I like to Play!

By NinJaBooT

May 12, 2012

This story got frontpaged on May 20, 2012


11 years ago

Pinball has always been a hobby I've thouroughly enjoyed. When I was in High School, the pizza joint by my school would always bring in a couple machines. they had everything from T2 to TZ. As you could guess, we would spend more time playing the silver ball than at school. This went on for some time into my mid 20's until I broke my back in 5 places on the drilling rigs. I was pretty much bed ridden for a year following my accident. It was difficult to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time for the first year so Pinball was outta my life. Once I regained some strength and after a long, grueling rehabilitation process, I was ready to go out for my first beer in over a year. The pool hall in town as well carried some high prifile games at that time such as Monster Bash, Scared Stiff, and Attack from Mars. Since I wasn't allowed to work yet, I would spend alot of time and money playing Pinball at Pockets Billiards.

As most of you know, once Williams stopped making Pins, they slowly became harder and harder to find and play. I would always say to myself"I should buy one some day"! Well, that day came about 1 year ago, 16 years after Williams pulled the plug(sorry for the pun). I aquired a Swords Of Fury; a totaly tough game to score points on. My friends and I thought it was awesome, pinball in my basement! I was hooked! Knowing it wouldn't stop there, I prepared to go into financial downward spiral to feed my new addiction. I was buying LED's, decal sets, new balls, ring kits, and anything I could find to tinker with. I eventually ripped SOF apart and clear coated it and added Coin Taker LED's. AWSOME!!!

When I found a T2 in mint shape, I couldn't resist. I was instantly the coolest guy on the block. It never stopped there. After T2 came a Sopranos(mint as well). Now I had 3 games and I was fully hooked in. I had the fever. I then got a Shadow pinball that I have made better than new condition. I had all the stainless ramps, rails, lock bars, and hinge polished to look like chrome(looks amazing). The brass plated wire ramps were stripped down and I had them GOLD plated then clear powder coated over top so the gold wouldn't wear off over time. Looks cool! I changed all the lights to LED's and thanks to Pinside, I found a hard to find platic set from DarkKnight, Thanks! I added a few lights around the upper playfield to lighten it up a little. Shadow is currently my best game in my collection.

As time went by(in reality only about a month), I decided to aquire more machines. More More More, I need more games!!! I began to look south of the border(I live in Canada) as there seems to be more selection(and alot of crap also). I made the decision to purchase 4 more games. Fish Tales, Getaway 2, High Speed(85'), and Johnny Mnemonic. All good additons to my collection but some of them need alot of work to be worthy of bragging rights.

In conlusion, I lied to my wife and told her I was buying so many Pinballs because I wanted to start to buy and sell pinball machines as a hobby. Well, don't get any ideas! Back Off! My games ain't for sale! I have an Addams Family on layaway that I should have in a few months. Please Don't Tell My Wife!!!!

Story photos

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Comments

11 years ago

I told my wife the same thing! HAHAHA!

11 years ago

I told my wife the same thing! HAHAHA!

11 years ago

Great story! (& I'll be sure to keep my mouth shut if I run into your wife) Have fun...

11 years ago

My wife killed the dream at TWO. My mistake though....I went straight from a $500 F-14 to a brand new in the crate LOTR!

What really bummed me out is my kids never took to LOTR.....so it's on it's way out for a couple of more family friendly titles (WC94) and Getaway.........for now :)

11 years ago

I think its time we stop listening to the od' Ladies and do the right thing; open a pinball arcade! I have set my limit at 12 machines. Any more and I need a bigger house. Astro, I really enjoyed LOTR myself but found I got bored with it. I just pimped out my Getaway with red, green, and purple LED's. I am going to powder coat the wire ramps either red or green and I am going to polish the stainless supercharged ramp(looks like chrome when finished). WC94 was one of favs back in the day as well. I got my eye on a The Machine:Bride of Pinbot. I frikken love that game!

11 years ago

It’s not always the kisses and strife, recently had the opportunity to buy FRANK. I waited a few weeks so I could offer a little less for it. The wife said “go for it” even gave me the money, I hesitated and it sold, bummer.

11 years ago

Great story. I learned long ago that is better to ask my wife for permission than to beg for forgiveness. :)

11 years ago

I wish pinball posers like yourself would stop importing machines from russia. Flooding the market with knock off machines such as yours, brings us real collectors down. P.s your wife is hot!! :O (=====3

11 years ago

Oh man, SOF is at the very top of my list! If you ever even think of selling it, please let me know. Love that game! Besides, I'm in MillWoods so it would be an easy sale ;) Awesome story and collection though!

10 years ago

I havnt up dated my collection for a while but I let SOF go to a friend under the pretence that if he ever is to want to sell it that I have dibs on it. I actually regret selling it:(

9 years ago

Great story, Bill. You've built an impressive collection.

8 years ago

My wife told me that the basement is mine. No games on floors 1&2 but whatever I could fit in the basement. At the highest point, I had 18 pins set up and working (along with other arcade games). Now there's just the 4 and about 12 that a friend is storing there. My Wife doesn't know which are mine and which are his. Hehe...

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