Most negligent operator?
Jeff
had. Even though they only had about 10 machines, the selection was good
(MM, RFM...) but the machines were in TERRIBLE shape. Downright damaged
rubbers, non-functioning toys (causing, in many cases, the ball to be
trapped), weak flippers, and, perhaps most blatant of all, a flipper that
was stuck halfway between up and down in its rest state (it went all the way
up when the button was pressed).
This is the worst condition I've ever seen pins in the field in. It's like
they bought them, put them out on the arcade floor, and then never looked at
them again. Any similar experiences out there?
Ron Salny
>they bought them, put them out on the arcade floor, and then never looked at
>them again. Any similar experiences out there?
How about Lloyd and myself for the least negligent operators? lol
Ron
Goose Wrangler a.k.a. Jim Hallock
Jim
Pinhead
--
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Remove the "nospam" to e-mail me
WMS: Wh*rlwind, Sp*ce Mission, Bl*ast Off
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"Jeff" <jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com> wrote in message
news:m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Cliffy
T.D. Rowe. Their "techs" are fully equipped with sheetrock screws and
duct tape, and nothing else.
--
Cliffy
http://home.attbi.com/~crinear
JLatimer
last time I saw one cleaned it was with a water wetted paper towel...
IF we could clone Ron and LTG....
John!
"Jeff" <jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com> wrote in message news:<m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>...
Jim Knight
the minimum requirements for a route machine!
I may be wrong, but I bet you put a few quarters in the machines. If so,
happy operator.
Jim Knight
"Jeff" <jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com> wrote in message
news:m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
SaraAB
the ones at the skylon tower in niagara falls ontario canada
Jeremy Wilson
jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com says...
>This is the worst condition I've ever seen pins in the field in. It's like
>they bought them, put them out on the arcade floor, and then never looked at
>them again. Any similar experiences out there?
When I bought my AFM, it had the following problems:
1/2" gouge in scoop, dozens of chips in the DP all over, four broken ramps,
three missing saucers, 5 missing LEDs from the saucer, no GI, no flashers, no
strobe lamp, half the optos out, both flippers pointing in odd directions, half
the switches out, barely any feature lamps working.
The playfield is perfect now, but the cabinet touch-ups aren't perfect.
Otherwise it looks new. Everything is savable.
--
Jeremy Wilson (xe...@inforamp.net) Classic Video / Pinball Collector
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Toronto Gameroom Show - June 9th, 2002 - www.torontogameroomshow.com
Joe Mamma
way. Great games just beat to sh$%. It must not matter if they work
or not as I offered to do some part-time repairs for him at a very
reasonable cost and never heard from him. I think this is pretty
common to see no-working or beat up games on location. They want the
$$$$$ but don't want to work for it!
Just my opinion for what it's worth!
Chris
"Jeff" <jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com> wrote in message news:<m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>...
Mark Lohnes
Worst operator I have seen was on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. He
had about 14 pins and not one worked correctly. The worst one was
Earthshaker, had one williams flipper and one old Bally flipper.
Skillshot corkscrew missing, drop targets missing and spinner missing
and playfield was worndown to bare wood.
Every pin their was in poor condition.
Also a few years ago Jillians nite club in Boston Ma.
had about 10 pins all in poor shape also.
Mark L
Lloyd R Olson
Ron Salny <vette...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020607075856...@mb-fo.aol.com...
Shayne Stacy
my area(roseville, ca) is just the same. I try to stay away from it,
because all of their machines are in such bad shape. We were there for
a birthday party last weekend, and there was a monopoly there that I
had played a few months prior(another kid bday party) and it WAS in
good shape. Now the legs appeared to be loose and the whole game is
tilted to the right. Worse yet, they accidentally had the game set of
free play due to the "all you can play saturday morning for $6" events
that are held each week. Free play unplayable monopoly! It was
frustrating. I agree, it does look like they bought the machines new,
then threw them out there to be played until they break.
Thanks,
Shayne
"Jeff" <jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com> wrote in message news:<m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>...
Jeff
You'd think after investing $3000+ in a new machine, they'd want to spend a
few hundred to maintain it. Still...I wonder where those broken machines
are going...maybe I should try to buy some.
"Shayne Stacy" <shayn...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f8ed629.02060...@posting.google.com...
Bruce
> I think you and I are going to the same Golfland.
>
> You'd think after investing $3000+ in a new machine, they'd want to spend a
> few hundred to maintain it. Still...I wonder where those broken machines
> are going...maybe I should try to buy some.
>
> "Shayne Stacy" <shayn...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3f8ed629.02060...@posting.google.com...
> > Golfland by far here- I'm not sure where you live, but the Golfland in
> > my area(roseville, ca) is just the same. I try to stay away from it,
> > because all of their machines are in such bad shape. We were there for
> > a birthday party last weekend, and there was a monopoly there that I
> > had played a few months prior(another kid bday party) and it WAS in
> > good shape. Now the legs appeared to be loose and the whole game is
> > tilted to the right. Worse yet, they accidentally had the game set of
> > free play due to the "all you can play saturday morning for $6" events
> > that are held each week. Free play unplayable monopoly! It was
> > frustrating. I agree, it does look like they bought the machines new,
> > then threw them out there to be played until they break.
> > Thanks,
> > Shayne
Golfland in Mesa AZ, same way. I did approach the GM and asked if any
were for sale, NO. Funny, they can't bring in much coin in bad shape
and shoved in the corner, but they don't want to get rid of them
either. What's it gonna be pal?
Geez... with only a VERY FEW exceptions (Present company excepted)
there are VERY FEW classy operators. I call them Slum Lords. I bought
a T-2 from an operator. I fired it up and there was ZERO GI. I
thought, oh shit what could cause all the GI to go out. It was a
simple fix. EVERY BULB IN THE MACHINE WAS TOAST!!!!! What are the
odds? They must have not replaced one single lamp in 10 years. Still
had the original rotted rubber too!
Bruce Artman
Mesa, AZ
The_Black_Knight
Those descriptions are minimal to the ones I have seen that have more broken
posts and parts lying in the playfield than where they are supposed to be.
--
The_Black_Knight
"Early Bally" its not a phrase, its a "Way of Life"!
Washington State Pinball STRONGHOLD
"A Fortress Protecting the Silver Ball"
http://www.geocities.com/pinball_jack
"Jeff" <jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com> wrote in message
news:m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Joe Pins
remedption machines. I guess this is what is making money. Although I love
pinball and play all the time, I see lines at the local arcade, excuse me "
family entertainment center", at some game called Drill something. It is
loaded with prizes in a honeycomb type display. I also see everyone walking
around with tickets which they turn in for prizes. Maybe Stern should put a
coupon/ticket unit on its pinball machines. Long live pins .. especially...
Joe Pins
With a name like that you gotta love pinball. Thanks dad.
Alex Chapman
1- Safecracker. Brilliant redemption-style concept perfectly
integrated into gameplay. Only 800 made, and it didn't set the world
on fire.
2- Most WPC games, or at least the late ones, have a spot in the
harness and the software to handle ticket dispensers. I've never,
ever seen it implemented.
joe...@aol.com (Joe Pins) wrote in message news:<20020608051057...@mb-mq.aol.com>...
Merlin Amusements
with redemption AND pinballs, why not hook up a ticket dispenser. Maybe ,
just maybe..... If anyone tries this, please let us know how it turns out.
It didn't work with safecracker because it was tokens, not tickets for
redemption.
Mike
"Alex Chapman" <jalexc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3da6a1d5.02060...@posting.google.com...
Ray
Ocean City, NJ
They think wiping down the glass is all that's necessary.
I heard they got a new Playboy, that's probably toast by now with
tourist season.
jeff
> Jilly's arcade
> Ocean City, NJ
> They think wiping down the glass is all that's necessary.
> I heard they got a new Playboy, that's probably toast by now with
> tourist season.
>
> Jeff
If you want to be sickened,drop by the Strip at Lake of the Ozarks,MO.
Hands down,worst maintained machines EVER. There are three arcades on
the strip with a total of 25-30 pins,of which 5-6 are playable. From
old EMs to a few DMDs,all but a few have tape over the coin
slots,non-working displays,stuck score reels,broken rubbers,missing
balls,broken flippers,the list goes on and on.All of them absolutly
filthy.The bad thing is, these arcades are closed from Nov. to
March,and then they reopen with the pins in the exact same condition
as the year before.It's like they don't WANT to make money from the
pins.I have seen 1 machine fixed in 2 years.I just don't get
it..........
Bodean
Wtr4me
shape. Some were obviously better than others, but I give them a 7 out of 10.
I played Playboy, M-B, M-M, J-Y, and T-O-M all of which had no credit dots
(couldn't tell about PB, but seemed fine). ANother thing. All games were .25
a play and some were even 5 balls. There was one arcade (can't recall the
name) in OC NJ that had a TZ, BOP, SG, R911, and TAF. TAF, SG, and R911 were
Shut off and out of order. The TZ I played was HORRIBLE...so many errors it
was impossible to play (but the flippers WERE strong). The BOP had weak
flippers and had problems with the face turning logic. VOLUME was SOOOO loud
it hurt.
Brian
nicole wilson
Goose Wrangler a.k.a. Jim Hallock
Red Blooded American........."Male"
Thanks for asking.......
Jim
Mike Doyle
thing. The pins in the back of the Rebel arcade have so much dust on
the glass, you can't see the playfield. I talked to the owner last
year- he won't sell anything since the bank has the inventory secured
for his loan. He said they are trying to get them fixed, but just
don't have the time to keep them all running. He wasn't interested in
any trades, and I couldn't spend our family vacation working on his
games- so there they sit and rot.
Mike Doyle
SWE-1/RFM, TZ, WW, DM, WW, HS2
Aron Boag
> In article <m2%L8.17068$O53.35...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>,
> jm2*REMOVETHIS*@mailandnews.com says...
> >This is the worst condition I've ever seen pins in the field in. It's like
> >they bought them, put them out on the arcade floor, and then never looked at
> >them again. Any similar experiences out there?
>
> When I bought my AFM, it had the following problems:
>
> 1/2" gouge in scoop, dozens of chips in the DP all over, four broken ramps,
> three missing saucers, 5 missing LEDs from the saucer, no GI, no flashers, no
> strobe lamp, half the optos out, both flippers pointing in odd directions, half
> the switches out, barely any feature lamps working.
Wow. You really *did* overpay for that thing, didn't you?
> The playfield is perfect now, but the cabinet touch-ups aren't perfect.
> Otherwise it looks new. Everything is savable.
Glad to hear it, but still. Ouch.
Aron
Aron Boag
> Sorry, didn't work:
>
> 1- Safecracker. Brilliant redemption-style concept perfectly
> integrated into gameplay. Only 800 made, and it didn't set the world
> on fire.
>
> 2- Most WPC games, or at least the late ones, have a spot in the
> harness and the software to handle ticket dispensers. I've never,
> ever seen it implemented.
Memories...misty water color...oh, sorry.
Anyway, I HAVE seen it implemented, and it was one of the absolute
highlights of all my pinball playing experiences. When I was on
vacation in Australia (I'm going back some day), I was walking around
Sydney and got into the (forgive me if I botch this) Wooloomooloo
area, where I walked into a bar that had a sign in front stating that
they had many gambling devices AND also said they had video games and
pinballs. Well, I can't resist that kind of offer.
In I went, and lo and behold, what did I find? My favorite pinball
ever, WCS. It looked clean, although it CLEARLY leaned to the right.
Didn't matter, I was *going* to play it...it's WCS. The one thing I
noticed, with much dread and trepidation, was the ticket dispenser on
the front of the coin door. "Oh no," I thought, "this machine gives
useless tickets instead of credits. Crap. Oh well, I've gotta play
it anyway."
Long story short, as I'm playing, I get replays, specials, matches,
and HS credits, several times. Each time the machine pops, out shoots
a ticket. *However*, in addition to the tickets, the game ALSO awards
credits! So I'm earning tickets AND games. This makes me smile. I
think "Well, I get to keep playing for a while, and then when I'm
done, I get to find out what color pencil eraser I get for my
tickets." Once finished, having left several games on the machine, I
grab my tickets and head for the bar, where the employees were.
Pretty barmaid approaches, asking what I'd like. No, I didn't say
what you're thinking. I asked what the tickets were good for, or
something to that effect. She said she wasn't sure, but that she'd
check with her boss. Two minutes later, she comes back and says that
I can redeem them for food, drink, or...get this: CASH. Clearly
dumbfounded, I took the cash at $1 per ticket, and left. I ended up
going back there later in the same day and getting $5-6 more, and
buying the first credit was only $1 a shot!
It was a vacation highlight. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe
that playing the best pinball ever made would end up paying for my
dinner that night (lamb curry) while watching "The Graduate" for the
first time in Sydney's open air movie on the water. It was a PERFECT
thing. I still remember that wonderful, wonderful day.
So you see? They CAN be used for ticket dispensing...you just have to
know where to go. ;)
Aron (Scattered pictures...)
madsygrl
:,-<
its a sad sight. And my husband and I watched the guy DUCT Tape the
Harley Davidson back together somehow - yikes. We also watched an
attendant pick up and slam down their AFM (ugh!) rather than remove
the glass to retrieve a stuck ball(right after she spent literally an
hour cleaning the skeeball lanes-who cares!!). Their NGG had important
parts missing I think, but there's no gi, so you can't really tell.
Most annoying of all, as if it isnt already, the South Park gets
stuck on Mr Hankey screaming Heidi Ho!! Jilly's does have a great
collection, and they are open year round (my husband and I go in
off-season when we have the place more to ourselves)...if only they
would be a little more respectful of their equipment.
wtr...@aol.com (Wtr4me) wrote in message news:<20020610003919...@mb-bd.aol.com>...
jeff
> AMEN Brother! We head down to the strip every summer and see the same
> thing. The pins in the back of the Rebel arcade have so much dust on
> the glass, you can't see the playfield. I talked to the owner last
> year- he won't sell anything since the bank has the inventory secured
> for his loan. He said they are trying to get them fixed, but just
> don't have the time to keep them all running. He wasn't interested in
> any trades, and I couldn't spend our family vacation working on his
> games- so there they sit and rot.
>
> Mike Doyle
> SWE-1/RFM, TZ, WW, DM, WW, HS2
>
Mike, I'm glad someone else has seen the carnage at the Lake. I guess
I just needed a crying buddy. :) I almost offered to fix and shop his
pins at the Rebel,since I live a half hour away,but then I realized
that would be a six month job. Hell, I can barely keep my own dozen up
and running.Anyway,at least the Rebel is kind of a clean, well lit
arcade, not like the " Family Entertainment" arcade across the street
next to Dogpatch. Dirty,dim (so you can't see how dirty it is?), about
the only machines in there that work are the silver falls.Hmm,I wonder
why nobody's ever in there compared to the Rebel. Man,if I had the
money...........
Bodean
Ron Strom
boa...@comcast.net says...
Ron
Aron Boag
> How the hell do they make any profit?
>
> Ron
Ron, well, quite frankly, they probably do pretty well with it. As
far as I could tell, nobody but the manager/boss she talked to even
knew what the tickets were *for*. That tells me that they redeem
these tickets *so rarely*, that they're not even a factor. Most
people (including me) wouldn't even think that the tickets were worth
anything, just like at any other gameroom. "You've got nine tickets?
What color temporary tattoo did you want?" So most people, if they
realize that they've actually *won* anything, might not even bother
redeeming them. As well, this was the only ticket-dispensing machine
in the place, so far as I could tell.
Besides, their main source of revenue was from the video slots and the
bar...anything else was just distraction and advertisement...but what
a distraction it was!
Aron
Jeremy Wilson
Yeah, I probably did but now I have it. Most of that stuff was repaired by
re-soldering wires and replacing connectors - just time-consuming.
The people at the show can atest to the condition of the game. Trent got the
GC score of 88 billion!
Ron Strom
boa...@comcast.net says...
money ;-}
Ron
--
Remove the OBVIOUS to email.