Oh no... it’s outside. Look at the windows and the outdoor condensing unit in front of it.
Sad. Thing looks beat to hell.
Laser War deserves better!

That’s heartwarming. You should invite him to come play it sometime, or perhaps extend an invite to the nearest local pinball show. I’ve done that to several locals I’ve bought games from. You won’t be a nuisance. If they’ve owned a pinball machine for that long, and sold it, usually they didn’t have the skills to fix it, but otherwise genuinely enjoy the game!

This might be the greatest thing I've ever read on Pinside. Thanks for posting, and congrats!

Williams Seven Up
$100
North Kingstown, RI

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/394700418966221/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A6bb2717e-c818-4500-bb36-ebca18e8259b

Nice story, did you tell him it’s worth 6 or 7x what he’s asking? If everyone left happy I guess it doesn’t matter but you got the deal of a lifetime if you got it at $200.

OMG - do you have a discussion with the seller for everything you buy and enlighten them that they should charge you more?

They are adults and people do things for a multitude of reasons - if you don’t do a bit of market research you can sell too cheap OR buy too high. No one is obligated to do research for a negotiating party...

Nanny State USA rolls on I suppose

At ease Francis. I figured since they were braiding each other’s hair.. I bought a world fair advertised for $50 and paid the guy more than he was asking by multitudes but less than it was worth with us both knowing the value.

Good idea I think I'll do that! Yeah he didn't do much work on it but said he had a local tech come by whenever it needed a tune up until the tech quit making house calls. The only thing not working is the roto target which gets stuck occasionally so I've got to look at that.

Actually he brought it up to me, said someone messaged him before me and told him current and restored values. He said he wasn't concerned about the money, what really mattered to him was that it was going to someone who could give it a good home. And yes, I did give him more money than he was asking, he was thankful and asked if I'd have enough money for gas and lunch for the way back.

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed reading it. I'm always interested in the history of the machines I get but rarely do I get this much info. Was a good pick-up for sure!

And just to close this out and get back to the projects, here is the playfield and backglass. Set it up as soon as I got back home and enjoyed a few games with some family. Marker art courtesy of his kids/grandkids haha

885A6ED0-A14B-404E-9233-2FC1830DD557 (resized).jpeg

EEF6A145-FCD0-45C9-987C-E435A71A2C31 (resized).jpeg

You scored, dude!

I had been looking for a cowpoke for years and ended up buying one 900 miles away for a lot more than that. It was really rough but made it more rewarding to restore.

80A17643-5714-4FF3-B4F0-64D42CB1DCCC (resized).jpeg

9305DF98-DBBF-4021-930F-C6FED906E00A (resized).jpeg

BDBB34FA-495D-4722-A2A8-C490768AA33F (resized).jpeg

Beautiful! Nice work!

You don’t happen to have an extra apron do you?

Hello John_in_NC is it possible to share the odd playfield in the background?
I can not figure it out. Regards.

Gottlieb “Big house” (Ss)

Sorry no extra apron for cowpoke

Great pick up! Congrats! Awesome back story also. This is what makes this thread awesome! Getting pins in the hands of those that appreciate them most!

This was the one I scored for John! Held it till he picked it up. Let’s be real, for an highly desirable EM, it wasn’t like it was Banning, sky high pricing.

The self-proclaimed “Crazy Cat Lady” who I got it off of (who was a huge flake and it took 4 tries to get her to show up and actually sell it) had the game for many many years.

When I picked it up and we were talking I promised her when it was finished, I’d show her the restoration and she could see what great hands the game was in. The game could live a new life with someone who truly appreciated it and was skilled enough to give it the treatment it deserved. She was thrilled when I sent her your restoration work, and called me very excitedly. She shared the pictures with her family who grew up with it in the house.

She ended up coming to my pinball show and having a great time, despite the fact we weren’t able to get a Cowpoke!

29CFF11F-4397-4939-A433-E79ADE94789A.jpeg

B5D3C8F6-6FE1-4028-ADCC-1B2DFB68A0C0.jpeg

Is hibid.com down for everyone else? I was following a machine on there, but I haven't been able to access the site for a few days now.

It is working fine for me.

Williams Liberty Bell
$100
Wilmington, NC
OP: "I have a 1981 Williams pinball machine that has been in my family for 40 years. Time to pass it on. "

wilmington.craigslist.org link

Was this one in a storage unit a bit north of Saratoga?

I think it was

Weird - must be something about my browser

Have you picked up a computer virus? I just managed to get rid of "Search Marquis" the other day.

I looked at it a couple of years ago while attending the Saratoga show. Woman met us at the storage unit. Game was directly on the floor at the front of the unit. Thought it was pretty rough, so I made her a commensurate offer. She thought it was worth a lot more, so we left and headed back to the show.

Their parent company got hit by a ransomware attack this weekend. Just came back up this evening.

It was rough, cabinet painted over with structural issues, flaking backglass, water damage, playfield planking and paint loss. Took a lot of love but worth it.

BC3FCC28-943E-4541-8735-B6E6F1D90BD0 (resized).jpeg

Ah makes sense - it's back up now for me too now

Did Bluespin take a vacation? Lol no posts in about 5 days or so. Odd

Maybe headed up to York, but I didn't see him there. I met him once, but don't remember what he looks like.
Lotsa guys I missed meeting again, eg. @irishbastard, @gotemwill, I've met gdonovan before, but didn't see him there either.
Hung out with Murphdom and chatted with @jaytrem, @wolverinetuner, @electricsquirrel, and @poppapin. It's nice to meet pinsiders in person.
Nobody ever remembers to wear their badge, and I forgot to this time as well.

Unfortunately we were there for only 3 hours on Friday.

I would have loved to have made it out there, but unfortunately I had to work.

We spoke about 2 days before York, and he said he wasn't able to attend the show.

Hope all is well.

-Paul

We met three years ago at Pinfest and you don't remember what I look like? Next you'll tell me that you don't remember that restored Majorettes that you promised to sell me for $100. Say it ain't so Joe...

ESTATE SALE - FRI 10/15 - SUN 10/17

Manufacturer: Williams
Game/Type: Pinbot / SS 4 Player
Month/Year: October 1986
Production: 12,001
Location: Omaha, NE
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/NE/Omaha/68142/3059667

ESTATE SALE -

Manufacturer: Chicago Coin
Game/Type: Blue Max / EM 4 Player
Month/Year: July 1975
Production: Unknown
Location: Old Westbury, NY
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/NY/Old-Westbury/11568/3046026

ESTATE SALE - THU 10/14 - SAT 10/16

Manufacturer: Gottlieb
Game/Type: Pioneer / EM 2 Player
Month/Year: March 1976
Production: 3,625
Location: Agoura Hills, CA
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/CA/Agoura-Hills/91301/3068889

ESTATE SALE - FRI 10/15 - SAT 10/16

Manufacturer: Stern
Game/Type: Flight 2000 / SS Widebody
Year: October 1980
Production: 6,301
Location: Stillwater, OK
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/OK/Stillwater/74075/3002001

WAREHOUSE SALE - FRI 10/15 - SUN 10/17

Manufacturer: Bally
Game/Type: Night Rider EM / EM 4 Player
Month/Year: January 1976
Production: 4,155
Manufacturer: Bally
Game/Type: Capt. Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy / EM 4 Player
Mo/Year: September 1975
Production: 16,155
Location: Dubuque, IA
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/IA/Dubuque/52002/3059259

ESTATE SALE - FRI 10/15 - SUN 10/17

Manufacturer: Williams
Game/Type: Space Station / SS System 11B 4 Player
Month/Year: December 1987
Production: 3,804
Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Contact/Link: https://www.estatesales.net/FL/Ormond-Beach/32174/3068172

Me: Lights in head work, but displays and playfield gi are out.

AUCTION - M 10/25

Manufacturer: Bally
Game/Type: Capt. Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy / EM 4 Player
Mo/Year: September 1975
Production: 16,155
Location: Tustin, CA
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/CA/Tustin/92780/3069417

ESTATE SALE - FRI 11/19 - SUN 11/21

Manufacturer: Stern
Game/Type: NFL - RAVENS / DMD
Year: November 2001
Production: ????
Location: Florham Park, NJ
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/NJ/Florham-Park/07932/3053592

ONLINE AUCTION - WED 10/13

Manufacturer: Williams
Game/Type: Toledo / EM 2 Player
Month/Year: December 1975
Production: 3,001
Location: Vale, NC
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/NC/Vale/28168/3063579

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.

ESTATE SALE - WED 11/13 - TH 11/14

Manufacturer: Stern
Game/Type: Batman (The Dark Knight) / DMD
Year: November 1980
Production: 13,075
Location: Litchfield, IL
Pinsider: https://www.estatesales.net/IL/Litchfield/62056/3060894

ESTATE SALE - THU 10/14 - SAT 10/16

Manufacturer: Stern
Game/Type: Meteor / SS 4 Player
Month/Year: September 1979
Production: 7,939
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Link/Contact: https://www.estatesales.net/MI/Kalamazoo/49008/3067320

Manufacturer: Williams
Game/Type: Fan-Tas-Tic / EM 4 Player
Month/Year: September 1972
Production: 5,680
Cost: $400
Location: Norfolk, VA
Link/Contact: norfolk.craigslist.org link

One game I've never owned.

Back with a BANG!

May pinball goddess, Pintuna, bless all with reasonably priced acquisitions
and cures the Banning price demons.

ONLINE AUCTION - ENDS WED 10/20

Complete Pins
Bonanza Williams 1947
Royal Flush
Eight Ball Deluxe Limited Edition
Stargate

Pitch and Bat:
Dynamo All Star Baseball

Playfields
Corvette
Capcom Flipper Football (populated)

Backglass
Gold Ball
Gulfstream

Location: Coon Rapids, MN
Contact/Link: https://bid.auctionmasters.com/ui/auctions/68859

Me: A lot of arcade , redemption, skee ball, etc.