It was 1989 when I purchased my first pinball machine, a 1934 Rockola World’s Series to add to some vintage Coke machines. Back then, pinball parts were scarce. If you needed an obscure part, you fabricated it yourself or you did without. By 1998, I added a 1956 Gottlieb Derby Day, 1979 Stern Stars, 1981 Bally Medusa, 1973 Williams Upper Deck, a United shuffle alley and some classic arcade games. Below are some photos of my gameroom, circa 1998 (before digital photography was abundant).
I’ll never forget joining eBay in 1999 and entering a search for “pinball machine” in the field. Doing so would yield a few pages, at best. A seller, who was a stranger to me, was parting out a Rockola World’s Series. I contacted him to ask if he had the upper section of the shooter plate, which was missing from my game. It was a part which was commonly missing. He had the part! I offered to purchase the hard-to-find part. As a fellow prewar pinball enthusiast, he insisted on sending me the part and refused to accept payment. That small act of generosity made an impression upon me. It signaled to me that the passion of those who share this hobby is palpable. Ultimately,
I was able to send him a set of Rockola leg plates, as a token of my appreciation.
I am reminded of this story because so many here are eager to help others in the hobby. For example, a fellow Pinsider (bek1966), took it upon himself to send me several acorn post caps, knowing that I needed them for a restoration. They were sitting in an envelope in my mailbox this evening. Like many pinball enthusiasts, I have other hobbies. However, I know of no other hobby where the participants are so good-natured. This is doubly true of the EM collectors. I wonder if it’s because we’re essentially a bunch of adults, who now actually own the toys we so desired as kids? Whatever the reason, it’s grand.
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