(Topic ID: 269510)
Bethlehem, PA
Not sure how to answer...
My first pin was a Gottlieb Baseball. Bought it off Craigslist back around 2008 for $475. Had it for maybe a year until a got into a huff one day and swore off pinball forever.
Of course, that didn't take, and years later, I was missing it. Couple years ago I find another Baseball locally on Craigslist. Similar condition, though it had suffered an unfortunate paint job. The cabinet is a uniform, off-white, semi-gloss.
So, I have the same title, but a different machine. I guess I'd sell it, if my wife approved.
I guess it was about 8 years ago. I got a nice Paragon off of CL for $700. I played it, kept it going. Added a PF protector to stop it from wearing. About 6 years ago I sold it for $600. I was trying to get more but it sat on Craigslist for months at $800. Now it would go for double or more.
Crazy times! I have owned quite a few awesome machines thanks to my friends I made in the hobby.
“Still have it” is running away .Thats interesting so many people kept they’re first pin .reakly enjoying reading these n the stories .
My first game was Gottlieb Genie.. I did a video talking about my first pinball experience.. the one that got me into the hobby:
Hengelo
My first pin, and the one that got me into this hobby was Gtb SPIDERMAN.
That was over 30 years ago. Still have it and we play it regularly. For those
that think older pins are unreliable, after fixing and going through Spidey
its only failed once when one of the bridge rectifiers failed.
Steve
Quoted from zarco:For those
that think older pins are unreliable, after fixing and going through Spidey
its only failed once when one of the bridge rectifiers failed.
Steve
Absolutely, but we don't want them (the others) to know this, it's just means more pins for you and me! I have bullet-proofed mine and they are rock solid.
It’s good to see the great majority still have n play they’re firsts . I’ve been looking up a lot of these as I’m new and never heard of some.Im having a lot of fun scrolling through these .
Bulli
Quoted from dmesserly:Shadow was my first in 2003. When I got to four pins, I sold it to fund the next. I’ve been a pinball churner ever since and have had around 70 different titles, many multiple times. (The benefit of a walkout basement)
I’ve slowed down the last couple years and have a pretty firm group of pins. Shadow’s back for the third time to stay.
3rd time is a charm.Man I wanted a walkout basement wife wanted 2story.Surprise I lost again !!lmao
My first game was Buckaroo and I purchased it in 1970 for $50 from my uncles friend Jukebox Joe. Jukebox Joe showed up one Saturday and had two pinball machines in his van. He told me to take my pick $50 each. One of them was a two player (I do not remember the name) and the other the one player Buckaroo. I kind of liked the two player model so friends could play together and I could not afford both. This was my hard earned paper route money so I asked Joe which one he would take and he pointed to the Buckaroo. The rest is history and after 50+ years I still have my first pinball and it still works. Since that summer day when I took ownership of my first pinball machine who knew it would lead to a life time hobby. I have gone through hundreds of pins but still have my first.
Crazy! Most people still have their first machine. I sold my first- EM Williams Triple Action that I bought DOA.
I guess you could call me a low end pin man, as my tendency is to purchase broken pins, fix, play for a bit, and sell.
I did pay full price for a Sega MSF though. That one is to play while I work on the project machines.
Quoted from Md2020:Williams Triple Action that I bought DOA.
Triple Action in the exact same condition was my first as well...Although I have bought, fixed, played, sold many machines since, my Triple Action remains in the collection!
An old beat up South Park that's been completely shopped, backglass and translite replaced, so many mods and lights added it's insane. Just bought a new coin door to put in it. It's never going anywhere. (still my wife's favorite game)
Bally Power Play, In 1985. It was roached and not working. Before internet, so information And parts were a lot harder to come by.
Sold it a long time ago, but wouldn’t mind having it again.
Quoted from Buckaroo:My first game was Buckaroo and I purchased it in 1970 for $50 from my uncles friend Jukebox Joe. Jukebox Joe showed up one Saturday and had two pinball machines in his van. He told me to take my pick $50 each. One of them was a two player (I do not remember the name) and the other the one player Buckaroo. I kind of liked the two player model so friends could play together and I could not afford both. This was my hard earned paper route money so I asked Joe which one he would take and he pointed to the Buckaroo. The rest is history and after 50+ years I still have my first pinball and it still works. Since that summer day when I took ownership of my first pinball machine who knew it would lead to a life time hobby. I have gone through hundreds of pins but still have my first.
50$ ? Mss as n things have changed lmao.
Hook. I bought it 6 years ago off Craigslist. I never really liked it. It was in excellent condition and in my budget. It has been a great machine to teach me the basics of pinball maintenance.
Every time a new machine has come into the house I have said that I was going to sell it. Hook almost never gets played, but it will probably never leave.
1 week later
Safe to say most keep theyre first.I definitly plan to .I’m starting to pick up the search for our second I’d imagine even as many as some people have It’s hard to get rid of certain pins.Im hoping I’m not hooked on next one As the trades interest me after all you can always get one back if you miss it that much .
Here’s my first one. Had to have it. Took it from dirty messy and having problems to a pretty damn good player. When I got it almost all of the GI didn’t work. Switch errors and the shooter rod was completely missing. Fixed all of that and it looks pretty good now. Doesn’t fix the playfield that didn’t have Mylar on it but it’s as good as it’s gonna get without a swap. I took it to Louisville Arcade Expo and everyone seemed to enjoy it a lot and had a lot of people asking to buy it so I guess I did something right. Now it’s sitting in my first home with some company. It’s special to me and would take some crazy offer that’s not likely to get it from me so I expect it to be with me forever or at least a very long time.
197584C1-1AE8-4A08-914E-C390CCFB84FE (resized).jpeg4E83B280-343E-4082-BFCD-68495747F516 (resized).jpeg6FDBA102-C06A-41F6-964C-BE3084E344A2 (resized).jpegFF43AADE-C949-441A-AE0E-8EE9103BDDFF (resized).jpegMy first game was Spy Hunter. Owned it for just over 8 years. Just sold it a week ago to make room for a new one. I might remember it fondly at times but on to newer and better things.
My first was actually two No Good Gofers that I bought for $1950 each. They were both routed but in pretty decent shape. I restored them and sold them for enough to buy a NIB Metallica Pro and a Nearly new Star Trek Pro with about 100 plays on it. I still have both of those in my collection.
1 week later
Quoted from ita47:My first was actually two No Good Gofers that I bought for $1950 each. They were both routed but in pretty decent shape. I restored them and sold them for enough to buy a NIB Metallica Pro and a Nearly new Star Trek Pro with about 100 plays on it. I still have both of those in my collection.
Climb the the ladder to get what you want I like that
Quoted from Jmckune:Here’s my first one. Had to have it. Took it from dirty messy and having problems to a pretty damn good player. When I got it almost all of the GI didn’t work. Switch errors and the shooter rod was completely missing. Fixed all of that and it looks pretty good now. Doesn’t fix the playfield that didn’t have Mylar on it but it’s as good as it’s gonna get without a swap. I took it to Louisville Arcade Expo and everyone seemed to enjoy it a lot and had a lot of people asking to buy it so I guess I did something right. Now it’s sitting in my first home with some company. It’s special to me and would take some crazy offer that’s not likely to get it from me so I expect it to be with me forever or at least a very long time.
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Nicely done !!
DEJP-no intention to sell
Paid $2800 in 2015 no mods, just a nice example
Did NVAM, LED’s, Color DMD, mirrors, pinsound, flippers rebuilt, good cab and playfield, extra motors and parts because i was a noob....
I’m in it now for around 5 lol. Its not going anywhere.
Quoted from tbutler6:DEJP-no intention to sell
Paid $2800 in 2015 no mods, just a nice example
Did NVAM, LED’s, Color DMD, mirrors, pinsound, flippers rebuilt, good cab and playfield, extra motors and parts because i was a noob....
I’m in it now for around 5 lol. Its not going anywhere.
I hear you I’m putting some $ into my first WOZRR to make it our own picking up my second this week IMprem I’ll leave that be as I want the next 3 to rotate over the years .That’s the plan anyway lmao !
A few categories of first pins for me:
First pin my dad bought for the family fun room: BK around 1984, long gone but I’ve had 2 others since and still have one
First pin purchased on my own in my first apt: BK2 around 1994, also gone but have owned 2 since and still have one
First DMD pin: STNG in 1997, still have it
Quoted from PNBLWZD:A few categories of first pins for me:
First pin my dad bought for the family fun room: BK around 1984, long gone but I’ve had 2 others since and still have one
First pin purchased on my own in my first apt: BK2 around 1994, also gone but have owned 2 since and still have one
First DMD pin: STNG in 1997, still have it
That’s a good Dad!! I’m trying to do the same I have 2 boys 11 n 12 .They love playing pinball. So much better than playing PS4 on couch.
1 year later
I forgot I started this post .3 pages is my record :)We sold our first .The WOZRR went to a nice gentleman who is a huge fan and had quite the collection of memorabilia on hand .I dropped it off by him then went with my youngest to purchase the DP premium he wanted about a hour away from there..I would love to get one back down the road when we have a broader collection .After we purchased a IMDN we wanted more faster style pins .
Meteor, and no I don't. I was given my meteor for Christmas in 1982. I was 13 years old. It was SUPER clean. Where ever it was routed, it wasn't for long. We lived in Hawaii and I brought it back to the mainland in 1984. Around 1986 I stupidly traded it for a Space Duel. Space Duel got old pretty quickly and left after a year or so.
In 1996 I decided I wanted another pin and picked up Comet out of the San Jose Mercury News for $475. I ended up buying it from a guy I had sold a Dig Dug machine too. Comet is still here and if I ever think of selling it one of my four kids will steal it away in the night! In fact it's at a sons' house now. My three sons are all room mates and have my Comet and BK2K.
Quoted from Pinbub:Meteor, and no I don't. I was given my meteor for Christmas in 1982. I was 13 years old. It was SUPER clean. Where ever it was routed, it wasn't for long. We lived in Hawaii and I brought it back to the mainland in 1984. Around 1986 I stupidly traded it for a Space Duel. Space Duel got old pretty quickly and left after a year or so.
In 1996 I decided I wanted another pin and picked up Comet out of the San Jose Mercury News for $475. I ended up buying it from a guy I had sold a Dig Dug machine too. Comet is still here and if I ever think of selling it one of my four kids will steal it away in the night! In fact it's at a sons' house now. My three sons are all room mates and have my Comet and BK2K.
Oh boy .Is that what I have to look forward to when mine move out ? lol
Quoted from John-Floyd:LZ premium was my first. Still play it all the time - great game and plan on keeping it.
I’m with you buddy .I love cranking on LZ and you can’t beat the soundtrack .My kids are turning the screws on me to get something else .I’m holding on for dear life .
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