Quoted from rcbrown316:I paid WAY more than 800 bucks for it. I only discovered this game about a month ago when I was searching for a list of classic sterns. It definitley has a unique presentation and what appears to be a a pretty deep rule set for 1981. it's tough to get a gauge on how many are around but it doesn't appear to be many and they don't come up for sale often from what I've seen. I'm guessing the value pinside has listed for it is based on lack of current sale information. This one is pretty well preserved and complete so I took a risk and offered a decent amount for it. If i like it I will do a full restore. If not it will still be in damn nice condition. I just have to hammer out a few issues, tweak up the mechanicals, polish up the metal and get some shorter legs on it. These are 30.5" and the thing is a monster the way it sits. Playefield doesnt really sit square in the cabinet in the play position. I'll figure that out after i put new legs on it. For those of you who havent seen it here is a decent video.
There are production numbers listed for every classic Stern produced, except for Spilt Second and Catacomb.
2500 units of Lightning were produced in March of 1981.
Split Second was not produced until August of 1981. That is a 5 month production gap. Compared to the production schedules from Meteor on, Stern kept the production schedules at around 2 months before the next pin left the factory.
Catacomb arrived in October 1981 for a 2 month gap from SS.
1200 Iron Maidens were produced in October 1981.
430 Vipers were produced December 1981.
302 Dragonfists were produced in January 1982.
After Dragonfist, Stern Electronics was no more.
Split Second and Catacomb are the only two classic Sterns that we do not know the production numbers on. I think the 5 month production gap played a part in there not being any production numbers available for Cat and SS. I can't imagine Stern kept a bunch of line workers on the payroll if no production was going on. So that would mean laying the line workers off and then rehiring them and many times that results in the company having to train new laborers.
When I started getting interested in Catacomb, the conventional write ups all said around 2200 Catacombs were produced. I don't buy into that. I think less an 1200 Catacombs were produced and I really think less than 1000, and perhaps only 900 Catacombs were produced. I did not look at SS that closely but think less than 1200 were produced.
I did a write up on these thoughts on the Catacomb thread a couple of years ago laying out my logic. Of course, I am guessing, but you do not see very many Split Seconds.
It looks real nice. Please tell us how much, or how little, you like the game play.
Wichita, KS
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