Quoted from goatdan: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.
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.
Gilbert, AZ
