A question for ex arcade ops/employees

[ballzdeepx]

Ok,
So many of us had the luxury of growing up in arcades as games matured over the years.

I had a few friends that worked at Aladdin's castle here in the US but what I never remember asking them was, how often they cleaned the control panels?

My guess would be maybe once a week at best, and I would like to think my immune system is so beefy today because of the filth I helped transfer to my fellow arcade brethren.

So, if you worked in an arcade I'd be curious to know how often you all cleaned the control panels or glass, or if it was even expected.

 

[Kid Panda]

My buddies dad ran one back in the day, machines were cleaned daily before opening.

 

[RabbitTroop]

My buddies dad ran one back in the day, machines were cleaned daily before opening.

I'd imagine that, or as a daily closing procedure. I really can't imagine they went more than a day between cleanings. Reminds me I need some more professional glass cleaner from Happ. That stuff is the tits.

 

[ballzdeepx]

I remember the arcades strewn about at six flags great america, shit that job must have been insane. So many people, so much filth, and broken games.

 

[mr_b]

When I worked at the local arcade we wiped down the monitors and control panels as part of our closing duties

 

[GhostSeed]

I worked in a arcade 97-98 and we would wipe the control panels down all through out the day. And one a week we had to clean the entire machine top to bottom. The sit down cabs like Crusi'n the World were the worst during the winter because of all the water and gravel that people tracked in. The Time Crisis gun would have to get fixed every week or so.

 

[BIGTIME]

It was a once a day procedure for us. At closing time we would vacuum, wipe down the redemption glass, wipe down the monitor glass and the cps. We also dusted them twice a month. The only time we wiped down the cps multiple times a day was if someone spilled a drink or food on them.

 

[ballzdeepx]

Wow so far you guys were pretty damn diligent about it, I was expecting more horror stories.

 

[Joneo]

SNK should have socketed their control panels too.
Just yank the panel, snap the replacement in place and hose the crud off out back.

 

[SNKorSWM]

Speaking of horror stories...

http://www.yelp.com/biz/smiles-entertainment-center-milford

 

[ballzdeepx]

Speaking of horror stories...

http://www.yelp.com/biz/smiles-entertainment-center-milford

From the Reviews

Wow, this place sucks. I mean, not only are half the games broken. Not only are half the games ancient. Not only is this place dirty and run down. This place basically took my nostalgia, put it on the floor, and smashed it with a sledgehammer.

When this place was the Milford Rec it was great. I even gave them a pass when they put in the lame "rides."

But now it's just total garbage. I don't care if you're 12 or 60 or anywhere in between. This place sucks so bad, if my only two choices left in life were to go here or vote for George W. Bush for a third term as president, I'd seriously have to give it some thought.

 

[ggallegos1]

Speaking of horror stories...

http://www.yelp.com/biz/smiles-entertainment-center-milford

I've been here. It's as bad as they say.

 

[SNKorSWM]

That place is about a 15 minute drive from my house. Back in the 80s and 90s it was great, but then the management stopped giving a fuck and just ran the place into the ground.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

From the Reviews

Those reviews are less than favourable

 

[OMFG]

I went there toward the end of its life. The manager wanted to sell pretty much everything. The funny thing was that this place actually had Espgaluda on play and a working six player Xmen machine downstairs in the lazertag area. During the day, this place was decent. At nightfall, the cops were always called in for something.

 

[theMot]

Wow so far you guys were pretty damn diligent about it, I was expecting more horror stories.

How often were the rags they cleaned the control panels with washed is what you should have asked

 

[ballzdeepx]

Ha!
This is a good point.

How often were the rags they cleaned the control panels with washed is what you should have asked

 

[Dion]

When I worked at Aladdin's Castle in 1998, We vacuumed the floor and windexed all of the glass at closing. The pinball machines had the playfields cleaned and waxed once a week. All sit down games were cleaned thoroughly once a week. The crane machines were also rearranged and the loose toys were all repacked tightly once a week also.

Never was told to specifically clean the control panels and as a teenager I don't think I even thought it was important.

 

[neo734]

That place is about a 15 minute drive from my house. Back in the 80s and 90s it was great, but then the management stopped giving a fuck and just ran the place into the ground.

Haha agreed, great post by the way complete arcade horror story in the late 90s/2000s. Much better as Milford amusement if I remember correctly. I don't remember them having neos, did they?

 

[SNKorSWM]

The arcade in the Connecticut Post Mall had a two slot neo cab. I don't quite remember whether Milford Amusement Center had one or not.