Those days of pinball in the arcade.

Years ago when one could walk into an arcade and always see a pinball game I had the chance to buy some. The local arcade was selling some that were not making much cash for them. I thought they wanted too much for the units and turned them down for 1500 each.

That was about ten eight years ago and now the same games sell for almost twice that if not more in some cases. I'm really shocked by how much they have gone up while video games just seem to drop in price. Looking back at the pinball games has made quite interested in them. I was curious if anyone here collects them or has any. Also if they know some good web sites for them?
I'm thinking about picking one up but looking at the prices I feel like it would be easy to be taken as I don't have a lot or expirence with them.

Yep, I also have a few pinballs mixed with the 80 or so arcade cabinets I have. I was thinking the same thing you were thinking 8 to 10 years ago that most of these pinballs will drop below $1000 sooner or later. I had my eyes on an Indiana Jones, The Adams Family and a few others. Both of these have sky rocketed to over $3000 almost as much as what they cost new!

I attribute several factors to the price increase including 1) The dotcom era made it possibly for many people to own such games. 2) many of the 80s and 90s pinball were so unique with so many toys and moving parts on the playfield that they are truly an art form in themselves. Many newer pinballs by Stern have only a few toys and moving parts because of the high production costs. 3) Pinball can't really be reproduced in the home environment like video games (don't even mention PinLAME). 4) The production numbers on many pinball were so low on many of the games (anywhere from 2000 to 5000 units).

The google group rec.game.pinball is probably one of the better places to find pinball info. What game were you looking for specifically and maybe I can give you some advice.

3xChaos
Michael

I don't have a lot of experience with them either..


My next big item purchase will be a Pinball Machine......I just don't have the room right now to fit it in where it's not in the way..

Even with that,I still find myself bidding on Pinball machines trying to snag a working one cheap..


I recently bid $601.00 on a Williams Flash Pinball Machine in Good Working Shape because it was listed as being located right around the corner from me ...and I figured easy pick up/no shipping..
Upon getting more pictures from the seller of it and info I find out that it was actually located far from me..too far....(and I had to pick it up or get it shipped to me..I gave up on it and it ended at $643.21...Not bad IMO
If that machine was located where it was listed to be near me it would of been mine though I have no clue where I would of put it..

I've been looking to find any one of several games really. Dr. Who, Twilight Zone, Tommy, Dungeons & Dragons, Starship Troopers are the ones on the top of my list in about that order. It seems all those early to mid 90's games have had the some of the biggest prices on them so I've also started looking at older games, though the problem with that is not having played many it is hard to say if they are worth having as I've played some in the past that I just did not like the way they played. With there being nothing around my area to buy or try I pretty much am having to get something from online.

Ive have a few pins in my collection.

TwilightZone
RollerCoasterTycoon
CirqusVoltaire

If your looking to buy check out ebay, google groups, and Mr Pinball
http://www.xmission.com/~daina/classified/

Watch out for "reimports" from Europe and S.America. The value is lower than US ones. Alot of the crap on ebay are reimports. Always best to buy local.

I collect and restore early-mid 80s pins and have several. Along with all of the information suggested above, check out www.IPDB.org - searchable database of every pin ever. If you decide to buy a pin, be prepared to put some work into it (unless you pay top dollar for one that's already been through the shop). You'll want to disassemble the playfield, clean the parts, polish and wax the playfield, clean the switches underneath, etc. Still, I find that the hours put into getting a pin into top form are well worth it - and to me, even more enjoyable than most of the video games I collect and play.

i got a lady luck pin ball machine...it's sit in the garage..and need a new set of those rubber thingy(rings) for the ball to bounce off..they all got melted
i might just sell it ..and make room for a racing cab

yeah, if you ever do decide to part with it hit me with a message.

chris1 said:

I don't have a lot of experience with them either..


My next big item purchase will be a Pinball Machine......I just don't have the room right now to fit it in where it's not in the way..

Even with that,I still find myself bidding on Pinball machines trying to snag a working one cheap..


I recently bid $601.00 on a Williams Flash Pinball Machine in Good Working Shape because it was listed as being located right around the corner from me ...and I figured easy pick up/no shipping..
Upon getting more pictures from the seller of it and info I find out that it was actually located far from me..too far....(and I had to pick it up or get it shipped to me..I gave up on it and it ended at $643.21...Not bad IMO
If that machine was located where it was listed to be near me it would of been mine though I have no clue where I would of put it..

Click to expand...

For the classic Williams Flash pinball, I'd MAKE room!!!

I'm not a big fan of pinball machines. I do have a 1984 Bally "Speak Easy" that I snagged for $100 and while it's an okay game, I'd use it for trade bait if I could get something I really wanted.