one Norwegian
store does.
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Buying pinball machines at auctions
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Another source for machines is the gaming auctions. This isn't the
best place to buy your first machine, but with a little knowledge it
can be a good deal and a lot of fun!
Auctions pop up all over the US. The collector's magazines, like
"pinGame journal" or "Game Room", list upcoming auctions, and you
can also find listings at web sites such as:
http://www.GameRoomAntiques.com/show.htm
http://www.empireamusement.com/supplies.html
http://magenta.com/marco/auctions.htm
http://www.usamusement.com/schedule.html
You can also download a list of recent auction results from:
http://straylight.cso.niu.edu/pinball/auction-results.html
These auctions can include video games, change machines, slot machines,
juke boxes, crane machines, skee-ball, beer lights, pool tables, etc.,
as well as the pinball machines...Just about everything from the
arcade or amusement arena!
Machines available at auctions tend to be those that have stopped generating
enough revenue for an operator to keep them on location. However, they can
range from New-In-Box (NIB) to 30+ year old EMs. The biggest thing to note is
that all items are AS IS, and the only guarantee you get with an auction
machine is the guarantee that SOMETHING will be wrong with it!
If you find a machine that you are interested in, you should examine and play
it to determine if everything works. Examine the playfield, backglass, and
cabinet to determine if the amount is wear is excessive for the age of the
machine. Check to see if the manual/schematic is included. For a solid-state,
try to run the machine through the self diagnostic tests. Look inside the
machine and under the playfield for suspicious items such as cut/spliced wires,
burnt components, missing components, etc.
When you find one (or more) machines, determine what your maximum price will
be. It's easy to get caught up in the bidding and go higher than you want.
Realize that you may be bidding against the owner of the machine, who's
trying to drive up the price of the machine. (The issue of buybacks appears
as semi-regular topic in r.g.p.)
There are several things that you should take to the auction. These include:
1) 100 foot, heavy-duty, three prong extension cord. There will probably
be several outlets available, but all are not accessible from every machine.
2) Tools - This should include sockets and/or wrenches to use to remove the
leg and head bolts for transport.
3) Blanket, towels, cardboard, rope - Used for transport, or to place the
playfield glass on during inspection.
4) Food and drinks - The auctions can be quite long. Snack bar food is the
other option.
5) The afore-mentioned list of past auction results. This will give you
an idea of what the machines have sold for in the past. Although each
machine's unique, having a baseline like this will help you be a more
informed buyer.
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Publications
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There are many periodicals good for getting background information
on the pinball world and for contacting other collectors.
pinGame journal is probably the best one for home pinball collecting.
Game Room Magazine covers general home gamerooms (soda fountains,
jukeboxes, etc) with a healthy dose of pinball included.
Other magazines are largely "for the trade"; i.e., arcade operators
and their ilk, though it's fun to have a look from the other side
of the backglass!
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Pinhead Classified
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Pinhead Classified has gone out of business (Jan 1999), but the
100-page final issue (No. 29) is available for purchase.
"There's only 7 pages of display ads, and we've left out
the classified ads this time cuz I didn't feel like typin'
'em in--they woulda been stale anyway. This issue
is packed with stuff written by subscribers, the way a
fanzine should be. There's even less white space than usual.
It's always been just for the fun of vintage pins, so, as usual,
there's nothin' about any new games."
Rates: Thru Jan 22, '99 -- $31/US; $36/Can; $38 Holes.
Issues No. 1-28 are available for $7/US; $9/Can; $10/Holes.
First class mail included. Checks must be made out to Atomic Groove.
Atomic Groove
Attn: PC Back Issues
1945 "N" Street, Hole 111
Newman, CA 95360
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pinGame journal
--------------
31937 Olde Franklin Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (810) 626-5203 message/fax
URL: http://www.pingamejournal.com
Written by pinball collectors. Includes info about new games in
development, as well as articles on finding, reconditioning, and playing
older games. Subscription includes one free classified ad per month.
Often includes cool plastics and flyers.
12 issues--$34 (add $20 for First Class). Canada $38, Europe Air: $67,
Pacific Rim $77, $40.00 (all overseas surface--very slow and unreliable.)
Sample issue: $4.00, Information: Free.
-----------------
GameRoom Magazine
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PO Box 41
Keyport, NJ 07735-0041
Phone: (732) 739-1955 (Fax 24 hr): (732) 739-2834
Email: coinop@gameroommagazine.com
A monthly hobbyist publication, covering pinballs, slots, jukeboxes,
Coke machines, arcade videos, etc. Equipment and parts advertising.
Steady supply of pinball articles. Successor to the defunct "Pinball
Trader." $30/year for US, $50 first class; $35/year Canadian (surface),
$55/year Canadian (air); $53/year European(surface), $87/year
European(air); $57/year Pacific Basin (surface), $93/year Pacific
Basin(air). Accepts credit cards. Sample issue $5.25.
URL: http://www.gameroommagazine.com
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Play Meter
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PO Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184
Thick, slick trade journal, mostly aimed at arcade owners and operators.
Provides uniformly glowing reviews of the latest games. Covers crane
games, kiddie rides, etc., as well as video and pinball.
$60/year US & Canada, $150/year overseas. Sample issue $5 USA, $10 foreign.
URL: " http://w3.thegroup.net/~aim/pmhome.html "
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Distributors Research Associates (DRA) Price Guide
--------------------------------------------------
11522 State Road 84, Suite 223, Davie FL, 33325
Voice: (954) 423-4000 FAX: (954)423-4005
$85/year, 8 issues (quarterly with mid-quarter updates], USA check/MC/VISA
Price listings for conversions, pins, bowlers-shuffles-misc., video games,
jukes, pool tables, other vending equipment currently in active trading,
although phonographs [jukeboxes] and vending go back as far as 1975.
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RePlay
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P.O. Box 2550, Woodland Hills, CA 91365
Another monthly trade magazine with the same content as Play Meter.
$65/year US, $85/year Canada & Mexico, Foreign $220 (air) $80 (boat)
sample issue $6.
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Canadian Coin Box
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NCC Publishing, 222 Argyle Ave., Delhi, Ontario N4B 2Y2 Canada.
$38/year, sample issue $3.50.
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Coin-Op Newsletter
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P.O. Box 2426, Rockville, MD 20852
A bimonthly hobbiest publication. Covers antiques and coin-op collectables.
$24/ten issues.
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Coin Drop International
-----------------------
5815 West 52nd Avenue, Denver, CO 80212
a large-format newsprint magazine (11x17) covering electromechanical coin-op
amusements. The most likely place to see old horse race machines, strength
testers, etc. Pinball articles are just as likely to cover bingos or pre-
flipper machines as they are the more conventional EMs with flippers.
$15/year for US, $21/year for Canada, $40/year foreign. Sample issue $3.
All funds must be paid in US dollars!
Visa/MasterCard accepted. Fax subscriptions: (303) 431-6978
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Manufacturers
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Alive and flipping:
Sega Pinball Inc. (Includes Data East)
1990 Janice Avenue
Melrose Park, IL 60160
tel: 708-345-7700
fax: 708-345-7718
toll free: 800-KICKERS
URL: " http://www.sega.com/central/history/history.html "
Williams Electronic Games Inc. (Includes Bally and Midway)
3401 North California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
tel: 312-961-1000
URL: " http://www.pinball.wms.com "
Now sadly out of business:
Premier Technology (Includes Gottlieb and Mylstar)
759 Industrial Drive
Bensenville, IL 60106
tel: 708-350-0400
fax: 708-350-1097
toll free 800-444-0761
Capcom Coin-Op
3311 N. Kennicott
Arlington Hts, IL 60004
tel: 708-797-6100
URL: " http://capcom.ms.wwa.com/ "
I hope this information meets your needs. |
