The owner says they can be wiped off and put in a museum. I'm trying to find the correct way to explain that they are basically parts machine. I offered $400 and then went to $600 for all. These were her dad's (now deceased) machines. The logistics to get them out are also a problem too. I figure I'll wait it out and see what other offers she gets.

Here is what I think is there:

King Kool
Beatnik
2 in 1
(2) A Go Go
Gridiron
4 Aces
Bally Clover Bell
Ringer
2 other mid 70s Williams

Question 1: What is that Williams Ringer machine and is there any demand for that
Question 2: The value of the Bally Cover Bell slot? machine?

Mike V

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Yep .. That's the one. No pics. Price $1

Mike V.

Thanks for chiming in. My thoughts are similar. Disassemble in the driveway and save what you can but skip the hard to salvage parts like the metal side rails ..etc. I hate to see these go to a landfill when there are useful parts. I figure at $60 a piece I can at least get $150-$350 in parts but I do have to consider the labor piece. The bally "2 in 1" and the Ringer interests me and I'd love to save them.

If nothing else I've learned a Williams Ringer has value ..

Mike V.

I do agree the love of it is above all else. My labor/storage is maybe different from others as I've got two sons who help do the disassembly and I've got the ability to store them for free. Also a big piece of this is getting plenty of parts to allow me to build Homebrew machines.

Mike V

The machines are about 40 minutes from me. Looks like we are close to a deal .. stay tuned

Mike V

So to put a cap on this I would say the naysayers win the thread. I made a deal for about $75 a pin which included the truck. My son was out of school today so it is him and I on this adventure. I arrive, pay and start digging in. The machines were crumbling around us but in some respects it made getting every part we wanted home easier. We kicked all but two machines apart salvaging parts.

The Williams Ringer turned out to have a lot of rot around the bottom but could be saved with some serious wood working. Contact me about it if you want it as I don't think I can do it justice. I'll let it go cheap to some willing to save it.

As the day progressed and we dug deeper we hoped for paydirt and we might have found it:

1) Old army trunk .. empty though
2) 1928 trade stimulator
3) Endless coins mech pre dating the machines

Better go find those experts -

You ask would I do it again .. not sure but the one big memory in all this is the day with my son

Mike V

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We have one more machine to take apart. Up 1.37 in change but no wheaties or silver yet!

Where still looking but doesn't look good. Found a picture of what we need.

Mike V

The two 'best' ones were the Beatnik and King Cool. The 2 in 1 is still in the head and haven't checked the back yet.

The Clover Bell slot machine glass was very good to and that was the oldest machine there

I will say the colors what was left of the paint in all the backglass was fabulous since these thing hadn't seen light for 40 years

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Still working through the pile. We are going spend Tuesday stripping/organizing it all and getting a grand tally

Mike V

Another day and time spent with my son. So far we have 8 hours on the preview and transport to the house. Today we spent another 5 hours hoping to get all playfield pulled apart. We cut all wires and removed all male jones plug. Finished up 4 playfields only.

Total time so far: 13x2 people= 26 hours

We took one apart from each manufacture. Interesting to note: Ballys had the most rotted screws and metal parts though it was the oldest. Gottlieb had the most parts that were useable. Chicago coin had the most rotted wood.

Here's the tally so far:

William Ringer.:Offer of $400 for it
Trade Stimulator: Collectors gave me a $500 value

Plastics: estimate at $5 each:$100
Gridiron top parts: $20
Box of flipper parts: $100
Box of pop bumper parts: $70
Box of slings/kickers: $30
Box of Jones plugs (male all machines): $2 each x 40 = $80
Box of misc relays = $40
Box of Chime/Gridiron parts/ax relay/gate etc: $150
Box of lane guides/pop tops: $20
Box of switches: $10
Box of targets: $20
Box of posts: $10
Apron: $20
Paper work (all that was savable): $20
Steppers/Relay banks: $50

I've come to the conclusion that this guy probably was an operator since we also found:

50+ locks : $50
40+ coin mechs to everything dating back to the 50s: $200

So total so far in parts: $990.
Ringer/trade stim: $900

$1890 so far on the conservative end. We are about 1/3 done. At the end we'll add in labor and see how we did.

Keep in mind I will keep some and sell some.

Mike V

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I'm only going after parts that make sense and I have a proven track record of selling them. We aren't selling screws/bulbs/sockets/wire/upper aprons .. etc. I've been selling pinball parts for 3 years now on ebay. More time ahead listing them but I figure 80% could be sold in six months. Plastics can take a while to sell though. Of course I will keep samplings of items I don't have but don't hoard parts. I always bundle parts and never list anything under $20

Mike V

John thanks for your insight. Here in the south we don't have options to go to shows that sell used pinball parts. Sounds like I need to make a trip up north as a buyer though. That is dedication hauling those items back and forth .. I'm lucky just to find a good storage spot to keep them save.

Selling on eBay has worked great for me. I allow overseas sales as well. I understand what sells and what doesn't. You reach other markets to like artists and homebrew/robotic folks. Three years so far and only 2% don't sell within a year. 80% sell in 6 months. Just sell them priced just below all others for common parts and fairly for others.

I'll report back in 6 months to wrap up the thread.

Mike V

I have parted out a machine here and there but I would able to quickly figure out it all made sense. This deal was different since I didn't know what was left that was usable. Indeed this is for love of family time and then pinball. I'm shooting for $20 an hour so let's see how I do. So far I'm ahead but I still need to get the rest of the parts off and then time to list/pack the items.

Mike V