I was with IPB back in 2006 during a business trip in US. Driving all the way from Chicago to Bloomington. Saw the collection with the P2000 protos and the building of BBB.
Tons of B/W parts, mouldings etc. so I was thinking: if somebody could start a production of spare parts, the could make big money, but Gene just seemed to me just proud to have all these things and not really interested in going into big business with reproduction. These would have required skilled people and not just family business i saw there.
I was already collecting Capcom Pins back from 2004 as they were fun to play and cheap in Europe as the spare parts situation with Capcom was not good at that time. And i was always fascinated of BBB, "the holy grail of pinball", a lot of people said.
As Gene announced the remake at Pinball Expo for USD 4500, i needed money for other things, and when i asked Gene during my visit how much he wants for a machine (as some people stepped back from the pre-orders), the told me USD 10000, which was even more way out of my budget.
But I had a good relationship with Kim and was able to order some BBB stuff, an unpopulated playfield, cabinet art, a tube dancer, etc. I met Gene a second time during Expo 2013, when he had his sale a few miles from the Expo Hotel. There, i was able to buy a fully populated BBB main ramp for USD 100 from him.
Only 2 pics attached, as the collection pics have already been posted and mine look the same. Me in the middle between Gene and one of his helpers, called The Other Guy (TOG). I have been told by him, that he has the records which playfield number is in which cabinet (as they do not match, except the first few ones) and the P2000 line-up.
Regarding the exact numbers of BBBs which have been produced by IPB: as far as i know, there is a "regular" run from #1 to #193 or 196 (??? - correct me if wrong), and as there were some playfields, cabinets and parts left, 16 machines have been made afterwards, starting with EXPP#1 to EXPP#16 - this was the last BBB which have been produced. This last one has been imported to Europe. It has a plague "the last one produced", signed by Gene. (Pic attached)
Anyone around who has EXPP#1 to EXPP#15? This would be interesting to confirm the story.
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Victoria, BC
West Chicago, IL
