For sale: Catacomb

I think the rarity of these machines are still in question. It has shown up for sale on Pinside 12 times, so they aren’t impossible to find. Also been a few on eBay.

#5 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

Look what's next to that catacomb head
Now that guys rare in anybody's book

#6 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Quoted from one-armed-bandit:
Look what's next to that catacomb head
Now that guys rare in anybody's book

Dragonfist? Not sure what’s on the right of the head.

#7 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

That's what it looks like

#8 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

A blue cab cheetah as well

#9 4 years ago

COL

Colsond3

Pinside+ Frequent

Langhorne, PA

9y 143K 9,136 7 1

Quoted from Powdevil:
I think the rarity of these machines are still in question. It has shown up for sale on Pinside 12 times, so they aren’t impossible to find. Also been a few on eBay.

It’s not ultra rare, but not a commonly found game either. Especially in very good condition. My buddy just sold a nice one with a cleared PF and new repro backglass.

#10 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

yea my cousins brothers friend once knew somebody that had one

#11 4 years ago

RVH

Multiball33

Pinside+ Frequent

Montpelier, VA

8y 66,300 201 1

Quoted from Powdevil:
Dragonfist? Not sure what’s on the right of the head.

Also a head for a nine ball. That's another rare game.

#12 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

I’m pretty sure Dragonfist is the rarest of the lot at only 302 made. Nine Ball was listed at 2279 units. Catacomb has been listed at over 3000 but some people have argued that serial number listings indicate somewhere in 800’s. 1223 Cheetahs made.

#13 4 years ago

MAT

smileymatthew

Pinside member

Grand Rapids, MI

11y 61,575 1,004 41 4

Don't forget about Viper as well being on the rare list.. along with Split Second.

#14 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Quoted from smileymatthew:Don't forget about Viper as well being on the rare list.. along with Split Second.

I’ve never seen production numbers on Split Second.. Viper at 438 is rare, and Star Gazer is fairly rare at 869.

#15 4 years ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from Powdevil:
I’m pretty sure Dragonfist is the rarest of the lot at only 302 made. Nine Ball was listed at 2279 units. Catacomb has been listed at over 3000 but some people have argued that serial number listings indicate somewhere in 800’s. 1223 Cheetahs made.

Quoted from smileymatthew:
Don't forget about Viper as well being on the rare list.. along with Split Second.

Dragonfist is the lowest unit produced at 302, as you stated.

There were 22 classic Sterns that used the MPU-200 board. Of the 22 names that were produced, there are production numbers for all but two.

There are no production numbers for either Catacomb and Split Second. From things that I had read, the "conventional" wisdom was about 2200 Catacombs produced. I did a write up a while back laying out my thoughts that were probably less than 1000 Catacombs produced and I am thinking the number is less than 900.

I also think there were around 950 Split Seconds produced.

We can for or against, but any reasonable guess can be can be brought forth since Stern did not provide production numbers for these two titles only. The burning question could be why did Stern not provide production numbers for just these two pins?

#16 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Anybody know the production numbers on Orbitor or Iron Maiden?

#17 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Viper is horrible bump

#18 4 years ago

RSG

tatman9999

Pinside+ Frequent

Lisle, IL

14y 113K 4,654 48 31

Don’t know but I want an Iron Maiden.

#19 4 years ago

COL

Colsond3

Pinside+ Frequent

Langhorne, PA

9y 143K 9,136 7 1

Quoted from tatman9999:
Don’t know but I want an Iron Maiden.

As do a lot of us. Haha. At just about 9 years in the hobby, I’ve only seen two of them in person.

#20 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

I've wanted to try to make myself put some time on iron maiden, never cared for it though.

#21 4 years ago

AMH

chubtoad13

Pinside member

11y 107K 2,015 52

Quoted from Powdevil:
Anybody know the production numbers on Orbitor or Iron Maiden?

According to ipdb:
Orbitor 1 - 889
Iron Maiden - 1200

#22 4 years ago

COL

Colsond3

Pinside+ Frequent

Langhorne, PA

9y 143K 9,136 7 1

Quoted from TheLaw:
I've wanted to try to make myself put some time on iron maiden, never cared for it though.

Bad? I’ve only played one game on it.

A guy in downtown Philly had one about 8 years ago when I first got in the hobby, wanted $600 for it. I didn’t know any better at the time, or how rare it was. Been kicking myself in the ass ever since.

#23 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Quoted from TheLaw:
Viper is horrible bump

I’ve heard it’s not a great player, but it has some of the best art in pinball.

#24 4 years ago

CRD

chad

Game Guy

11y 140K 15,145 9 5

Quoted from Colsond3:
As do a lot of us. Haha. At just about 9 years in the hobby, I’ve only seen two of them in person.

Same here!

#25 4 years ago

TKM

Daditude

Pinside Moderator

Rockwall, TX

5y 266K 10,116 23 271

Quoted from Powdevil:
Dragonfist? Not sure what’s on the right of the head.

Quoted from one-armed-bandit:
yea my cousins brothers friend once knew somebody that had one

Quoted from cottonm4:
Dragonfist is the lowest unit produced at 302, as you stated.
There were 22 classic Sterns that used the MPU-200 board. Of the 22 names that were produced, there are production numbers for all but two.
There are no production numbers for either Catacomb and Split Second. From things that I had read, the "conventional" wisdom was about 2200 Catacombs produced. I did a write up a while back laying out my thoughts that were probably less than 1000 Catacombs produced and I am thinking the number is less than 900.
I also think there were around 950 Split Seconds produced.
We can for or against, but any reasonable guess can be can be brought forth since Stern did not provide production numbers for these two titles only. The burning question could be why did Stern not provide production numbers for just these two pins?

Quoted from Multiball33:
Also a head for a nine ball. That's another rare game.

TPF will have a dragonfist, nine ball, and catacomb this year.

#26 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Iron Maiden has a lot of space taken up on the right side by its... I don't know what to call the shit over there...lanes, skill shots or whatever.
The real issue for is neither the bottom or upper playfield are that fun. I've only played the VFWs, but I've put a lot of games on it, but never seriously. So I've been meaning to really put some time In on it and see if I'm missing anything.

#27 4 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Quoted from TheLaw:
Iron Maiden has a lot of space taken up on the right side by its... I don't know what to call the shit over there...lanes, skill shots or whatever.
The real issue for is neither the bottom or upper playfield are that fun. I've only played the VFWs, but I've put a lot of games on it, but never seriously. So I've been meaning to really put some time In on it and see if I'm missing anything.

Viper and Iron Maiden are equally as bad. I think I would give the edge to IM. Both are disappointing as they have the best art of all the classic Sterns.

#28 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Wow, as bad as Viper. That was my fear

#29 4 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Quoted from TheLaw:
Wow, as bad as Viper. That was my fear

Again - I think it's a bit better, but not by much. I played on at Expo, and I at least got through 3 games this time. Last time I played Viper, I walked away.

#30 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

lightning ? not mamy made
joe joos jr
any love there

#31 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Meh on lightning

I'll put some games on IM this week to confirm its horriblness

#32 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Quoted from Methos:
Viper and Iron Maiden are equally as bad. I think I would give the edge to IM. Both are disappointing as they have the best art of all the classic Sterns.

Well, there’s always StarGazer.. She’s a looker and a player!

#33 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Stargazer is at the bottom of the top their for me good looking though

#34 4 years ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

I'm not naming names, but there is a Pinsider with a nice Stern Collection. He had an Iron Maiden and a Viper. And he sold both. I like his collection so when he sold those two pins, I kind of figured these were two to not worry about.

Someone asked about Lightning. Of the Sterns I have played and own, I consider Lightning to be a parts machine.

#35 4 years ago

DOC

DRDAVE

I've owned the Majority of the Classic Sterns and still own 12 keepers. 16 if you count multiples.
I've had 2 HUO Iron Maidens and 2 very nice Catacombs as well as 2 equally nice Dragonfists as well as 2 similar condition Lightnings.
I sold all of them within a few years of owning them as the gameplay was not for me.
I will say that Lightning was the best for gameplay out of the bunch.

#36 4 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Quoted from cottonm4:
I'm not naming names, but there is a Pinsider with a nice Stern Collection. He had an Iron Maiden and a Viper. And he sold both. I like his collection so when he sold those two pins, I kind of figured these were two to not worry about.
Someone asked about Lightning. Of the Sterns I have played and own, I consider Lightning to be a parts machine.

Which is disappointing (I also don't think it's very good) as it was designed by the same person who did Quicksilver.

#37 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Quoted from DRDAVE:
I've owned the Majority of the Classic Sterns and still own 12 keepers. 16 if you count multiples.
I've had 2 HUO Iron Maidens and 2 very nice Catacombs as well as 2 equally nice Dragonfists as well as 2 similar condition Lightnings.
I sold all of them within a few years of owning them as the gameplay was not for me.
I will say that Lightning was the best for gameplay out of the bunch.

I noticed you’ve had a Freefall also. Where do you rate it’s gamepay?

#38 4 years ago

DOC

DRDAVE

Oh yeah, forgot about those. Had 2 of those too.
Very pretty game and liked the Star Trek Enterprise looking area top middle.
But sold those as well shortly after restoring them up.
I would rate it more fun than Viper and Iron Maiden and Dragonfist and Catacomb though.
I'd still go Lightning for the win out of these "B" MPU 200 titles.

#39 4 years ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from Methos:
Which is disappointing (I also don't think it's very good) as it was designed by the same person who did Quicksilver.

Everybody has at least one piece of junk in their portfolio And Dr. Dave proves that there is a pin for everybody.

#40 4 years ago

REO

29REO

Pinside+ Addict

6y 63,050 319

Quoted from DRDAVE:
I will say that Lightning was the best for gameplay out of the bunch.

I’m scratching my head on this thought.

#41 4 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Quoted from DRDAVE:
Oh yeah, forgot about those. Had 2 of those too.
Very pretty game and liked the Star Trek Enterprise looking area top middle.
But sold those as well shortly after restoring them up.
I would rate it more fun than Viper and Iron Maiden and Dragonfist and Catacomb though.
I'd still go Lightning for the win out of these "B" MPU 200 titles.

You put Lighting ahead of Dragonfist?

#42 4 years ago

DOC

DRDAVE

I call Dragonfist the poor man's Star Gazer.

Too much delay of game syndrome with the later Stern Classics.

#43 4 years ago

ADS

getadam

Pinside+ Frequent

Montecito, CA

7y 61,300 186 52

Quoted from DRDAVE:
I call Dragonfist the poor man's Star Gazer.

No way! I have Dragonfist and Star Gazer and I don't think they play similar AT ALL. I love them both in very different ways. They are both A titles for me. And for sheer action and intensity I might even give the edge to Dragonfist. It's awesome.

#44 4 years ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from getadam:
No way! I have Dragonfist and Star Gazer and I don't think they play similar AT ALL. I love them both in very different ways. They are both A titles for me. And for sheer action and intensity I might even give the edge to Dragonfist. It's awesome.

Wait until you get a Catacomb. Once you figure out what the Bagatelle does for you, and how to play it, there is not much that is any better. The play field action is fast and very unforgiving. It is not a drain monster. It will pick your pocket, fair and square.

#45 4 years ago

WNP

Powdevil

Pinside member

Ok, now you’ve done it Dr. Dave, you’ve got the Stern Classic owners all stirred up!

#46 4 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Quoted from DRDAVE:
I call Dragonfist the poor man's Star Gazer.
Too much delay of game syndrome with the later Stern Classics.

Too each their own I guess. You are probably the only person the planet that things Lighting is the better game.

#47 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

No theres two
I happen to have maybe the worlds only
One handed playing lightning
But then all my games r

#48 4 years ago

POP

one-armed-bandit

Pinside member

one off
I got the rarest

#49 4 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Dragonfist like Stargazer, lightening the best classic Stern... It's drunk o'clock somewhere I guess

#50 4 years ago

DOC

DRDAVE