I accidently became a pinball collector. In January 2005, I attended my first SuperAuctions in Altanta, GA looking to purchase a Street Fighter II Video Game or a Tournament Cyberball machine. Since this was my first auction, I was not really sure how the process would work. The auction began on the pinball machines. I watched a Twilight Zone and an Indiana Jones sell for $2,000+. The first bid was low, and after 10-12 bids, the auction ended. So when the Freddy came up, I thought I would jump in early just to see my bid accepted. Little did I know, I was the ONLY one to bid. So I won a Freddy for the opening bid of $800.
Since I already had one, I ended up with another, Force II, for $300.
As most pinball collectors can tell you, once you have the bug, it's over.
Since 2005, I have had the opportunity to own many of the "A" List Games. The only exceptions are BBB, ToTAN and TAF.
I started as a DMD snob, but eventually evolved into a collector of every era. I now enjoy Gottlieb EM Wedgeheads, early 80's Solid States, early 90's Alphanumeric and modern DMDs.
I have seen this hobby explode. I expect I will see the bubble. Regardless, I am here to stay.
Here is my current pinball collection (last updated on September 19, 2016):
Group One: The EMs
1964 Williams Heat Wave - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Needs better backglass and cabinet repaint.
1964 Gottlieb North Star - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Needs better playfield to be cherry restoration.
1966 Bally Capersville - Cleaned,shopped and playing 100%. Needs Cabinet Repaint.
1967 Bally Rocket III - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Needs Cabinet Repaint.
1967 Gottlieb King Of Diamonds - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Needs a new playfield as there is serious planking throughout the playfield. Overlay candidate.
1968 Gottlieb Royal Guard - Currently disassembled and waiting for cabinet repaint. Excellent playfield and backglass.
1968 Bally Safari - project machine.
1969 Bally Wiggler - Working. Needs shop job. Original owner converted the game to have higher scoring by adding stationary zero. Carved out spots on the backglass.
1971 Bally Four Million B.C. - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%.
1975 Gottlieb Atlantis -- Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%
Group Two: Classic Solid State (6 or 7 Digit Numeric Displays)
1979 Bally Paragon - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Restored game.
1980 Stern Catacomb - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Needs cabinet work.
1980 Stern Seawitch - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Very nice example.
1981 Bally Centaur - Currently being restored by Keith Holbrook. NOS & CPR parts with custom made cabinet built to Bally specifications.
1981 Bally Fathom - Currently being restored by Keith Holbrook. NOS & CPR parts with custom made cabinet built to Bally specifications.
1981 Gottlieb Mars God Of War - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%.
1982 Stern Dragonfist - Cleaned, shopped and playing 100%. Brutal game.
1984 Williams Space Shuttle - recently acquired. Working project game.
1984 NSM Hot Fire Birds -- Awaiting restoration
Group Three: Solid State with ramps (Alphanumeric Displays)
1990 Williams Funhouse - Cleaned, shopped and working 100%. Full of aftermarket mods.
1990 Williams Whirlwind - Cleaned, shopped and working 100%. Nice Original.
1991 Data East Phantom Of The Opera - Currently needs board work and new displays. Nice ramps and decals. NOS Backglass acquired.
HELLODEADCITY
Inactive member
15y 72,650 5,822 8
great story - thats so awesome you have #15 fireball sample