Going to look at a Spirit of 76 tomorrow. The lock bar and glass is missing. The only bar that my internet search is currently turning up is at JT amusements. It is used and priced at $150. Does anyone know if PBR will get another run of these? From my research, part# seems to be GTB D-14008A
This would be my first EM. Should I steer clear?
What are they asking for the game? From a financial standpoint, most EMs are a tough sell at $500 and above, so subtract the cost of the glass (not hard to find, but just inconvenient to get), and the cost of a lockdown bar (which are not easy to come by) from what you believe the value is. You don’t want to be underwater on the game, especially when Gottlieb made boat loads of Spirits of 76s and it’s not hard to find another.
Quoted from Jeffery:Going to look at a Spirit of 76 tomorrow. The lock bar and glass is missing. The only bar that my internet search is currently turning up is at JT amusements. It is used and priced at $150. Does anyone know if PBR will get another run of these? From my research, part# seems to be GTB D-14008A
This would be my first EM. Should I steer clear?
PBR will not restock these. Options, convert to fin style or use a early 70s bar. You will eventually find the right bar for $100-125 etc.
if you are talking about the standard with button [round screws} type I have a couple of those that are slightly different but the buttons and the width are the same.
I could part with one if thats all you need at the moment. THrow me a message with a pic and we can see if I have the one you need. They ended up with me because they came on games I redid and they got new bars so these are very much spares to me.
Let me know!
If you are very patient, good with your hands and have lots of previous experience/education with other electrical and mechanical machines, then buying a fixer-upper for your first pin is a good move.
Otherwise, I personally recommend paying hundreds more for a fully working and complete one as your first pin. Often this can end up being cheaper in the end anyway and has a higher chance of starting off you entry into this hobby with more fun instead of frustrations.
Thanks for all the replies, this is a very helpful group. I will make some contacts if I am able to close a deal on the machine today.
spinal Not my first pin but would be my first EM, and I am very mechanically and electrically savvy, so these machines do not intimidate me.
Great group here! Thanks for making a newby feel welcome.
Quoted from ZNET:I have these 2 seventies lock down bars available. One is free of dents and really nice. The other has a couple of relatively minor imperfections. PM me if anyone is interested.
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Nice that you are offering these, I think the point here is the button style are very rare.... 
roughly speaking, button style were made for three years, shark fin style made for 8 maybe 10 years?
Would it be easier to change over to the fin style? I have found receivers and bars available. This seems like it could be the more economical way to go.
That being said, I have not given up the search for a button style bar.
Thoughts?
Quoted from Jeffery:Would it be easier to change over to the fin style? I have found receivers and bars available. This seems like it could be the more economical way to go.
That being said, I have not given up the search for a button style bar.
Thoughts?
Generally speaking, yes, converting both the receiver and the bar to the shark fin style is much more affordable and provides the same appearance as the original.
I know Steve said he’ll never make the button-style bars again. My understanding is the up-front cost to bankroll the tooling with a new fabricator is prohibitive. That said, I’d certainly pay $250-350 for a shiny new bar if a nice game was missing one.
Quoted from leckmeck:I know Steve said he’ll never make the button-style bars again. My understanding is the up-front cost to bankroll the tooling with a new fabricator is prohibitive. That said, I’d certainly pay $250-350 for a shiny new bar if a nice game was missing one.
My understanding is there are four dies needed to make the lockdown bar. He has three of them. The fourth went missing and that's the issue.
Quoted from EMsInKC:My understanding is there are four dies needed to make the lockdown bar. He has three of them. The fourth went missing and that's the issue.
Son-of-a-gun. That die is probably hiding with all its missing kids.
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Jefferson, OH
