I had to say goodbye to an old friend this past week, but got to say hello to another. My arcade hauler has been out of commission for six months and I finally gave in and shelled out some dough to get the transmission fixed. However, although what I was prepared to pay based on the estimate eventually turned into an additional 25% price increase at the last minute. Unprepared for the huge spike (transmission rebuilds ain’t cheap!), I needed some additional money – and fast! Goodbye Little Chief!

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Whenever a pinball pops up for sale on craigslist, I always check out www.ipdb.org first to see closeups of artwork and playfield and see if the theme and/or the layout interests me. After that, the next step is to check out youtube to see if there are any videos showing gameplay. Since there are so many pinballs that I don’t even know exist, much less that I have played, seeing a video of them in action is the next best thing.

During my searching of various pinball titles on youtube, I realized that there aren’t many that come up for a game that I own – Strange Science. Therefore, I took the liberty of taking some video of the exciting multiball action. Take a peek at it after the jump… (more…)

So my website design company finally moved out of our teeny office space into a much larger (and cooler) office. In the office was a perfect little nook for a couple games. Since it is mostly for novelty and not necessarily collectability, I decided to bring up Strato-Flite as the first of two games to reside there.

She’s not 100% just yet, but she’s doing a lot better than when I first turned her on. (more…)

Because he brings me cool stuff:

This shipment came in from Marco specialties. I got 2 remote battery kits, a molex connector pack (unfortunately wrong size on the one I need) to clean up Skateball, a rubber ring kit for Skateball, some heat sink compound – just ’cause, a new bally flipper, and another This Old Pinball DVD, which I can never get enough of. I plan on doing some reviews of the videos soon when I get time, which may be never at the rate this year is going.

I am in need of two playfield rest latches for a Bally Strange Science. For some unknown reason mine came without these and as a result, the playfield sits lower than it should. Right now, I currently have a stack of books keeping the playfield aloft as withouth it, you can’t push the right flipper button. I don’t even know the technical name for this item, so even that may help me in a search. The picture to the right is an example of what I’m looking for, but the one I need is actually a bit taller. This one was given to me by a nice fellow off of the KLOV forums and came off of a Bally Eight Ball Deluxe. I don’t know if other 6803 Bally games used the same sizes, but if you have one, let me know. I would be most grateful! Thanks!

So I wrote a few days ago about the prospect of picking this game up despite the significant playfield wear. Well here she is…

When I got her, only the playfield lights came on. I got no LEDs, no sound, no flashes on the LED…nothing. (more…)

My daughther had her friend from next door come over and visit yesterday so we blew some time playing arcade games in the basement. My daughter is used to playing the games (although she still prefers to just drop quarter after quarter into the coin slots instead of actually playing the game), but her little friend is a first-timer. His hands-down favorite was my Williams Little Chief EM pinball. The minute he started hearing the chiming and clicking, he threw up his arms in triumph and said “Cool!” Both the kids are only three years old – gotta start ‘em young! Keepin’ the dream alive, baby!

Ever been offered a game at a deep discount, but thought about turning it down simply becuase the damage is too great? I was contacted by a person who replied to a running ad I have on craigslist requesting all kinds of coin-operated equipment. She said she has a partially working 1980 Bally Pinball – Skateball. Asking Price – $100. Great price? Yes. But is it worth it? I honestly don’t know…

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I think I may have pinball fever. I recently received a package in the mail that contained my order from Marco Specialties. Inside the priority mail box was a Mr. Pinball 2009 Price Guide, 5 flexstone files, Life After Death III: Warehouse Raid DVD, and Volume 5 2-disc set of This Old Pinball repair DVD. (more…)

As with any warehouse raid, you have to pick and choose at least a few keepers out of the lot. This Strange Science pinball by Bally from 1986 is just that – a keeper. The above pic is a lights-out pic of my gameroom with the addition of the new pin. I love this game. I think the theme is cool (mad scientist), it has an interesting playfield, up to five multiball play, and possibly the coolest topper EVER! (more…)