(Topic ID: 174947)
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Edgerton, WI
Quoted from gliebig:I've thought about replacing my shuffleboard table with a skee-ball or big ball bowler.
I always though shuffleboard might be a waste of space when I started collecting coin-op. Lately I've been thinking it might be a lot of fun.
Quoted from GPS:Welcome All! Great to see the level of interest! Alex, never knew there was a "Skee Alley" Neatto!! Great pictures!!
George...
Yes, Skee Alley is the first version I believe of the Shuffle/Skee Ball crossover. United made a few other variations after. Here is one for sale in my hometown. I always wanted to buy something arcade related in my hometown, but I don't need another one.
I used to have this one. I've missed a lot of the machines I've sold over the years but if you ask me if there is one I really regret this would be it. 1946 Premier Barrel Roll. There is a rotating barrel you need to hit to score 800 points. Super cool! I sold it to Jon Torrence in California. He had a website documenting the restoration (appears to be down). In it he made it sound a little like he was resurrecting the Titanic. 
...but it did turn out super cool.
1 year later
There was a Parker Bohn III shuffle bowler made by Betson around 2000. There are also some more modern ball bowlers.
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=13051
Quoted from Mopar:Looks like maybe candle pin bowling pins. I wouldn't mind seeing a video of that be played..
1 year later
Quoted from Oldgoat:I had never seen a multi-player skee ball. I think if I ever found one of these as a nice project, I would have to figure out a way to make it fit.
Genco, Chicago Coin and Williams all made multi-player skee balls. Maybe other manufacturers as well. They are very cool but seem very tall.
2 weeks later
Quoted from Methos:Does anyone own a puck bowler? I used to play one when I was a kid, and have been looking for one for a few years, but I haven't run across any.
Sure, they turn up for sale all the time. Just depends on what era you want and if you want a project or not.
I thought this one looked like a nice deal but almost 3 hours from you.
wausau.craigslist.org link
Quoted from Methos:It wasn't a bowler with pins, I should have stated it more clearly.
It was a ski ball game but the ball was a heavy metal puck. Waist high, you would slide the puck down a lane (not as long as a bowler lane), it would slide under a piece of curved glass than it was a normal ski ball target (circular rings). There was a piece of plastic on each circular hole, and when it made it in, the plastic would be pushed down (like a lever) that would score your points. Was analog, probably late 60's/early 70's?
I've never seen one to this day and would snap it up in a heartbeat.
I have the early version of that. Was a big hit last weekend with some kids that came over for my grandson's birthday. I found a sheet they made on their own to have a tournament. 
They made some other variations later on. United Kickapoo and Venus, others. That's probably what you have in mind. There was a Venus for sale on Facebook not too long ago within driving distance.
SkeeAlleyD (resized).jpg
Venus (resized).jpg
Quoted from bbriese:I have a few broken pins on a mid 1950's united chief shuffle bowler. These are the shorter 8-1/4" tall pins....not so easy to find. Any leads on individual pins or a full set is appreciated.
8.5" On Ebay.
https://tinyurl.com/rf4qzry
5 months later
Square Amusements Roll-A-Ball is very similar but also different.
http://www.pinrepair.com/bowl/rollaba.htm
I used to have a 1946 Premier Barrel Roll that I bought cheap. Sold it to well known collector, he did a nice restore (with some creative license), sold it to another guy and now is on Ebay for crazy money. 
Wish I'd have kept it now.
2 months later
I just happened upon this on Craigslist and found it odd. Two different ads for essentially the same machine by two different manufacturers. Now I knew United made a Twin Shuffle Alley but never new Chicago Coin made the same thing with a different glass!? Or maybe it's just a conversion glass for the United game? Any ideas?
chicago.craigslist.org link
chicago.craigslist.org link
1 year later
Quoted from PochuckValley:I really want to make custom pucks per game.
I have an old junky puck that needs some help. Shouldn’t be too difficult to do in photoshop.[quoted image]
Some of the older games had branded pucks. Here are a couple from my 1950 United Skee Alley. I think my Bowlette had pucks with a Bowlette graphic also.
SkeePucks (resized).jpg 1 year later
Quoted from Mopar:Wurlitzer? Interesting. Have any pics?
Here it is (same pic I posted on page one of this thread). It's obviously large and consumes a lot of space. I kind of got sick of it taking up so much room in my tiny game room. Had a few offers to buy it over the years but my wife is very attached to it. So rather than sell it, it's been folded up in storage for about a year.
Now my wife wants that storage area for her huge vintage Christmas collection. She had the crazy suggestion that we bring the skee ball upstairs and put it in our living room. So that is the plan for next weekend (hopefully).
1937Wurlitzer (resized).jpgQuoted from Mopar:Yea, I'd be attached to it also. It has much more character than the normal mechanical
Skee Balls.
I remember back in 2,009, Philadelphia Tabagoon made a limited amount of Skee Balls that
looked similar to your Wurlitzer. I believe it replicated their 1939 model. It was in honor of their
100th year making Skee Balls..
I can't remember the last time my wife rolled a ball down it but it's a hill she'll die on for whatever reason. Like you say I think she's in love with the character. It's even prettier from side the profile. Some friends own my previous one. Yes I've had two. And another friend that sold me this one has a pure mechanical version. Weird that three are within 50 miles of each other.
Yes, you see those Centennial models once in awhile. Very cool. It has design ques similar the my Wurlitzer. Specifically the scrolled front feet.
Quoted from big420atx:^^^now i hate you even more...lol
i have the centennial lane and it's cool and all. but it just doesn't have that character that yours does.
It came upstairs yesterday. My wife is trying to steal my whole gameroom vibe.
Uff, this damn thing weighs a ton. My back is killing me. Still needs a little work but at least it's set up again.
IMG_0389 (resized).jpgIMG_0390 (resized).jpgIMG_0391 (resized).jpg 8 months later
Quoted from PhCor6:Hi Everyone, I just bought a late 1920s or early 1930s Target-Roll Jr Skee-Ball type game and wanted to know if anyone has one or any info on this game.
Thank you very much.
[quoted image]
That thing is sweet! Love these early skee balls. Never seen this variation. Definitely could use some new carpet though.
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