I have paid more & salvaged from worse so from lots of experience I can tell you that you are buying a lot of work. In an average year I scrap about 25 machines like this a year and it isn't as bad as some people are trying to make it sound but you do have to "work smart".

Typically I have plenty of gloves around and masks - I never bring machines with mold into the house - all salvage work is done outside. I save what I can and then move on to the next machine. It doesn't take many parts to get $100 (or more) out of a machine. Typically a chime box, lock bar, and plastic set is worth more than that. The key is save what you can but don't obsess over the rest. What ever you save is going to help bring other machines back to life.

Some people are afraid to get their hands dirty and I fully understand that, but other "slightly crazy" people (like myself) love to save parts off machines like this. I doubt you will be saving any of those machines but it is possible once you get them out and take a hard look at each. Just remember - lots of work for very little financial return in most cases - and if you are OK with that go for it.

Mike,

I have been buying machines like this and listing parts on eBay for several years now and I can tell you 100% for sure "it can't be about the money". I have figured it out several different times and once I figure all associated cost (storage rent, cost to buy machines, cost to pick up machines, fees, etc) I make less than $3 an hour doing it. But I just love saving the "junk" from landfills and getting what parts I can to people they will help.

For me it started out with machines I had purchased to fix up that were too far gone. Next thing you know I end up listing parts from those machines and my local pinball buddies started offering me "junk" they didn't have a use for at reasonable prices. 5 years later I have dozens of machines to part out (close to 100 sitting right now), people taking my "junk cabinets" etc for craft projects, parts going all over the world helping people save machines, etc.

Thankfully I am semi retired so I don't need to make a bunch of money doing it but I find it very rewarding in so many ways. To me the worst part is keeping track of everything. Be sure to mark parts with tags (or bag smaller stuff up and label the bags). You think you will remember what something was off of but after a few weeks it all starts looking the same. (Again talking from years of experience).

The "best parts" are the oddball stuff. That stuff doesn't sell as quickly but when someone needs it they are happy to find it. Chime units, bells & lock bars typically sell the quickest. Once they are sold most of the rest of the stuff takes some time. So when I buy machines I look to have the chime units, bells & lock bars pay for the machines then I just wait until the other stuff sells to see my profits.

Tetanus shot is a must - every 7 years these days from what I have been told - and thanks for reminding me I think I am due again. Typically I get one every 5 or 6 years because of all the BS I am involved in both with pinball and other stuff in life. I don't think a week goes by that I have not either cut or stabbed myself with something dirty or rusty.

As far as price - typically I add up lock bars & chime units and make my offer accordingly. Gottlieb chime units are worth at least $60 each as long as they are complete & decent, Gottlieb lock bars are about the same for button style (fin style are about $30). Bally and Williams chimes are typically around $40 and lock bars for Bally & Williams about $20 to $25 each.

On the average I will pay up to about $150 for decent parts machines and about $50 to $100 for "junk" like this. So I think you are right in the ballpark for both you and the seller at $600 (give or take a few dollars). I doubt I would go a grand on the lot but I might depending on how much work it would be to move everything and how bad you want it. Normally on something like this stuff I put a "standing offer" of what I think is a fair price and tell seller get back to me if they decide to be realistic and sell it for my price. 95% of the time I end up getting the stuff because most people don't want to deal with it.

Some people are afraid of getting dirty (or doing some nasty work) and others realize the value of "junk". I have made a good living most of my life dealing with stuff most people wouldn't consider getting involved with and semi retired when I was 51 years old because of not being afraid to work. Something like this deal isn't for everyone but some people realize the value of the parts sitting their.

No right or wrong - just different ways of looking at things!

Mike,

As I posted earlier you will be just fine. I have been selling parts online for over 5 years now and it is a lot of work for a fairly small return but I still enjoy doing it because I know my parts help save machines. If you look through all the post on this entire topic you will see very few people are truly into trying to save what can be saved and it is either all about money to them or they are afraid to get a little dirty and do a little work.

My bet would be you will triple you money by the time you are done. Dollar per hour will likely work out to about what a Wal-Mart Greeter makes but who cares. Parts are going to people they will help and the stuff didn't end up in a landfill!