Finding My Holy Grail

I, like many others, found my fascination with the bright lights and chimes at an early age in the smoky back rooms of the pool hall or bowling alley. Mine was the Village Inn Bowl and Cue, a subterranean establishment under a motel complex in Winnipeg.

The early seventies offered little amusement in home entertainment so heading out of the house was usually the best option. Since Winnipeg was usually frozen and snow covered, the cozy comfort of the Village was always a good bet. It was where the boys would gather to hang out, shoot some pool and inevitably have a go at the pinball machines before heading out to partake in some form of shenanigans or another.

The pins would change from time to time but the one constant was always a 1970 Gottlieb "Aquarius" which always seemed to be busy. It had simple rules, played predictably and a guy could play for a good while on a quarter. We played it along with others like Drop-A-Card, Flying Carpet and Straight Flush endlessly.

I lost touch with the pins in the eighties when the arcades filled with video and then finally died out. I never gave pinball a second thought until around 2012 when I found some spare cash and decided to invest in a game for the man-cave.

On a whim I bought a well used Gottlieb Premier 1993 "Gladiators". I liked all the ramps and stuff going on and it was relatively inexpensive. I played it for a few months but the whole time something seemed off. Something wasn't right. I knew I missed the chimes and simplicity of the old EM's....

I scoured the ads looking for a few months before I came across a Willliams Strato-Flite. It was in great shape but hadn't been used in years and issues very quickly showed up. I was at a loss with the schematics and was searching for help when I came across Pinsiders. With the help of all the great guys here she was soon running like a charm.

The Gladiators was sold very quickly after that and replaced by a 1976 Buccaneer which is awesome but only made me long for the one machine I knew I had to own... Aquarius.

A few months ago, while scouring the sites I came across a lonely ad for an Aquarius in Michigan. Calls were exchanged, borders were crossed and the Holy Grail was found.

There are thousands of machines out there past and present but only a few can really push your buttons. Its not necessarily a NIB latest offering but for us old school EM fans, its likely the one that you remember, have history with and will always remind you of good times. I found my Holy Grail and will keep her for as long as I can.

Now.... if I could only come across a "Drop a Card".....