(Topic ID: 130288)

----- Creed of the low end pin man --------------

By dasvis

8 years ago


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  • 562 posts
  • 132 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 14 hours ago by edgeitz
  • Topic is favorited by 47 Pinsiders

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    There are 562 posts in this topic. You are on page 4 of 12.
    #151 5 years ago

    I'm sure I've been a member of the LEPM club for quite some time, but I just scored this free Atari Airborne Avengers a week or so ago on Craig's List. This was my first free pin. I've gotten a handful for $100-250 in the past and I got a lot of 3 free videos before from a co worker of my brothers mom's basement, Contra, Altered Beast, and I can't remember the 3rd one....been a while. Anyway. Cabinet and back glass are in great shape after dusting off with Simple Green, but the play field is totally shot, pic attached.

    Just messaged GRC on eBay and he tossed up an excellent AA play field for me on eBay and it just arrived. Problem solved! Whenever I get around to cleaning and parts swapping....

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    #152 5 years ago

    Not enough clamps in the USA to fix that.

    #153 5 years ago
    Quoted from oilspot:

    FP backbox

    [quoted image]

    Nice!
    At least you HAVE a head.... my Royal Guard project started as just the lower cabinet... It's working now!!

    #154 5 years ago

    $100! Only needed a new power cord to get it rolling. A few hours of minor work later and it's 100% save missing the player 4 display and average at best glass

    Gorgar Left (resized).jpegGorgar Left (resized).jpeg
    2 months later
    #155 5 years ago

    Thought I would revive this old thread, gotta be more LEP stories out there.

    #156 5 years ago

    $130.00, not booting, haven't looked into it yet. Backglass is flawless, playfield good -

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    #157 5 years ago
    Quoted from pinzrfun:

    $130.00, not booting, haven't looked into it yet. Backglass is flawless, playfield good -
    [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    Damn nice - the early Bally SS pins are my faves!

    #158 5 years ago

    Got a Hang Glider for $200.00
    Powered up. Works but with issues.
    Cabinet rough, playfield OK
    Reproduction Backglass, chromed the glass lift

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    #159 5 years ago

    I have less invested in my 17 machines than some people have in a single NIB machine. That is insane to me. Long live the Low End Pinheads!

    #160 5 years ago

    As far as I can see I am living at the wrong side of the ocean.
    Most of the machines have gone up in price last 3 years, games with "minor issues" for € 300 or more.
    On the other hand: got a Williams Post Time in good condition for a case of beer...
    Sometimes, just sometimes you get lucky...

    2 weeks later
    #161 5 years ago

    Hang Glider: I cleaned the playfield and plastics. New ring kit bulbs installed. Now to sort out the issues in the back box.

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    #162 5 years ago

    Still going through a $100 Snow Derby I got earlier this year. It had no lockbar, but the lockbar from a $50 wedgehead I bought earlier for parts (no backglass, rotting head) works on it just fine.

    1 month later
    #163 5 years ago

    LEP BUMP

    #164 5 years ago

    $50 SCUBA I'm working on now

    $80 Star Sapphire bowler

    I'm all about the LEPM. More fun to score a cheap game or games and try to get them working again. Tell me y'all don't get excited and giddy the moment you finally get it to startup correctly and play that first game.......

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    #165 5 years ago
    Quoted from Qman97:

    $50 SCUBA I'm working on now
    $80 Star Sapphire bowler
    I'm all about the LEPM. More fun to score a cheap game or games and try to get them working again. Tell me y'all don't get excited and giddy the moment you finally get it to startup correctly and play that first game.......
    [quoted image][quoted image]

    Damn straight. That first click of the on switch after you spent 100's of hours cleaning & adjusting every switch, score reel, & mechanism..................................... and it works!

    #166 5 years ago
    Quoted from dasvis:

    Damn straight. That first click of the on switch after you spent 100's of hours cleaning & adjusting every switch, score reel, & mechanism..................................... and it works!

    100's of hours?? Hopefully not more than about 10-20 hours for the relay portions for a game that is rough to start with.

    #167 5 years ago
    Quoted from MikeO:

    100's of hours?? Hopefully not more than about 10-20 hours for the relay portions for a game that is rough to start with.

    Well, it seems like 100's of hours anyway.....

    #168 5 years ago

    Haven't found anything worth posting recently. The low end pins are getting fewer and farther between unfortunately. Anyone feel like sharing tips for finding these beauties?

    #169 5 years ago
    Quoted from statictrance:

    Haven't found anything worth posting recently. The low end pins are getting fewer and farther between unfortunately. Anyone feel like sharing tips for finding these beauties?

    Sometimes you find one on Craigslist of Facebook. Or networking with other pinheads.
    I saw a Bally Bow and Arrow for $400.00 but do I call it low end?

    What is the cut off point, $$$, for low end?

    #170 5 years ago

    There was a pretty nice looking Aladdin's Castle at Chicagoland for $400 this fall. This is a bargain in my area these days.

    I bought this fugly Big Strike for $300 back in July...because I've always wanted a Big Strike. At some point someone painted the cab red and then put adhesive backed brown burlap over the top. Peeling the burlap back pulled up the red and the original paint. I was so disgusted in how gross it looked I didn't touch it again until last week. It's going to need a repaint in the Spring when I can get outside, and I'm not a huge fan of repaints.

    Anyway I've started in on tearing it apart to clean everything up. It's always hard for me to get going but usually get more motivated as I go. This one will probably make or break my continued love for the silver ball.

    FuglyBigStrike (resized).jpgFuglyBigStrike (resized).jpg
    #171 5 years ago
    Quoted from AlexF:

    There was a pretty nice looking Aladdin's Castle at Chicagoland for $400 this fall. This is a bargain in my area these days.
    I bought this fugly Big Strike for $300 back in July...because I've always wanted a Big Strike. At some point someone painted the cab red and then put adhesive backed brown burlap over the top. Peeling the burlap back pulled up the red and the original paint. I was so disgusted in how gross it looked I didn't touch it again until last week. It's going to need a repaint in the Spring when I can get outside, and I'm not a huge fan of repaints.
    Anyway I've started in on tearing it apart to clean everything up. It's always hard for me to get going but usually get more motivated as I go. This one will probably make or break my continued love for the silver ball.
    [quoted image]

    How was the show at the new location? I live almost right next to Pheasant Run so it was pretty disappointing that it's an hour away now and didn't even bother going to the last show.

    #172 5 years ago
    Quoted from Pin-up:

    How was the show at the new location? I live almost right next to Pheasant Run so it was pretty disappointing that it's an hour away now and didn't even bother going to the last show.

    It was good but I liked it better before. I heard Pheasant Run was remodeling the ballroom for weddings etc. Apparently that room was no longer an option for the coin-op show. So the choice was a new location or half the space. Still fun but it was dark and less inviting in the new location. They were real hard nose about letting you into the parking lot area now as well.

    #173 5 years ago
    Quoted from AlexF:

    It was good but I liked it better before. I heard Pheasant Run was remodeling the ballroom for weddings etc. Apparently that room was no longer an option for the coin-op show. So the choice was a new location or half the space. Still fun but it was dark and less inviting in the new location. They were real hard nose about letting you into the parking lot area now as well.

    Ugh. That coin op show was so disappointing. At the last Pheasant Run show I asked if they would still allow parking lot shopping on Friday morning. They said yes.

    Well they didn’t lie. You could shop the lot but instead of for free you had to pay the $50.00 early entry fee. Bummer.

    #174 5 years ago

    Yep I remember you could walk the parking lot for free before. If you wanted to park in that lot or go inside you had to pay the $50. This time I was delivering a game on Saturday and they almost didn't let me in without a wrist band.

    The uspide is there is a ton of space. Apparently more vendors than before. And the food court was an upgrade. It's lost a lot of of it's charm though. Oh well everything changes.

    #175 5 years ago

    $50 to shop in the parking lot on Fri? Unreal. Most of that stuff never goes into the show anyway.

    I used to go on Fri and have snatched up a couple great deals in the parking lot. That was a lot of fun. Then I'd pay the couple dollars to go inside on a Sat/Sun and have a peek at all the amazing stuff there.

    I'd never set foot in the parking lot for $50.

    That's great if there is more space and more vendors, too bad that can't balance out the free parking lot rummaging.......

    #176 5 years ago

    Alex - you can do that cabinet repaint in Spring. I bet it will look good. If executed well and with good craftsmanship, a restored, repainted cabinet can be really nice. I know you can do it. Might not be the most fun, but I bet you will do a great job. Think of it as fun challenge when the weather signals the end of hibernation and things get nice again.

    #177 5 years ago
    Quoted from NoQuarters:

    Alex - you can do that cabinet repaint in Spring. I bet it will look good. If executed well and with good craftsmanship, a restored, repainted cabinet can be really nice. I know you can do it. Might not be the most fun, but I bet you will do a great job. Think of it as fun challenge when the weather signals the end of hibernation and things get nice again.

    Thanks, I appreciate it. I've done it before with some marginal success. Oh well, anything will be better than how it looks now. In the meantime I'm just going to get it playing.

    #178 5 years ago
    Quoted from AlexF:

    At some point someone painted the cab red and then put adhesive backed brown burlap over the top. Peeling the burlap back pulled up the red and the original paint. I was so disgusted in how gross it looked I didn't touch it again until last week. It's going to need a repaint in the Spring when I can get outside, and I'm not a huge fan of repaints.
    Anyway I've started in on tearing it apart to clean everything up. It's always hard for me to get going but usually get more motivated as I go. This one will probably make or break my continued love for the silver ball.
    [quoted image]

    I would strip the cabinet down, including side rails & use Jasco stripper to remove the old paint & nastiness. Just did my Royal Guard pin cab & it turned out great with very little effort on paint removal. Now waiting until spring to paint....
    Looks like the pimp makes your stencils. .http://pinballpimpstencils.com/?page_id=3156

    #179 5 years ago
    Quoted from bob_e:

    Sometimes you find one on Craigslist of Facebook. Or networking with other pinheads.
    I saw a Bally Bow and Arrow for $400.00 but do I call it low end?
    What is the cut off point, $$$, for low end?

    Granted, the threshold for low end pin status is rising. $400 for a Bow & Arrow seems a bit high, but it IS a desirable game. I suppose it would depend on the cosmetics.

    #180 5 years ago

    I bought this non working beauty about a year ago for $300. At the time I thought it was a great deal. After getting it home and looking closer I started to doubt myself. I decided to send it to the exterminator to be safe and then restore it. It’s no longer a bargain, but it was worth it.

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    #181 5 years ago
    Quoted from Silverstreak02:

    I bought this non working beauty about a year ago for $300. At the time I thought it was a great deal. After getting it home and looking closer I started to doubt myself. I decided to send it to the exterminator to be safe and then restore it. It’s no longer a bargain, but it was worth it.
    [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    Wow, nice job!
    Does the baby sleep when you play?

    #182 5 years ago
    Quoted from Silverstreak02:

    I bought this non working beauty about a year ago for $300. At the time I thought it was a great deal. After getting it home and looking closer I started to doubt myself. I decided to send it to the exterminator to be safe and then restore it. It’s no longer a bargain, but it was worth it.
    [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    I see you corrected the flippers back to 2'

    #183 5 years ago

    True Story - I install a switch in the bottom of my EMs and put a break in the ground line for the chimes. Costs maybe $5 and 45 minutes of effort - Priceless for sleeping toddlers and the wives that'll take your head off if they wake up.

    I agree the low end designation is crawling up... I've seen almost nothing worth that designation in my area (or it's gone in the 30 minutes it took me to see it). Last thing that passed around here was a $300 Firepower (non-working). There was a $600 Jokerz listing that everyone and their mother messaged on but nobody heard a response. Is it still low end if it's just far undervalued - or is low end truly cheap and taking pride in the resurrection of a cheap beastie?

    #184 5 years ago
    Quoted from statictrance:

    True Story - I install a switch in the bottom of my EMs and put a break in the ground line for the chimes. Costs maybe $5 and 45 minutes of effort - Priceless for sleeping toddlers and the wives that'll take your head off if they wake up.

    Thought I was the only one!

    #185 5 years ago
    Quoted from dasvis:

    Wow, nice job!
    Does the baby sleep when you play?

    I share the game room with the baby. She isn’t around much, but she wins.

    #186 5 years ago
    Quoted from bob_e:

    I see you corrected the flippers back to 2'

    Yes the flippers, the plunger and several other missing parts.

    #187 5 years ago

    I manged to grab a Pat Hand and a Jolly Rodger last month for $100 Cdn each last month.....it'll be summer before I get to them but the deals are still out there. Just take a lot more time and, especially, good luck to score..

    #188 5 years ago
    Quoted from guard:

    I manged to grab a Pat Hand and a Jolly Rodger last month for $100 Cdn each last month.....it'll be summer before I get to them but the deals are still out there. Just take a lot more time and, especially, good luck to score..

    Wow - Nice LEP score! You don't get chances to pick them up this cheap too often. Gett'um while you can.

    #189 5 years ago

    I scored a Joust for 150.00 last week.

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    #190 5 years ago
    Quoted from jasonp:

    I scored a Joust for 150.00 last week.
    [quoted image][quoted image]

    Solid!

    2 weeks later
    #191 5 years ago

    Doodle Bug $250. Backglass almost perfect. Rest of the machine, not so much. But Playfield stripped, work has begun.

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    #192 5 years ago
    Quoted from DCRand:

    Doodle Bug $250. Backglass almost perfect. Rest of the machine, not so much. But Playfield stripped, work has begun.
    [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    was that factory with the wood inserts on the legs?

    #193 5 years ago
    Quoted from pinhead52:

    was that factory with the wood inserts on the legs?

    Weird, second one of those wooden leg reinforcement mods I have seen lately... never seen before.

    #194 5 years ago
    Quoted from pinhead52:

    was that factory with the wood inserts on the legs?

    Yep I’m sure garage factory. And the next mod I found might explain the bent leg. The never want this F—ng game to tilt mod.

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    #195 5 years ago

    At least they left the parts! Most times the plumb bob and ball are removed.

    #196 5 years ago

    From a dusty concrete basement, to my less dusty basement in the line up. Wish I could find more projects like this around here.

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    #197 5 years ago

    Not sure if this qualifies as a LEP. I recently bought back a 1979 Bally Silverball Mania that I had owned 25 years previously. Paid $325 and added MPU,rubbers,LEDs and bumper caps. I'm into it for less than $750.

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    #198 5 years ago
    Quoted from plumber802:

    Not sure if this qualifies as a LEP. I recently bought back a 1979 Bally Silverball Mania that I had owned 25 years previously. Paid $325 and added MPU,rubbers,LEDs and bumper caps. I'm into it for less than $750.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    I think you are in, $750 for an early Bally SS - especially with a playfield that's not blown out is a decent deal.

    #199 5 years ago

    How am I just now finding this? This is me I'm a LEP. What's the dollar cut offs for EM's, SS and System 11? My entire collection could be LEP?

    I have bought a few games for as low as $40, games $200 or less. Where do I start. I'm a sucker for a good deal or should I say a none working pinball machine that is priced cheap. I just picked up a EM Friday for $125 its dirty. I will clean it, I already have it partially working and at some point I may sell it to a high end LEPer I don't think it will make it as high as a Medium pin man?

    #200 5 years ago

    I'm not always a LEP man but there is a certain satisfaction in being one. It's always great finding a deal. And a lot of times a cheap project offers just as much fun as a regular pin. The other thing though is sometimes you feel an obligation to save some of them.

    There are 562 posts in this topic. You are on page 4 of 12.

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