They are dead... next it will be raids of collectors that have passed on. Sucks but that is kind of where we are at.

I was told from a guy that does it for a living about a year ago when I asked the same thing, and his answer was "your not looking hard enough". Perhaps that's true, but I don't have 24 hours a day to track down the same junk that your describing. My latest "raid" just happened this past January and it was two 10x24 storage lockers fully of pinballs, jukeboxes, antique radio stuff, one video game and tons of parts, playfields and backglass........
It night not look like much from these two pictures but trust me, a lot of stuff and I do mean ALOT of stuff.

John

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To your point, the big guys keep coming up with stuff; say the supply is endless but to your point, they are out there 24-7 and they will buy it all!

It’s like buying land or property. Those that have the money to buy, go out and buy in large amounts. It keeps the smaller buyers or collectors from ever seeing or knowing about these ”warehouse finds”. There are still a lot of old operators that have offices, warehouses and storage units full of arcades and pins, the problem is they usually sell the whole collection to one person. I’ve bought a few things from an old operator near me, but he wants top dollar for his stuff. Also, those that buy to flip are on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace and other sites every few minutes looking for their next find. That’s what makes it hard for the average collector to ever stumble upon a cheap game

The longer in the hobby, the more contacts are made, the larger the networking grows, and the more leads a person will receive.

As a result, opportunities will never become dead.

One of the most important aspects is established reputation with other collectors. People have to be willing to return favors not just take the goodies and run. The #1 mistake of new owners, and related constant level of selfishness that permeates this hobby today. It separates those that can find whatever they want including parts, and those that just wish but are not willing to do that extra bit of work. Older collectors can spot this foolishness from miles away, and will politely decline.

Example:
I was offered a Joust head to head pinball locally in exceptional cosmetic condition for restoration two days ago locally. I passed it to another, and ensure it not just be flipped in the secondary market for profit. It will go to a good home, and it will be cherished.

I was wondering the same thing. Can there possibly be any more warehouses left that have any pins that are in good shape that have been hidden away for years?

Not just warehouses but storage lockers, basements, sheds even garage sales ect... They are out there you just have to turn over plenty rocks to find em.

They are still out there..

Ive never even heard or seen any "warehouses" around in Sweden to raid, so i guess its pretty much an Amercian thing? or the ones we had here was raided a long time ago.

Or no one has been looking for them.

LTG : )

Hey Luzer, I think Lloyd is onto something! With some detective skills you could corner the Swedish market.

Start with old phone books. Look for operators. Contact them or their heirs.

LTG : )

Its further south...

Knowing my fellow Swedes, shit will be overpriced way beyond my wallet. >:C

For example, some 3 years ago i saved a Williams Jubilee out of a basement by me for 1000SEK (100USD) in dead condition, i had it for a year, got it up and running, fixed a new cover on the backbox, repainted parts of the playfield, then i traded it away in a deal with my Gamatron, now, 2 years later, i was today offered the same game, but its dead again, backcover i made is gone, and the backglass is cracked, for 5500SEK (650USD).

Over the course of 2 years that EM game got a 550USD raise in value, even when in worse condition then when i had it LOL

I’ve heard rumors about a large collection of arcades in a bsmt downtown under the old arcade location. Unfortunately no one has been able to shake any games free from storage. A couple different people have confirmed they’re there, but the owner doesn’t want to get rid of them. I’d imagine they’ll become available when the owner passes.

I know of a few warehouses size collections. One in PA, one in Ohio and one in Illinois. Problem is, they are for sale but the prices are unrealistic for non working stuff covered in rust and mold. Other problem is that they are all 95% arcades and other equipment, and not pins.

Two of the three locations are not people who care about preserving anything at all... Two old school auction houses that hoarded coin op equipment that was never picked up or never sold and abondoned by the owners.

I was pestering a local op for years to sell me stuff out of his packed storage building. His father was an op going back to the 1930s and the building was completely jammed with pins and games from the 1930s to the 1990s....long story short the building caught fire 2 years ago and everything in it was lost. No insurance either. Sucks!

I kept saying that about finding 60's-80's toy collections I kinda thought they were all sussed out by now but they keep showing up!

Less and less I’m afraid. But your first good hit is like “ chasing the dragon “! Here’s my magical moment from 3 years ago when I bought out long term op on the island!

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I had all those Atari System 1 boxes. Left in warehouse
As it got too hot to get it all out.

I'm still trying to track down a Peter Pack Rat kit.