I’m on the fence about driving in for this. Is there a chance to preview the day before? Is it safe to assume the lesser stuff will go up first? I guess I could come in and do my laundry while waiting for the couple of things I want to bid on come up. Will there be a beer cart? I’ve been to some fun and lively auctions where there was.

I will, and I’ll wear a name tag and introduce myself.

Okay, just completed the drive in from St. Louis. The first couple of hours was in the rain, but the sun is shining, birds are singing. What became of the preview?

I played a bunch of these in the laundromat a few weeks ago. They all functioned as one would expect. They sucked all of the change out of my pocket as they were designed to do. I think the sleeper in the lineup was The Big Hurt. It played exceptionally well.

Wow, this auction sure stirred up some opinions. The bottom line is that this auctioneer was the one that Dan chose to sell his machines. I’ll be attending, as I enjoy both pinball machines and auctions, it will be a great way to spend a couple of hours on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. I’d like to meet other Pinsiders, if you see an old fat guy wearing a camo ball cap, that may be me. (This is the Midwest, almost every old guy wears a camo ball cap)

I had fun, didn’t buy any pins, just a few old partially populated playfields. One was a Comet with an original unbroken Skee Ball ramp. (Or whatever it’s called) I know that Mark is making new ones, but you don’t find them intact very often.

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That Big Hurt appeared to be in great shape and played well. While the theme doesn’t do anything for me, it’s a lot of pin for the money.

One of the things I enjoyed about the auction was meeting and talking with other pinball enthusiasts. In the first batch of five machines, there was a collective gasp when the high bidder selected an Eight Ball Deluxe over the perceived front runner, Mario Brothers. Who knows what another guy’s grail pin might be? It was a drizzly, overcast day and I had nothing else planned. I must say that I thouroughly enjoyed my self.

So Jay, when is your next “sucky” pinball auction? I’ll surely attend, as I thoroughly enjoyed myself.and I drove a little under 7 hours for this one. I had been conversing with Dan about his auction for a little over two months. I really wanted a Spy Hunter, but it stayed next door.

For me it’s the same as going fishing or hunting, I easily could go to the market and buy all of the fish or meat I’d ever want or need. The point is, it was good, cheap entertainment. I also ended up with a lifetime supply of lane dividers for $20.

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