I have always been a handy person; making furniture, restoring Standard Gauge Lionel trains, remodeling homes etc... When I start a hobby, I generally go ALL IN, learn everything I can. I have always loved playing pinball back to the early and mid 1970s, but never thought I would own 1 game let alone 13 games over time. My brother purchased and fixed up a Zacciria machine for his basement and it got me thinking, and researching. I spent several months watching the web and Mr. Pinball classifieds and eventually attended the Chicago Pinball Expo a few minutes from my home. I fell in love with AFM and MB at Expo and knew I was ready to take the plunge. After a few months I made an offer on an AFM on the west coast. It arrived and the dilivery driver actually was amazed when he unloaded the game as he was an ex-Midway Gaming employee and remembered various pinball production, small world. I setup the machine and played it for a few days before I got the fever to completely restore it. I had Brian at HSA clearcoat it a while I completely tore it down to every last nut and bolt and ordered new switches, plastics, ramps, scoops, LEDs you name it. It took 6 months but the finished machine was all but new and played smooth and fast. It remains a true keeper.
Time went by and I got the fever yet again, after lurking on Pinside and Mr Pinball for months I bought/shipped 10 machines from Europe and two more from Ohio. My restoration skills have evolved considerably over time to include; airbrushing, parts tumbling, small nickle plating runs, 2 part clearcoating, screen printing and extensive circuit board testing and repairs. It's hard to part with finished work but I've found not every game keeps me entertained, and then the fever returns.....
