If I can ever get my work van back from the body shop, I'll be able to concentrate on getting my gameroom back in order. I might be able to host something on a weekend if there is any interest.

LOL, another project to finish at another time.

Says the sosage.

Getting closer to getting my life back in order, finally got my van back from the body shop yesterday. Yay! Once I get caught back up, I can join in on a pinball System 80 open house. I'll keep y'all posted here.

Oye! I'm gonna go trout fishing in the Sierras Thursday and check back in on Monday for work. Have fun guys, I know I will.

This trip will be up to and around Markleeville (I like that little town). I need to see how high the water is before deciding whether to try some other spots I know of later. Starting this week, I switch my hours and go to a 4 day work week. Come Thursdays, I'm gone every weekend until the end of September. I do this every year.

I kick off the year each year with a camping trip for an "all guy trip" with kids, we all go up and have a great time for the weekend. The great part is that it looks like they stocked this week so the fishing should be good for the kids too. All this depends on how much rain they got this week to muddy up the water.

The next weekend trip might be to the Pitt river off hwy 5, haven't been there in a long time but I'm not sure yet. Life's too short people, enjoy it.

LOL, getting too old for that. 4x8's is more my style.

I heard, I'm heading out the door now to see for myself. I love waking up on the river and having a good breakfast before a long day of losing hooks.

Well, fishing was great for the kids (as I hoped it would be during a plant week) and for anyone that knows how to do catch and release for rainbow trout. You had to go through a lot of bait and hooks to get to the bigger fish, most of the plants were in the 6" to 8" range. I must have caught and released over 50 small trout (each day) last weekend. Went through 3 jars of salmon eggs and over 50 #12 hooks. Water was still swift but a little low for this time of year but not too bad, there were still plenty of deep holes for the fish to hide in (also for us to cool off in).

The fun. Friday was filled with weather surprises (all other days were normal). It started out beautiful, but by 2:30pm, it had clouded over. The next thing we knew, it was hailing ice marbles at us. I kept fishing. Then it got a little warmer, the hail turned to slush balls and rather large cold rain drops. Though drenched, with water pouring off my hat and down my back, I kept fishing. However, around 4:30pm, I stopped fishing when I couldn't bait up a hook from the shivering ( coming to my senses). By 5:30pm, it cleared up and I went back out to continue the fun (after a dry clothes change).

The bad (for the trout and other fishermen who care). I saw a lot of people fishing that didn't seem to care that handling a small trout (that you didn't want to keep) with your hands to rip out a hook isn't catch and release, just because you toss it back into the water. Nobody wanted to spend the extra time needed to tie on a new hook if the hook was too deep in the fish. Sure it'll swim away ... only to roll over and die where you don't see it. I saw a lot of dead trout floating around that were done by this method (sigh). Off my soapbox now.

The good part is that we got some larger trout (about 14" keepers), and I caught one about 16". I was real happy to see a lot of young trout (4" to 6") that were native German Browns, I haven't seen them in this river (east/west fork Carson) in some time (except for plants). I'm hoping that in a few years, there will be many more of them spawning there. No Cutthroats were seen this trip.

Well, what have I missed while out of action?

You'd have to have been around a long time to known a lot of these guys, they are a quiet bunch. Some of the collectors I knew back when I started (1973) aren't around anymore or stopped collecting. There were just a handful of us in the Bay Area so there was no competition to get games. Richard runs a very nice "Hotel California" for pinballs.

Back when I was running a route, TZ's were a flop after they came out. Once I had a package of 4 of them offered to me for $500 each, I had to pass because of cash issues at the time. I did get quite a few good deals back then though, some of them, I still have. If I'd only known then what I know now.

If you couldn't tell, I'm bored and home all week.

Yeah, you, me and everyone else. I'd be working on games but the doc told me no lifting for a while. This means I can't even set up the games I've been meaning to from the PAGG show (that's how far behind I am right now on my games), maybe on Sunday. So ... I get to hang out on the computer for a while each day and also play some pinball. Got some CAD circuit board work done so it hasn't been a total loss.

Wow, what a game. Didn't know BH was also a System 1 game.

My neck and head now hurt, thanks.

The first 3 came out sideways, the last was upside down.

I have a working great, red cabinet MGoW for sale at $800 in Castro Valley. Game has been sold, thanks.

Steve

I'm hoping to make it too.

Steve

Sounds like you need a stunt double for one of your trips.

Steve

EM, early SS, or DMD? Fixer upper or shopped/working?

Steve

I'm going to try to make it.

Steve

LOL, yep, know him. He's not an internet type guy, he just likes to poke at some of the cheap collectors/flippers he's had to deal with when he was selling off some of his games.

Steve

I'm starting out behind again. Wait a minute ... isn't it a little early to be ramping up for this? I usually start my pinball preps around New Year at the earliest. You're right though, it seems PAGG has Spirit again this coming year!

Steve

Don't know about playing but I will be tinkering all day in the gameroom. I have a few games I'd like to get the hood down on before the holidays begin.

Steve

Luckily, I was into pinball before I had a wife, she just ignores my collecting habit as long as I ignore hers (though I'm sure she wishes I'd have stuck with collecting pocket watches).

Steve

LOL, you had me looking at my phone this morning thinking I'd lost a day. Back to work on my Bounty Hunter.

Steve

I agree, contact Mike, he'll fix them. I have a phone number for him, PM me if you need it Anth.

Steve

Lazer Ball for sale at a SFBA "moving sale" for anyone interested.

sfbay.craigslist.org link

Steve

I've actually got my gameroom coming back together, just need to get a few more games working correctly, a playfield swap completed, also a couple of friends games shopped and out of here. Then I was thinking about doing a Pinside open house, I'll update later once I feel more comfortable on a date and time. Anyone interested in playing a bunch of old System 80 games? I know these games aren't everyone's "cup of tea" but I like them, just trying to have something different.

The "up and running" list so far, The Amazing Spiderman, Volcano, Pink Panther, Goin' Nuts, Spirit, Rocky, Black Hole, Mars, God of War, Rack Em Up, Alien Star, Time Line. And the one odd ball, Joust (because there's no good place to store it ... and it's fun) Have to fix Punk, Counterforce, Bounty Hunter, Devil's Dare. I don't know if I have the room for more System 80's at this time but I'll pack more in if I can clear some space.

Steve

Thanks Eric. This year at PAGG, there'll be a lot of Spirit. And a few others.

Steve

Yup, bought it a long time ago when nobody wanted any System 80 games. I also have a System 80 test piece version of The Incredible Hulk along with a solid state Gottlieb test piece version of Solar city.

Steve

Yes, that's mine.

Steve

This sentence just sunk in. Are you doing okay now? A 6 week restriction isn't something small, my Gaul bladder removal was only a 10 day no lifting restriction. They must have had to open you up good, what happened if I may ask? (you don't have to post this if you don't want to). I hope for a speedy recovery.

Steve

Ah, yep, that'll do it. Some of those stomach repairs take a lot of recovery time.

Steve

LOL, well, I'm glad you're doing better now.

Steve

Um, cars are heavier, buy a forklift.

Steve

LOL, you're killin' me man. I gotta get through Christmas and New Year first. I do have 2 Spirits at my house for the show now.

Steve

Well I do have 2 of them here now, mine and another, I'm just going through it for the show. If all goes well, there should be 9 Spirits at PAGG this year. If someone were looking for one, that'll be the time to talk a collector out of theirs.

Steve

I know it's a short notice thing but I'll have a little free time tonight if someone wants to drop by, can't fit a big crowd in though. PM for address.

Steve

Sure, I kinda figured the short notice would kill this, but you never know. Sorry about that gang, I'll try to make plans next time and not shoot from the hip. It'll give me more time to get a few more games working.

Steve

Yay, I just gained 21 days.

Steve

LOL, yeah he does.

Steve

What is the part# on the CPU board that High Speed uses? I might have one on the shelf from my route-op days, I'd have to look.

Steve

Nope, just looked, no System 11 boards at all, must have sold them all off. The only William's boards I have are a CPU and driver for a System 7 game, I was saving them as spares for my Joust.

Steve

I'm on the fence with regards to my TZ but it may be up for sale at PAGG, not sure. Can anyone give me an idea as to a good price range for it. I think mine looks fairly nice and has no playfield wear that I can remember (hasn't been stood up in 2 years, that's guiding my decision too) and it's an unmolested game, that is, no mods or LED's. PM if you'd like to come by and look at it, let's talk. Gotta move some games out of the way to get to it though. TIA,

Steve

Any one else going to leave a comment on this link site?

Steve

I always thought pinball brought people together with a common bond.

Steve

As someone who lives in an estrogen-fest household , I think an all female pinball league is a great idea. Maybe someone can talk my daughters into joining it, I think they'd have fun.

Steve

Canoe, row, ski, tug, fishing, ocean liner or aircraft carrier sized? Filled with tokens, yen, spare change or bills?

Steve

Thanks Jose, this is good info.

Steve

I have a TZ that doesn't get played much anymore (owned it since '97), just not sure about selling it yet.

Steve

I did the board work on that Pink Panther, it'll hold up through just about anything.

I think that if a reasonable offer is made on it, it'll sell. I'm actually surprised that it's still there, I guess nobody knows how hard it is to find a clean example of that title.

Steve

I think the guy selling it is going to regret his decision when he decides to try and find another one later. He already sold a couple of other rare System 80A games recently. Oh well ... his choice.

Steve

Usually, I'm away on fishing trips during the summer so I miss this show. This year, I can't even get away to fish. I have my own version of CA Extreme, I'm stuck down in San Luis Obispo dealing with my cousin's estate. Looks like my family has a lot of this type of weekend coming at us this year. My cousin made the TV show Hoarders look tame. There will be lots of dumpsters in my future. Unfortunately, my cousin didn't hoard any money.

Steve

Yep, it's been a PITA but I keep finding old family pictures stashed away in the garbage and rat debris. I don't know how my cousin lived like that all these years. As a family member died, he's just add their belongings to the pile and fill up a room.

So far, the most interesting thing I've found was an old pocket diary (with soldier picture tins) from the civil war dated around 1861 that his grandmother left when she died. The interesting notes in it were that my cousins great, great grandfather was in a Confederate hospital as a prisoner and he documented a lot of soldiers that came in all shot up, had legs amputated and then died after.

My brother was on line looking up the names as we'd read what happened, some of the death dates on line don't match up to the diary so I think this will probably get corrected. I'm going to donate it to a civil war museum when I get clear of all this mess.

Steve

I'm looking to make a little room in my garage but I don't have any of the games you listed. Just a nice unused TZ and maybe a couple others.

Steve

Nope, not on my "possibly cut at Christmas" list. I have duplicates of Caveman and James Bond that'll be on my list with TZ and a couple of NeoGeo 4 slots. Not sure what else, gotta look around a little. You're welcome to come over and dig. I have a few woodrails that will go too.

Steve

I had to stop working on my stuff when my cousin died. I still need more time to deal with the mess he left down south. I'm taking a break this weekend from it all.

Steve

Looks like a fun game.

Steve

Damn, I was already to drive over tonight and load up my van.

Steve

Was it on an extension cord?

Steve

I went for the simple guess, I've had extension cords give me reset issues before.

Steve

looks like the backglass is in need of a lot of attention to me. It's unusual enough that I would have bought it a while back but I'd like to thin the herd a little instead. My TZ will be the first one to go. I've had it since 97 and it just sits now. If anyone local is interested in it, PM me and we can dig it out from all the other games.

Steve

LOL. I was cruisin' through CL and saw my old Steinway square grand piano is up for sale again, it came up under the pinball search. We sold that piano years ago when we found out it could no longer be tuned up because the castings were too brittle to adjust it anymore. We originally bought it for $300, man has that gone up in price. It was cool to own for a while but it was like a giant lawn ornament stuck in our living room.

Steve

What, are you a groundhog? I don't want a long winter.

Steve

Yes, Happy New Year to everyone.

Steve

Yep, I know I should have some games to sell at PAGG unless they go sooner than the show like last year.

Steve

sfbay.craigslist.org link

This pinball looks interesting, anyone going to check it out in Mountain View this weekend? Good luck to someone. Boogie by Allied Leisure, solid state, never heard of it and there are no pics in the database. This one probably doesn't work and may be missing the playfield glass but it looks to be in real nice shape from the pic.

Steve

Boogie by Allied Leisure.jpg

Alright! It shouldn't be too hard to get those last issues cleaned up, did it come with a manual? I look forward to playing it at the PAGG show, I knew it would be a good deal for someone. I probably have a spare playfield glass here if you need one, just PM me for my address, come by and get it.

Steve

Please post a pic of the part you need, I may have it.

Steve

LOL, actually, you haven't seen it all either. I didn't show you the shed, 2 closets, 3 car garage and a warehouse that a friend owns that we have parts in.

Steve

Owning a house is all about priorities. Move into house, set up game room, the other rooms will wait.

Steve

A lot of times, those tubs are on their own circuit (they're supposed to be). I'd check the breakers and then look inside the service hatch at the tub to see where it's plugged in at. It may have a GFCI that needs to be reset.

Steve

You never played my 7 digit BH at PAGG then, in all the years I've brought it there, it always performed. If you played it, I guess you forgot then.

Steve

I have a different line up this year planned (if I have the time) so I'd ask you to bring yours (unless we want to do a BH assembly line reunion like we did with Spirit last year )

Steve

I have an Alltek board you can borrow Rob, come by and get it.

Steve

I use 1 1/2" ABS pipe to move games around in my van.

Steve

I have a '68 Bally Dixieland listed in the marketplace, PM if anyone is interested.

Steve

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/ad/23628

I ran route locations from '83 to 2000. In '98, I had someone come into one of my bars and shoot it up. Luckily, nobody was hit but he hit the center of the CPU board of my brand new NGG. Weeks later, someone was gunned down outside that same bar, I think it may have been the same guy. It was that incident that got me started thinking about getting out of the route op business which eventually I did. I may still have the CPU board around here somewhere, if I dig it up again, I'll post a pic.

Steve

Some are odd or strange but I have many more ...... unfortunately. If I post them here, I'll have nothing to talk about at the shows.

Steve

I thought he was just trying to increase his Pinside posting stats. Hey look! There's a Pink Panther over here waiting for you to check out.

Steve

I'm not surprised, when I had route locations that had older and new games in them, in some cases the older ones did better. I liked that because they paid for themselves right away and I wasn't in the hole for a while like with the newer games.

Steve

Geez, that sucks. Well at least he's getting it out of the way before the PAGG show. Get well soon Spencer.

Steve

LOL, HUH???

Steve

That does cut out a heck of a lot of good games he could own. The only game that comes close to fitting his criteria is Golden Arrow (except the flippers are 3", not 2"). I do have a few EM's that I can sell but they all for the most part involve boobs in some way.

Steve

PM sent to Steve.

Steve

Hi guys, I'm still here. I just haven't felt much like posting much since I blew out my back. I just wanted to drop in and say hi to everyone before I go back to sleep from all the drugs my doctors have me on.

Steve

If the game is coming from Rob (which it appears to be) I wouldn't worry, he's one of the good guys out there.

Steve

Happy New Year to all.

Steve