I nabbed this working Star Trek this afternoon. Never played it, but the playfield wasn’t blown out on this one. Gotta make room for it!

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Thanks! I should’ve clarified. I played the game before I bought it, but just enough to verify everything worked. I’ve never extensively played it enough to have a real opinion on its gameplay.

The backglass has some disappointing delamination though. I guess you can’t have it all.

You and me both! I’m so strapped for room, I’ve been storing the overflow packed up in my garage.

Looks like I need to find a bigger house!

First pickup of 2019! Grabbed a really nice Jacks Open from a gentleman up in the Poconos. I’ve been addicted to wedgeheads lately.

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Lmfao. My fiancé has one too. Got it from some Chong looking guy selling it out of his van back when we were in college 3 or 4 years ago. We all call it her “pot hoodie.”

I'm glad that it's now in the hands of someone who's passionate about preserving it! You never know what's going to happen with games that are in the hands of non-collectors.

Man... That stinks. I'd have probably tried to make room for it. It's not every day you get to say your collection includes something so monumentally rare. Hopefully the person you pass it on to is willing to take good care of it.

Evening pickup! She's gonna need a lot of work, but I know it's gonna be worth it!

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Yep! I contacted the seller 20 minutes after posting, and he said there were still people ahead of me. Somehow I got lucky the other 2 people ahead backed out.

The game needs a little more work than I had anticipated, but it boots and plays just fine. Figured I’d never see another AFM priced that well, so I pulled the trigger on it.

I plan on doing a playfield swap and re-decal the cabinet. Ordered new ramps and a plastic set. When all is said and done, I’ll probably just be a little under what it’d cost to buy a NIB one, but I’m super stoked about having an original. That alone makes it worth it to me.

Thanks gents! It's been a game I've always loved. I played it to death when it was in the Bayview Inn down in Wildwood Crest when we'd vacation down there. I never added it to my wishlist simply because I never thought I'd ever find one in my price range, and as gorgeous as the remakes are, I really like the idea of owning an original. Can't wait to dig into it!

Freezing cold 10:30pm pickup! Gotta always be ready to get those good deals these days! Playfield and backglass are nearly perfect. Should clean up nicely

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Today has been great. Hit the road at 4:30am to head to Pincinnati, met a way cool pinsider, and grabbed a SLAMMING deal on this beauty. Just over 2,000 original plays. Never saw the inside of an arcade a day of it’s life. Might be the nicest Pinball Magic on planet Earth. A rare find for a game that’s already hard to find.

Bonus: A modern game does indeed fit in the 2017-current Mazda CX-5

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Yea.... same. But it wouldn’t fit in my vehicle any other way. It was either fit it in sideways, or bust. And I wasn’t driving 10 hours back home empty handed.

Fear not, though. The thing is well supported and wrapped up super tight on both pallet wrap and moving blankets.

I did. I’ve seen it done before. Certainly not ideal, but completely doable when wrapped up properly. Thanks!

Another super late night run, and the 3rd pin pickup this month. Early production Taxi with Marilyn artwork. I was out of room 2 games ago, but I couldn't pass this deal up.

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4th late night game pickup this month! This one has been on my wishlist for years. Can't believe I finally have one!

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Yup. Turned out the game was posted on behalf of the seller's mother, who was serendipitously located in NJ--a 20 minute drive from my house. She was moving and needed the game gone FAST. As a result, I was able to get a much better price on the game.

It's in really nice working shape. Almost no wear on the playfield that I can see. Cabinet is super nice too. The 2 issues that stood out were a faded translite and a chipped plastic bit above the center drop target bank. They had the game for "as long as she could remember." Could even be an undocumented HUO example, but that doesn't really mean much.

I'm just glad to have snagged it.

Yes! I played the one at Pincinnati this year to death! There's a gentleman who brings his pristine example to the local shows around my area every so often as well. They're the only two examples I've ever seen, and I look forward to playing them every year. Really glad I was able to find a copy of my own. I think I enjoy playing Robo-War more than TX-Sector; though eventually I'd love to have both sitting side by side.

Thanks Colson! Definitely getting back into the swing of things after my horrendous summer. It feels good! These are going to be my winter projects.

Heck yea! Glad you guys were able to work out a deal!

Last pickup of the year! Leaving the lumps of 2019 with a bang. This is the 5th pickup this month. It might be a problem, but it’s an okay problem.

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2020 is gonna be the year I spend all my money buying an excessive amount of pinball machines. Totally worth it.

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Thanks! Honestly, there's just been a flurry of too-good-to-resist deals lately, and one of my resolutions (among other things) is to really hone my restoration and repair skills. If I'm gonna do something, I might as well learn how to do it properly. I'm not a sports guy, and I never watch TV, so I might as well really lean into the hobby. Also, my goal is to have a bunch of these projects cleaned up and restored (to the best of my ability), and brought to Allentown and York Show this year. I really want to start supporting the shows with meaningful, well playing games and start paying things forward. I'm starting to feel like a custodian for these games. Finding the left for dead games, giving them new life, enjoying them for a while before passing them on to other's who will hopefully enjoy them as much as I have.

I’m not a picky person, but I’ll agree, the Captain ain’t the best player in town, BUT it’s still a fun game to play with others. Art is top notch, and who doesn’t love Elton?! It’s always nice to see in a collection.

I saw this game in person last time I was with dmacy. First off, his overhaul/restoration work is SLAMMING. I can’t sing his praises more. Secondly, I’m jealous. It took way more self control than I care to admit to not run off with it. Thirdly, you could probably pass that sucker off as being HUO. Glad it now has a home! (If you ever get tired of it, let me know )

Grabbed a Gottlieb "300" from a friend's neighbor. And when I say "grabbed" I mean "grabbed it out of his trash." One fewer game headed to the landfill! This one might be a challenge to bring back to life though...

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Snagged this one for a close family friend just tonight. He’s always been into classic car racing and loves restoring old MGs. Wanted a game for his home office, so this one is gonna be cleaned up and passed on.

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Found a wood cabinet Rancho in really excellent condition. Worth the 2 hour drive for sure! I love these rare birds.

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Why do I do this to myself... I was out of room 4 games ago...

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I remember when I said that. That was 16 games ago.

I will! Though this was an absolute barn find and a half. It’s got really good bones though. I may (slowly) do a full on resto on this sucker using your vampire as inspiration.

I’ve been looking around for some nice EM gun games to add to the game room for a while now. They really are tough to find!

Snagged this guy cheap-as-free. Not a huge fan of System 1 games, but for the price paid, I’ll gladly rehab it and give it a good home for a while.

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One of my favorite locations in Wildwood Crest closed, and I’m slowly adding games to my collection I used to play there. BSD was one, hopefully I’ll add their Junk Yard next.

(Also, outside pinball is 10/10 fun)

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Picked up my second Abra Ca Dabra today! Not sure what I’m gonna do with the other. Convert it to a Wizard maybe?

Anyway, half of the fun of these pickups is meeting the people I make deals with and getting the story behind the game. Grabbed this one from a wonderful couple who recently retired. They own(ed) a prominent farmers market in Lambertville and were selling the market and their home to retire someplace warmer.

The game came from a Philly pizzeria where the woman’s father worked. Played it there for a while. You can tell it’s a “Stan Harris” game because the instruction cards are typed up on a typewriter, and it has the typical Stan harris steel plate bolted to the bottom). After the pizzeria closed, they brought it to their home, where it sat for decades. As I was disassembling the game, she was pointing out the high scores and graffiti etched into the cabinet saying “That name right there is my friend! I remember when he did that. We were so proud of that score.” Kinda makes the whole experience a little more special to get the backstory, you know?

Anyway. It was a really nice surprise Sunday pickup.

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Thanks! I messaged the seller about 45 minutes after it was posted that morning and thought "I'm probably too late, but you never know." Literally at 4pm she messaged me back saying the first guy never got back to her, and I was the second person in line, and I could have if I wanted, but I would need to get to her by 5pm since she had to go somewhere. Thank goodness there was a bank on the way and I left my toolbox in the car. Never drove so fast to pick up a pin in my life! Lambertville from my area is just a shade under 1 hour, so I made it there just in time. She mentioned that she had close to 50 other interested parties. Crazy!

A couple days late, but I grabbed a super awesome On Beam from York Friday. Not a game you see often! I love the retro futuristic artwork.

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My grail is finally in my collection!! I feel complete. I haven’t felt this giddy about a game in years!

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Thanks! Had to trade out my TAF for it, but I think it’s worthwhile.

If you know, you know. Straight from the disco pinball dimension.

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(TX…TX…TX…TX)

Hope this counts! I’ve owned the game for a while, but the house is new (to me). Originally had my On-Beam in the dining room, but I wanted something I’d actually really play. Currently the basement is under remodel, so the dining room is the temporary “pin of the month” room as I slowly shuttle over my collection from storage.

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Big day today!

Picked up this sweeeeeeeeet ball bowler from an estate this afternoon.

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And snagged this nice little Rancho for my friend’s wife. It was a 40th anniversary gift.

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No joke, the woman even had the original keys to the back door and coin box on a keychain! I was ready to drill out the locks when she said "Hang on, I bet I have those keys. My father saved EVERYTHING." I was stunned.