I'm curious what you all think regarding play meter count when you look at a potential EM pin purchase. For example, say everything functions properly and all mechanicals appear in good shape and the playfield and cabinet are decent, minimal planking, etc. Does the number of plays really matter that much?
It might give you insight into its past maintenance. If it has a high number of plays, and yet looks great, it was well cared for. On the other hand, low play counts might be confusing as the meters sometimes failed during the many thousands of cycles. I would check the counter, but actual physical condition is more of a factor for assessing a game for me.
To me it is an indicator but that's all! I once asked a used car dealer 'how many miles on it'-his reply 'how many would you like on it'. I think that sums it up!! 
I don't care what the meter reads. Half the time they don't even work. If they do, I'm not sure if it had 32,854 plays or 132,854. Either way, if it looks nice and plays great, doesn't really matter at that point.
Just like the score reels, it can be rolled over and over again. But it does give me a special feeling when the machine still has one.
Quoted from Noobee:So what is the highest number anyone has seen?
It depends on how many digits the play meter has. I have one with only four. So the highest that one goes is 9999. But we are a long way from that!
Quoted from Noobee:Yeah, I mean total play meters with six digits...
Six eh? Well most of mine have five. But I will let you know when I see one get to 99999.
I would expect that no one would be adding plays to a meter on purpose. I suppose the meter could malfunction and add more than one per play. I guess the number would more likely be less than the actual number rather than more, so I just wondered what the highest number of plays on a six digit meter anyone has seen, that's all.
Quoted from Noobee:Hmmmm.... All three of my mid-seventies Gottlieb machines have 6 digits.
You're right! My Solar City is the only one I have with 6 digits. 070853 is what it reads. But I do have higher numbers on some of my 5 digit counters.
1972 Gottlieb King Rock with over 220k plays. Judging by some of the smashed coil stops I replaced I would believe this to be not too far off. Nonetheless, I recently finished a 1977 Williams Liberty Bell with significantly less plays. Comparison? Gottlieb's are really built "like a rock" compared to others.
P1010460.jpg
P1010494.JPGQuoted from Noobee:Sweet! Why are there two counters?
The story I've heard is one is for plays and the other is for coin drop.
Quoted from MikeO:The story I've heard is one is for plays and the other is for coin drop.
Ah that makes sense, thanks.
Quoted from Noobee:Wow, hoov, that's a pretty impressive collection of Gottliebs, past and present! I'm jealous...
I'm just small potatoes....if I only had more money and more room *yawn*
Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/play-meter-count-how-important-is-it and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.
Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.
High Falls, NY
