Wow why am I not surprised at all? Haha

Thank you for your honesty! Saving a lot of us a lot of trouble, money and time wasted.

Excuse my ignorance, but I just really don't get what Gene's plans were? What is the point in hoarding 400 pins in a leaky barn? Or did he just never sell them because he was delusional about what they were worth?

My impression was he had NO plans. He was an obsessive owner and buyer. He did not play pinball, he merely bought them to own so he coudl say he had them.

Gene was a Bally collector. He loved Christiansen artwork too. Has anyone seen the "woofer room" in the house? DC painted that room.

I wish I could have bought a couple games for the Ann Arbor museum. The zaccaria magic castle (or time machine or robots, but i dont think he had those) and the Bally transporter in particular. Maybe one other. *sigh*

I would like to rescue all 3 Jungle Lords and the nicer Gold Rush.

Wait there are zaccarias in there? I'm in.

Damn, I would love one of those baseball machines but I don't have the space or time to divest myself of all the other machines in the lot just to get one. And, honestly, the average cost is a bit high for a bulk buy of untested machines for me to even consider it.

It's awesome to see these back in circulation, though. I wish Clay could have gotten a few, as well, since I've seen firsthand that they would be well-treated and actually played.

I am sure some of them will quickly pop up on the resale market. Those that bought likely intend to try and resell what they are not keeping. Those that also bought will likely realize that most games need some major love and will need to get rid of some.

I don't think it's part of one of the lots, but if it is I would be interested in the original Viper Night Drivin' prototype playfield that is above machine 192. As far as I know, no protos of that particular machine style still exist, and it is completely unusable, so I don't want to pay some stupid amount for it (I have passed on one in the past for $600). If you end up with it and are interested, contact me.

I feel sort of silly even asking, as I'm not a packrat for that sort of thing, as Gene totally was. While I have a bunch of machines folded up in storage right now, almost all were working when placed there, and in a year or so we hope to un-place them there and set them up in a new basement

There were only two, Magic Castle and Supersonic.

good enough for me, even if it's trashed, I can use it for parts for my magic castle.

Think I spotted a Devil Riders Head in the lot 10 pictures.

Is Gene left with anything?

Memories?

Yes you did, that is the one I saw too but the only one I saw. Which if it has a nice BG in it, i'd take that too.

Also see a Zaccaria Circus head. (2 of them)

No backglass on the Devil Riders head (see very last picture)
Also the body of the Devil Riders is in picture 22

I think that Gene loved the status that owning them brought. If you said to him that you really liked a machine, chances were very high that he had it. He also knew that a lot of people were really impressed when he told them that he had a collection of more than 800 machines (which it was at one time).

He was always willing to deal, but his prices were always pretty inflated. I believe that was because of the status that went with owning the machines, he needed a really good reason to part with that status, which would in turn only earn him more status. If you have 800 machines and you're selling the hunk of garbage you got above market prices, then that is worth it - I can flip them for more than you can! But, if you can't it eliminates that.

In many ways, I think that Gene's life revolved around Gene trying to set up a legacy for himself. He wanted to be known as the guy with the largest pinball collection, the guy who could always make a great deal, and who would run a very successful pinball company when the others could no longer make it.

I think more than anything, that's why he owned as many machines as he did. The human condition is an interesting thing. Sad, really.

also, keep in mind, Gene bought a lot of these from warehouse raids. Just buy all their crap in one cheap lump. Just had to find a place to jam it in. With no real intent on doing anything with them. Just picked out the game or two he wanted, but they are so cheap, doesn't hurt to take them all.

The hell you say. i would like the magic castle to get it working at the A2 pinball museum!!

I'd help you fix it Clay. I'd bring a big can of WD-40. Maybe a full gallon to overcome the animal piss stench.

I'm just saying if it's waterlogged and trashed with everything corroded underside. I would never part out a zac if its' even remotely salvageable.

Hell i'm restoring a locomotion right now that is in some rough shape.

True, although MOST of us that get games in warehouse raids go, "Hey, I really only want these two, so here is the rest for sale!" Not, "Hey, I really want these two, I'll just take those other 40 too, why not?"

you do when you get them for $50 each if you do it that way so the place doesn't have to clean them out.

You missed my point. You and about 20 others would have received a call on the way home to see who I could unload those 50 other machines on people right away so they wouldn't sit in suboptional conditions wasting away to worthless junk. I would have taken them, yeah - but then I would have gotten rid of them. Did that once

Wow is right. And although there is definitely a market for these and remakes of the high dollar B/W games, there is a more urgent need for remakes of game specific mechanical parts that leave other B/W machines inoperable. Parts that have been listed as not in stock on PPS and BAA and other vendors websites for some time, and not looking to be available any time soon.

I agree with this assessment. Gene reminds me of several family members actually. Not everyone is in a hobby/business to make bucks, Gene just likes to possess things. I toured his collection while it was still cool, while he still had the PB2K prototype games and he was actively manufacturing the BBB.

If you were a lowly pinball collector and willing to trust Gene with a deposit on BBB you knew he was going to take care of you in the end. And he did, popular speculation is he lost money on that deal and all those games were delivered as promised. If you were a fellow businessperson involved in the industry you were likely to not fair as well. I have learned my lesson to even mention Gene's name around some of those folks, and I have no doubt they have very legitimate gripes with the way he did business.

In the end there are 171 people that should be grateful for Gene's legacy in pinball. And maybe some of the games that Rick is salvaging will go on to a second life.

Congo gorilla parts? Especially since that silly game is actually somewhat popular now...

Shadow diverter parts? That game is also somewhat popular now. There are many other examples of certain parts that are known to break that are becoming unobtainable like ToM and Judge Dredd gearboxes and motors. What good is the machine when those parts huck?

Congo is the hot, hot ,game .right now !! More than somewhat popular..

Whysnow, I bought plenty of containers back in the day. This is a beauty pageant compared to some of the stuff I ended up with. In this case you actually have pictures and can view before buying. I think he is being reasonable given the situation. If I was closer, who knows I might of bought a lot just for some fun...

yep, aside from the bland theme which i do not like, the gameplay, flow, PF layout is pretty much perfect. one of the best. lot of great shots and variety.

im guessing the cream of the crop. : (

Some of the prices for the indvidual machines are quite amusing. What sophisticated software package was used to determine these prices?

Funny thing is that I was in the silicon valley a few days ago and will be in Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine territory in a few days. All by car.

Hi, I am curious if anyone knows where I can get woodrail legs for a 1948 woodrail pinball machine.... if so, PLEASE email me, it would be greatly appreciated.... thank you in advance