I am looking for folks who love Abra Cadabra and had wished Gottlieb had brought out an Add A Ball version. There is now a potential to accomplish that.

In a sense Gottlieb did when they released Team One 2 years later. However Team One just has not seen the interest due to the art package. It has a really good game play to it but certainly is not an A list game, a real sleeper.

Gottlieb in 1971 produced a sample game (AAB) called Wizard probably for the Italian market only (see IPDB for images). The backglass is very similar to the 1975 Abra Cadabra but the body/pf looks nothing like the 1975 game.

What I am proposing to do is contract to get playfields and backglasses made (25 of each) that allows the sleeper game to get the attention it deserves and save the game and make it a centerpiece in our collections.

As a first step into developing retheme kits (and generating enough interest) Ive pulled together a sample Wizard game, pics below. I have taken a reproduction WK Abra playfield and had a local artist change all the scoring labels to match the features of Team One. I also had a couple of needed inserts added by Wade as well. Picture of the raw pf below. Next I worked another photoshop artist to blend the original Wizard backglass art with the “better’ Abra backglass art AND pull in the features of Team One. Certainly trade-offs were made to avoid having to develop a completely new lightboard.

A long story, jumping to the punch line, I looking for 15 folks willing to provide a deposit on a retime kit. (Have 8 so far) With this I’ll contract with Wade for (ie pre-buy) 25 pfs and backglasses. And then either sell a conversion kit with complete instructions or send me a Team One and I’ll convert it for you. I will also have a limited number of Wizard games for sale as well. (Some folks may have noticed Ive been hoarding Team Ones, Im up to 6 so far).

This “sample” Wizard game will be at Texas Pinball Festival for play. Come out and try it.

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/89563

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Still working out the details with Wade but it will be very similar to what you'd pay for a new pf from Wade and a new bg from Ron or Shay.

Rough Team Ones seem to go in the $500 price range so its very affordable for the do-it-yourselfers.

Pinball Pimp has adjusted his Abra stencils to fit the TeamOne deeper cab.

AND... we are toying with using the letters W I Z A R D instead of the 1 2 3 4 5 6 on the inserts. I will supply the corresponding W and D dip targets.

Another change from the sample, I used the bonus ladder of the Abra pf to indicate the achieved WOWs, normally on the bg. In production we'd move them back to the backglass.

In a day or 2 I'll generate and maintain a list. Ive set my threshold at 15 presigns, have 8 so far. Shouldnt take long to get 7 more.

Ken

Yes, Team One has 5 flags indicating WOW on the bg. My sample Wizard has 5 inserts indicating WOWs. For the production we will put the 5 indicators on the bg probably in the form of red "lit" orbs in the style of the original Wizard game.

Yea there will be folks that dont want to destroy their TeamOnes. However if you have a rough TeamOne now, its highly unlikely anybody would make a repro bg. Out of the machines Ive collected so far one has a very nice pf, will certainly offer that up to exiting TO owners that may want an upgrade.

A Wade pf is $700, a Shay glass is $350. This is our target for the kit. I would think we can hit this for pre-buys, ie you send us $300 as a deposit, fully refundable if we dont pull the trigger and layout $25K up front OR dont get you a pf in 6-9 months. I expect we'll charge a 20% premium for kit sales after we sign up/make the outlay.

Of course I'll offer conversion services.

I have 8 confirmed and 3 "interested", would like to get 15 deposits as the trigger and take a risk on 10 more. I'll have this at TPF for play and hope the judges favor a best original award.

Ok here's the list so far. Havnt taken a single deposit yet, still checking on a few things, liability ins etc. In one instance an individual has shipped me their TO, would think they are pretty committed.

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Yea Pimp has modified stencils for $150

Yea the pf swap will be straight forward. You'll probably want to replace all the lamp sockets etc and other misc, flipper coils, pop coils etc.

the lightboard, it took me about 6 hours to redo the lightboard because I made some poor choices. When we finalize the design I want to minimize this for the DIYers in the crowd. We could do a radical departure from the TeamOne layout, use the original Wizard glass as is but then we'd have to have a new lightboard cut and maybe 15 hours to swap stuff over. I dont think the crowd would be as receptive to that. So I want to make it very easy to change up.

Anytime you do a restore on a game you are going to drop $400 in parts.

Pinwiztom I'll put you down as interested.

Pinball rescue has the standard plastics set. The only thing really missing will be the dip targets. Ive gotten somebody to 3D print these, we'll need stickers for the W and D we'll use, supplied in the kit.

YES! cant loose novelty mode, I just love it on my Neptune. Here is a composite of the Wizard glass showing the novelty scoring.

I do want to show WOW scoring on the glass, will probably not have it on a diagonal like team one, as I mention in an earlier post tempting to use red orbs like the original Wizard glass.

And yes we will get this approved thru the Gottlieb rights holder.

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yea any 70's shallow cab would do if they want to closely match Abra. And yes will reuse the TO lightboard.

650 TeamOnes produced? I have found 5 so far in the 400-600 price range. Was figuring I'll get some more competition now

Me too. But so far the polling data suggests it needs to be on the backglass at least. it would be nice to have it both places. It would be a minor pain in rewiring for the kit buyers.

Had my prototype out at a pub last night last night and it got a lot of play.

Will be getting serious with Wade on production as soon as he finishes C37.

Ken

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A kit to convert your own machine or would you buy one of the 6-8 games I'll have available?

Hey Dono, do me a fav and look into the scoring at 5 WOWs. It probably just needs a contact on the WOW stepper. Maybe I can incorporate into Wizard

yes ill have a very nice pair...

One of the machines I have does have a nice backglass although Im hesitant to sell it right now, want to get the project started first.

great stuff Dono, will be sure to incorporate

Thanks Dono let me mod my sample Wizard and report back. I also have a TO setup I could mod.

Ive got a serious deposit with Wade to get this started. He's in the midst of FastDraw pf right now. Would expect that he'll get going after that.

Just hit me up. Ive got about 8 pre-orders out of 25. Selling both a kit and then a complete game, Ive got 5 games in inventory. Once we get the art approved and I have a better idea when Wade will produce I'll post a list of the pre-orders..

Yea NY and CT seem to be the hot bed. There was just one up in marketplace from the Pacific pinball Mus. Ive got a stash of 5 game in anticipation.

production run of 650, Seems like most are still around

My pre-buy price Im thiniking $3250. includes all new lamp sockets, plastics, posts etc. as well as pf and bg. Post buy $3650. Shipping to Canada... thats probably $600

I would match the existing Abra cab art, you can see a sample game in my first post of this thread. The minor difference is TeamOne is in the bigger late 70's cab where Abra was in the early 70's cab. I had Jeff Miller stretch the Abra art stencils to match the larger cab. MikeO is tempted to use a early 70s cab for his game. If somebody wants it in an early cab that will be a slight upsell. (I can get cabs manufactured for $500)

I just found a Volley, nice pf but trashed cab, Im going to borrow a TO cab for the Volley while I wait on Wade. I'll buy the extra TO large cab from you. Here's the head, (Ive got extra), cab not much better

Just a little Bondo @boilerman?

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I have a glass, really nice with only ink suck marks. pf in this game is next to perfect as well

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Great news from Wade, my Wizard project is getting queued up to start.

https://pinballplayfields.wordpress.com/author/wadekrause/

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Thats the other pf for this year

Pinballer73, didnt realize you were helping up Wade, i'll certainly reserve a kit for you if you wish. (Wade will not be selling these directly)

sweet we will check it out

Yes, I'll add you to the list.

And Wade has had some time to work on this project... Here's a teaser!

ABRA-GLASS-WIZARD-W-LIGHT-UP (resized).jpg

So far I have confirmed or interested in 17 of the 25 kits
1 Mike O
2 Larry C
3 Jesse
4 Dave B
5 Chris A
6 Don O
7 Bill M
8 Jack G
9 Dave (Houston)
10 Ken for game
11 Pinballer73
12 fingersport
13 ChipScott pinside
14 VGC1612
15 ben chertok33 pinside
16 Shay
17 Moe pinside

Updated list

Name
1 Mike O
2 Larry C
3 Jesse
4 Dave B
5 Chris A
6 Don O
7 Bill M
8 Jack G
9 Dave (Houston)
10 Ken for game
11 Pinballer73 pinside
12 fingersport pinside
13 ChipScott pinside
14 VGC1612 pinside
15 ben chertok33 pinside
16 Shay
17 Topcard pinside

Besides the kits I'll have 4-5 converted games for direct sales, Ive snagged a handful of TO's so far.

Yet another Team One bought up for the project, a little pricey but will look to offer up the pf to TeamOne owners who want an upgrade. (Seriously if there are any TO owners out there jonesin ... i can part with a pf nowish and just leave the bottom side in a box)

minneapolis.craigslist.org link

If anybody is traveling Minneapolis to Dallas and wants some gas money, Ive got a pin that needs a ride. Its stashed with a good buddy and if nothing else I'll retrieve it when I hit the Chicago show in October. I'll have to bring my prototype Wizard to generate interest. Hopefully the pf's/bgs will be done by then.

Ken

Some proto art received, now Im getting excited... Hopefully in a couple of weeks we'll see a pf design... then its off for approvals...

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Here's the updated "interested" list, and revised again, apparently Stu doesnt want 3 kits only one. I should probably reserve one for Wade?

Name
1 Mike O
2 Larry C
3 Dave B
4 Chris A
5 Don O
6 Bill M
7 Jack G
8 Dave (Houston)
9 Ken for game
10 Stu C Pinballer73
11 fingersport
12 ChipScott pinside
13 VGC1612
14 ben chertok33 pinside
15 Shay
16 Topcard pinside
17 Rob B

17 out of 25, still not too shabby.

list update

Name
1 Mike O
2 Larry C
3 Dave B
4 Chris A
5 Don O
6 Bill M
7 Jack G
8 Dave (Houston)
9 Ken for game
10 Stu C Pinballer73
11 fingersport
12 ChipScott pinside
13 VGC1612
14 ben chertok33 pinside
15 Shay
16 Topcard pinside
17 Rob B
18 TimMe pinside
19
20

Team One #6 received (sort of, at a buddy in Minneapolis ). Anybody need a TO pf?

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Another tease...pf art being finalized. getting really close folks

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Big news, preliminary art has been approved and licensing worked out. Now to work with Wade and get a production schedule worked out. For everybody on the interest list expect to hear from me shortly.

Kit composition
1. Wade pf
2. Wade bg
3. Wade light baffle
4. Rescue Abra plastics
5. Dip targets
6. detailed instructions

You'll need drop targets from PBR and other stuff and extended Abra stencils from da Pimp.

Besides kits I'll be selling finished "Wizard" games, have a stock of 5-6 games. Also have one conversion lined up (somebody delivered a TO to me)

Year end is my expectation for kits.

Ken

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Ok gang. Licensing completed thru Mondial, preliminary design approved by them and Steve. Wade lined up and production tentatively scheduled. By year end is the commitment.

Kit composition
1. Wade pf
2. Wade bg
3. Wade light baffle
4. Rescue Abra plastics
5. Dip targets
6. Instruction Cards
7. detailed instructions for mounting the baffle and rewiring the lightboard (not too difficult)

You'll need 10 drop targets from Steve as well as new pop caps (Im suggesting Neutron Star). Pinball Pimp has the Abra stencils for a TO deep cab.

Pr-delivery pricing $1295, will ask for a $300 deposit.

I will start reaching out to the folks on the list.

Thanks
ken

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Sold 4 kits and 3 games in the first day... not bad

Ken

7 kits so far. If Ive missed anybody reach out to me!

For you northeast folks, a TeamOne in NJ, $750 is my estimate. needs a new pf and backglass, i happen to know who could help with that...

ebay.com link: itm

Hey gang, over half of the kits are committed 14 out of 25, 11 left.

3 pinsiders Ive not heard from

fingersport
ChipScott
VGC1612

Another kit sold (pending deposit). 15 accounted for, 10 left.

I will be a vendor at the Chicago Expo show, will have my sample "Wizard" avail for play as well as a newly acquired Team One to show the "before".

Hope all the local EM folk stop by to say hi.

Ken

Catch me at the Chicago Expo next weekend (Friday sat). I'll have my sample wizard as well as an orginal TeamOne...

Ken

He has the pf blanks, got the holes drilled and was fitting the inserts... end of yea or early next...

Ken

Wizard and TeamOne at Expo

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Anybody at Expo today, stop by and say hello

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Great weekend at Expo, another kit and complete game pre-sold, 15 out of 25.

Need to find a couple more TeamOnes...

Just exchanged emails with Wade, he feels that Wizard pieces will be done by mid Feb.

He ran into issues with the clear on El Dorado which held him up a month or 2. (El D should be shipping real soon!)

And just picked up my 8th and 9th TeamOnes. With 6 presold I have 3 available. For a production run of only ~600 they certainly seem plentiful.

Setting aside 3 kits for these games Im down to only 7 kits left!

Ken

Well I have my sample game. And then a loose updated pf/bg would work. Always good to put a little fudge time on dates

yes I do... let me know what you need. Havnt started any yet but I have a pf loose right now.

pfs too. I had one really nice bg but its sold.

Was this a 2 1/2 hour drive for you? Quite a conversation on FB about somebody trying to buy it away from a guy having to drive a distance?

I'll check the pf for the pieces

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Update, 9 kits pre-ordered, 8 complete games pre-ordered. Got 1 game left. 17 out of 25 pre-ordered.

A couple of people have asked for pricing to deliver the game in the early 70's cab (as opposed to the TeamOne late 70's cab). Thats going to be about an $800 add (new cab thou).

Another option is to have the pf clear coated... $200 on that one.

Wade says mid Feb...

A lot of rewiring and sourcing the unique AAB WOW stepper in the head. TeamOne has all the hardware, we are proverbially putting lipstick on a pig with the art change to Abra AAB/Wizard

I just had a couple of cabs manufactured, these are the shallow "Abra" style cabs instead of the deeper TeamOne/Wizard cab. With the extra door hardware needed I can offer this option for Wizard for $700. let me know if anybody is interested...

And here's a tease from Wade, glasses are being printed.

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cabs (resized).jpg

basic cabinet plywood. $400 okc area

A couple of people have asked for pricing to deliver the game in the early 70's cab (as opposed to the TeamOne late 70's cab). Thats going to be $800 add! (new cab thou).

New door, new bezel, new strike plate, and of course new legs. I will be using sharkfin lockdown bars, Steve had 2 NOS receivers...

Another option is to have the pf clear coated... $200 on that one.

Let me know if anybody wants either option.

Another note, I will be driving to Allentown this year...sample Wizard, maybe even a completed Wizard in hand. Although the kits could be shipped out early march, if anybody wants to pick up their kit there and save the $100 or so... LMK

Shay, pick up Wizard in Allentown?

Ken

I have kit pricing at $1295 prior to the end of Feb (expected delivery), I have 7 kits left out of 25. Pricing will go to $1495 after delivery. Shipping extra.

I have 1 game available, $3500 before end of Feb, 3950 after.

Options, pf clear coat $200

thanks

Ken

A quick update, Wade is busy in the shop with Wizard bg and pf. End of Feb and then the approval process, guessing 2-3 weeks for that with shipping etc. Should be able to show the pieces at Texas Pinball Festival, toward the end of March.

I have pre-sold ALL 9 complete game packages, exhausted my stock of TeamOnes. (Anybody have a rough TeamOne to sell me? pickup at AllenTown)

I have 7 kits remaining.

Anybody want to pick up their kit at Allentown?

I'd like to have a game ready for Atown as well.

Let me know if anybody else wants the clear coat option

I am amazed at the support for this project, thanks gang.

Ken

One note on the cab option... I will be using fin style lockdown bars from TeamOne. The receivers will not allow a coin chute to be installed, ie no use of coins with the shallow Abra cab UNLESS the buyer sources me a button style lockdown bar (I do have a couple extra receivers...).

Minor trouble in pinball paradise.

Keith Holbook is doing the clear for me, his material PPG 2021 DX61 hardener Advantage slow reducer Ppg fisheye eliminator.

His process for new Wade pf's: Wet sand with 2000 and then one application (3 passes 15 minutes apart). Followed by 3000 wet sand 24 hours later and polish with Magyars Power Compound.

You certainly can get additional coats as you want

For home use its fine. Clearing will speed up the game...

Yes, Wade is very true to the original finishes, a couple coats of lacquer as the final seal.

Watch Milwaukee CL, I found one there... Also Minneapolis.

I got offered 1 at Allentown for $2000, a little steep for a retheme. 500-800 is the sweet spot

Nice TeamOne on ebay, Long, Island
ebay.com link: itm

Yea, that one was in very nice shape.

Quick update. Wade is now done printing the pf's. He had some bleed to correct on a small set of boards He is now sealing and then cutting...

On the backglasses, issues there, he has to start over. My expectation now is early April. Expect to delivery some of the kits at Allentown Pinfest.

I have 8 for post clear coat (Larry, Bert, Wes, Dave, Brian, NW_mike, Jesse, Mark). Let me know if anybody else wants clearing.

And 4 for Abra cab mods.

6 kits out of 25 left, no more games, sold all 8 (one sent me their game for redo, so 9 to build)

Latest supply issue, PBR out of legs... dang, may need to powdercoat and deliver with those.

Ken

I have found 1 more TeamOne, will pick up at the Allentown show in early May. If somebody want to buy it direct and pick up there, I'd sell it. Otherwise I have one more complete Wizard games for sale.

11 kits, 9 games presold, 21 out of 25. Only 4 left! (I am amazed)

Wade reports the playfields are done and he's half way thru printing the glasses. Like 12 colors, each a separate print then dry etc.

Yes, you are kit #11! Thx Bryan

Yes!

Looks like I failed math... 9 and 11 is 20... However I just sold another complete game, 10 games, 11 kits, 21, now Im at 4 left!

Wade has provided a sample pf, come see it at Texas Pinball Festival

I am now "sold out" 23 out of 25 with 2 held in reserve just in case! (will build a waiting list for the 2 reserve and Wade may have a couple over 25 as well)

I am astounded at the support.

And my sample "Wizard" won best 70's EM at Texas Pinball Festival! It was playing very good, a lot of nice compliments.

Here a booth shot, Cleopatra (needs a paint job), a TeamOne, Wizard and a very nice Satellite.

Ken

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Update from Wade... glasses done, real soon now. Approval process next.

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Conflicted on a number of items... consistency versus overall aesthetics...

find me another TO please. See you really soon.

And look thru your parts bin for a early 70s receiver since Im using an Abra cab for half of these.

I do love the red flame up the middle.

Folks, things are lining up for me to be able to deliver kits at Allentown. I have #dono and #bangerjay for pickup (Shay for a complete game). Anybody else? Hit me up.

Sold out at 23 of 25, 2 in reserve, will put folks on a waiting list.

Ken

have you down for CCoat and now Allentown pickup

thanks

And a kit has become available.

Ken

Actually folks... with the clear coating step we may have an issue making the Allentown show deadline... stay tuned.

Wade's playfields and backglasses have now been approved!!! Time to get busy. First I got to arrange shipment from Fresno...

Most of the pf's need to be clearcoated, first step.

ABRA-GLASS-WIZARD-W-LIGHT-UP (resized).jpg

pfupdate (resized).jpeg

Thanks for your kind words Derrick. Im just sorry its taking so long to get these done. Actually doing a 2fer paint on the next Wizards. PFs are hopefully getting cleared this weekend.

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If your TO pf is ratty then it is tempting. I do have a couple of replaced TO pfs that Im selling. Backglasses are an issue for TO, Ive got 4 or 5 glasses sitting here all bad. If there wasnt a licensing issue I'd be tempted to reproduce

I have two unreserved kits although these will be filled with Wades over runs and slight imperfections, will clearly provide pics.

I do want to get all the kits successfully shipped out (no broken glass) and then I'll start fulfilling the orders on the wait list (need 3 TO games) and well as these two unreserved kits.

Art painting today... 1 color per side per day... especially when its so humid.

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pf's getting cleared...

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I pick up the cleared pfs a week Saturday... In the meantime Im getting two Wizards ready for shipment to the NW, serials 8003 and 8004.

About 8 hours of effort in reworking the lightboard. Building the TeamOne game into new Abra shallow cabs is a lot of work!

I have used both sharkfin lockdown bars on these abra cabs BUT if the buyer wants a working coinslot Ive got to use a button style bar (converted sharkfin)

Of course I also have to route out a coinslot gap on the pf, now thats a pain!

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ok gang, finally got the bulk of the pieces. They went from Wade to KC where 18 pfs were cleared 4, were not and Ive already delivered on (3 kits, 3 complete games).

We ended up with too many cleared pf's and not enough uncleared... Will reach out to the folks taking the uncleared and see if somebody can take a cleared

I hope to get the kits sent out in the next two weeks.

Ken

lotofpf (resized).jpg

Well gang, only one playfield and glass left! I ordered 25 from Wade, Wade actually produced 28 kits with 3 of them being minor seconds.

I am down to ONLY one left.

Still need 3 more Team Ones. I have built 5, have 7 more on hand, finding 3 more will bring the total build to 15. 12 have been sold a DIY kits.

Building 2 per month, 2 Aug, 2 Sept, 2 Oct and if I dont find any more then only 1 in Nov.

By any measure this has been a huge success and a lot of fun to overcome the challenges. I truly appreciate the support from the pinball community.

Now if Steve would hurry up and get us some 31 inch legs!

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Great news Derrick! Amazing.

Yes, snagged!

Only need 2 more

Yea I know the seller... I'll see what he says

1,999,990 I'll have you know!

The late 70s aabs for gtb had this, Neptune and lucky hand come to mind besides Wiz

How about using an extra score reel with its board to drive the lights? The advantage is you could easily incorporate it into the startup seq as a 5th reel. Of course the reel isnt visable. And reels are a lot easier to find then a stepper. Also simpler to visualize/incorporate...