Wharton, NJ
I got into the hobby too late. When I first started, it was pretty easy to find a good deal on Craigslist. I didn’t realize that those were the good times. These days in Northern NJ, snapping up good deals that pop up CL is a competition within itself. I do sometimes peruse the local ads, but I don’t usually find much exciting. Besides, I have enough of my own partially completed projects as it is.
So it was completely unexpected when I came into work on Thursday, my colleague says to me, did you see the Dragon pinball at XXXXX’s auction?
Dragon? Gottlieb System 1? I ask
Yeah, Gottlieb System 1, he says (totally faking it).
When is that? Today, he says. Preview starts at 3, auction starts at 5.
XXXXX,s Auction is about a 20 minutes drive north, into the rural nowhere. Taking off an hour early, and making up the time tomorrow was doable. I’m looking over his shoulder by now. Three pretty bad pictures that confirm System 1 (not EM) and that it doesn’t look terrible. A look through the rest of the photos show no other pins, and nothing else of interest to me.
Auctions have always been a hit-or-miss proposition. Usually “miss.” I always have to park far away... the weather is questionable… It’s cold, and I didn’t bring a heavy coat… The item I was interested in, isn’t going to be sold for several hours…. In the meantime, some idiot plugged it in and burned up the MPU/Coils/Transformer. Once it does come up for sale, Dave Hester comes in at that exact moment and jacks the bidding up, just for the pleasure… Or someone’s friend at the auction starts bidding for them over the phone. Then I will end up paying $100 more than I intended, and have to wheel it out to my car a half-mile in the rain.
In spite of this, I decide it’s worth the shot.
I get permission for the hour of comp-time, make the drive without any traffic snags, and pull up just as someone is pulling out of a close parking space. Things are looking good so far. The Dragon is right inside the door, left side against the wall. I give it the once-over. Cabinet looks good - some mediocre touch-ups, but the wood is solid. No delamination, no joint separating, no water damage. The legs actually look really good. Bright chrome and not a speck of rust. Coin door is locked, and there is a bit of damage near the lock, like someone made a modest attempt to break into it, but gave up when they started to mar the outside frame. The playfield was in OK original condition, with no giant wear spots. The backglass what I couldn’t see in the photos, has some pin-hole sized flaking. Not perfect, but also not the worst I’ve ever seen.
It occurs to me that I didn’t really plan on the possibility of acquiring a pinball. I usually keep a socket set in my car, but maybe I had taken it out. I don’t remember. I also have a dolly that I would have thrown in my car, had I known. Moving this alone might be a challenge. I walk back out to my car and take inventory of what I have. Luckily, I find my socket set. Plus I have 3 moving blankets, and some ratchet straps. Might be a challenge getting it to the car alone, but once there, I would be home free.
I get a bidding number, and inquire about the keys. Maybe in the box under it? I didn’t notice that. Sure enough, there is a cardboard box underneath with “Pinball Parts” written on it in black marker. Inside is a branded “Bally” bottle of Playfield cleaner that smells like lemon furniture polish. Some of the contents of this bottle has leaked all over the inside of the box. That’s a bad sign. Vid specifically warns against silicone-based polishes (such as Pledge), in that it would cause fish-eye, were I to clear-coat it. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it’s noted.
Also in the box are two keys. They both open the backbox. I finagle my way between the wall and the cabinet, and open the back. The glass does have some pinhole flakes out of it, but is better than average for “player’s condition” I pull open the inner door, and have a moment of panic when the entire backbox pitched forward. It wasn’t bolted down; it’s just sitting on the cabinet. Luckily, I had a good enough hold on the door to catch it before it fell down on the playfield glass. Once my heart restarted, and I got the back box straightened back up, I examined the boards. All looked to be in original condition, down to the DATA SENTRY battery on the MPU. I can’t really see the level of acid-damage, since I am twisted into an awkward angle, and trying to hold the loose backbox steady. I’ll just assume the MPU is shot. At least the power cord is tucked into the cab. No one is going to be powering it on to see if it works.
I check out the rest of the auction, and there is not a another item I am the least bit interested. I will be leaving with the Dragon, or nothing. I check out the crowd. I recognize some auction regulars, but no pinball guys. The Dragon is attracting some attention. “Looks like one my friend had in his basement, 20 years ago.” I find a seat and hunker down for the long haul. How many hours am I going to have to sit here shivering before I finally have a chance at it?
The auction starts, and within 5 minutes, the auctioneer announces that they will be selling the pinball next, so they can pile the furniture against that row. This is great news for two reasons. One: Win or lose, I’ll be home early - in time for dinner, and I won’t have wasted the entire night. And Two: in my personal experience with auctions, the better deals are either early or late. Early since it’s before everyone has made it there, and late is when most people have gone home.
The auctioneer talks about it for a few seconds. What do we know about it? Dragon by Gottlieb. No remarks on where it came from, or the last time it worked. I pat my pocket to confirm my business card is still there. I intend to give to whoever outbids me. Maybe at the very least, I can get a service call out of this.
Auctioneer starts the bidding at $300. No bids. $200. No bids. $100. Says he can’t go lower than that. I make my move - 100. Next bid, 120. Someone in back bidding against me. A lot is going through my mind now. How high to I really want to go? Trying to figure the true cost with Buyer’s Premium and tax, while casually trying to gauge the direction the other bidder, who I may end up giving my business card. I bid 140. I figure I still have a ways to go. Next bid 160. I follow the auctioneer’s gaze, behind me and to my left. 160… 160… Back to me at 140. I raise my paddle again - before I realize that I am already the high bidder. It was a slight gaff that might have earned me a reprimand from the auctioneer. Something like: It’s your 140, sir! What can I say? I haven’t been to an auction in a few years, and I am out of practice. As it turns out, the auctioneer just ignored my double-bid. Going once, going twice and sold!
The first thing I do is reach in the box and pull out that bottle of Bally furniture polish. I throw it away. It may be worth something to someone, but I don’t want it leaking all over my car’s interior. Next, I lift off the backbox and carry out to my car. One of the staff members follows me with the box of parts. I confirm that I am taking the machine right away, and please don’t bury it under the SOLD furniture. I pay the bill. No, I won’t be needing the bidding number any more. I back my car up to the door. Two men carry my Dragon out to me. I thank them, and they return inside to pile the furniture into that newly vacated space.
It’s actually still daylight when I get it loaded up. I make the uneventful drive home, and consider just leaving it in the car overnight and unload it tomorrow. This was only briefly considered. The machine should spend the rest of its life in a climate controlled environment. It deserves that.
I texted my friend from work. I owe him a lunch for providing me this lead.
My wife tells me, Hey you got a Pinball, and I didn’t get anything! I ordered for her a pendant she had her eye one. +1 for continued domestic bliss!
Epilogue: I took careful inventory of the smelly box. Threw away the junk (burned out bulbs, cardboard scraps, etc). There is a cheap soldering iron and solder, a box of tokens (maybe there are token validators on this machine…?), some fuses and some papers (apron cards and the like), 1” pinball. Not right for the game, but maybe for the tilt trough? I also find the key to the front door.
I was worried that I threw away some super-valuable, no longer made, unobtainium, Bally-branded playfield polish. Happy to see that it’s still made, and seldom recommended:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/wildcat-125-cleaner-good-for-one-thing-but-not-a-playfield
Sometimes the stars do align after all
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Leduc, AB
