Redux: Bally Classic List - so few HG's

G

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Feb 8, 2012, 6:54:36 PM2/8/12

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I came across this recurring thread and wonder why Harlem
Globetrotters is not in more collections? I think it's a great game to
have in a classic Bally lineup. Your thoughts?

G

CactusJack

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Feb 8, 2012, 7:22:15 PM2/8/12

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I have one in my collection and I think it IS a good game. Better than
many Bally's from the same era. But when you look at them (other Ballys
around it), they all are pretty much the same features moved around here
and there, or one item traded out for another. At that time, about the
best thing Bally had going for it was a Drop Target. This one had the
in-lines instead of a bank of them. Plus, it has the spinners which I
really like on this game.

Lack of appearance in collections might have to do with how much they
got played to death. It is very common to see exposed wood in the
center of the P/F. And, it was a bad era for Backglasses too.

RB

--
CactusJack
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seymour.shabow

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Feb 8, 2012, 8:09:23 PM2/8/12

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That's one of those "if you didn't play it back in the day, you don't
like it" games. Supersonic is another one.

I always rank this type of question as "if I had space for __#__ games,
I'd have this". HG is at the "if I had space for 117 games, HG would be
#117"

schmoo

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Feb 8, 2012, 9:03:18 PM2/8/12

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On Feb 8, 8:09 pm, "seymour.shabow" <seymour.sha...@gmail.com> wrote:

> That's one of those "if you didn't play it back in the day, you don't
> like it" games. Supersonic is another one.

Man, you nailed it. There are some classic Ballys that I never played
as a kid and didn't even know about until I started collecting, such
as Fathom or Centaur, which are great games to own and play, even
without the warm fuzzies of teenage nostalgia. But for so many other
borderline Bally pins...HG, Supersonic, Lost World, Eight Ball, etc.
the childhood memories are what makes the mediocre game play
bearable. I would have unloaded most of my collection long ago had I
not had some special fondness for them.

dcerny

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Feb 8, 2012, 10:09:26 PM2/8/12

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One of my absolute favorites to play. Love the double spinners. Def a
title I keep almost buying over and over. Problem for me is when it
actually comes to thinking about it sitting in my home, I just have
the HARDEST time getting past the artwork. This whole era of Bally art
is so striking- HG is unfortunately imo, a major ugly duckling.

dan c

Pinball Life

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Feb 8, 2012, 11:04:29 PM2/8/12

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If I could find a good HGT in good shape available for a decent price in
the Chicagoland area I would snap it up. Those spinners are so
satisfying to hit!
Terry.

--
Pinball Life

masspinballfan

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Feb 9, 2012, 12:27:47 AM2/9/12

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I only have room for about five pins and have had my HG for almost two
years now, If I had to unload the other four and could only keep one
HG would be the one that I'd keep.

The reason is simple, If you like SS and EM pins then HG is a
combination of both eras, You have a 70's/80's type pin combined on
one table. Three spinners, inline targets, standup targets, basketball
saucer, slam dunk shot, specials, extra ball and just pure pinball fun
for those who love pins from that era.

Gatecrasher

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Feb 11, 2012, 3:15:06 PM2/11/12

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One of the best buys I ever got on eBay was a Harlem Globetrotters. It
was on a few years ago and the guy wanted $1500 for it.

The pictures the guy used in the ad were low-resolution crappy cell
phone pics and I was not surprised that no one bid on it for that
price.

The guy relisted it with the same price plus the "make offer" option. I
could tell from the pictures that it really was in primo condition even
though the pics didn't do it justice. I offered him $800 for it but was
still a little reluctant until I picked it up.

It is by-far the absolute best condition early SS in my collection (and
I have some super-nice survivors in my collection). The guy bought it
brand-new for his kids and it just sat covered in his house for 30
years.

It still had the protective plastic film on the coin door and side rails
when I got it! Absolutely mint!!! As-if you just pulled it out of the
factory box. Zero fade on the cabinet and the playfield is mint above
and underneath. The original factory spinners barely had a mark on the
artwork (and they usually take a beating in no time).

It's a great player too and is definitely a "keeper".

I doubt I will ever find a better deal on eBay and I would be surpirsed
if another one exists on the planet that is nicer, unless it is still
sealed in the original box.

--
Gatecrasher

*Quality Pinball Parts Made In The USA! *
Buy Direct and Save $

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Rev-Test

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Feb 11, 2012, 3:28:28 PM2/11/12

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This machine is a great candidate for the 7 digit conversion really
adds some serious depth to a normally easy to roll game. My friend did
his and it really is sweet! Great game for sure.

-Jake

seeburg220

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Feb 11, 2012, 3:40:44 PM2/11/12

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Hey show us some pics of this beauty ! Also, I clicked on your links
in your signature...What website is that ?

Gatecrasher

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Feb 12, 2012, 5:18:29 AM2/12/12

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seeburg220;1882729 Wrote:
> Hey show us some pics of this beauty ! Also, I clicked on your links
> in your signature...What website is that ?

I have a few pics I can post. It's currently in storage because I'm
about to move back to Chicago next month so these are from a couple
years ago. I have the legs removed in the 1st pic and was temporarily
using some generic chrome legs because the only significant flaws it had
when I got it were a few scratches on the legs, which I was touching up
at the time of the pics.

[image: http://i44.tinypic.com/hu1rgy.jpg]

[image: http://i39.tinypic.com/qz4v41.jpg]

[image: http://i40.tinypic.com/10zo4lw.jpg]

[image: http://i43.tinypic.com/2dk0f3p.jpg]

[image: http://i43.tinypic.com/1zy7nl2.jpg]

[image: http://i39.tinypic.com/122g26g.jpg]

[image: http://i42.tinypic.com/315yjva.jpg]

[image: http://i43.tinypic.com/wk1kro.jpg]

Everything is original. The only thing I've ever done to it other than
touch-up the legs was to replace the MPU battery, the capacitors on the
solenoid driver board (even though it didn't need it) and a rubber set.
The original MPU has zero acid damage and the old battery was actually
still operational when I got the machine.

As for the link in my sig, that is just a hosted jpg picture of some of
the pinball parts I currently manufacture. I have some new parts in the
works for later this year.

Noahpdavis

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Feb 12, 2012, 12:21:14 PM2/12/12

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Wow - that's a beat. Cerny??? Bad Artwork?? It's like Python before
Python!

I did the 7-dig conversion on mine, and it's hard to imagine it
without.

http://www.pinball4you.ch/okaegi/pro_d7.html

Dr. Dave

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Feb 12, 2012, 12:43:42 PM2/12/12

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I've got 3 of them and haven't restored one of them yet. I do like
the game though and have a NOS clearcoated playfield waiting to go
into one of them.
Just played one last night at a friends house and it re-affirmed for
me what a great player HG really is. (Great playing HG with you again
George.) = )

DR

On Feb 8, 6:54 pm, G <gja...@pinnacletraining.com> wrote:

TheKorn

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Feb 12, 2012, 12:48:25 PM2/12/12

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HG is one of those games where I wish someone would make a 'how to play
HG' type video. Every time I play it I'm bored to tears by it, but am
willing to spot that may be because I don't really know the rules to the
game.

Then again I had to sell bally strikes & spares for much the same
reason. Even though I DO know the rules to S&S, I was still bored
playing it. It'd be interesting to find out.

--
TheKorn

edcianci

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Feb 12, 2012, 12:47:30 PM2/12/12

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> > G- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

i have 2 in ri that are both mint - sadly both need some new
connectors and i haven't been able to play them. i have to get them
fixed as one is staying in my ri house and the other is going to our
vacation house in nh. even my kids love hg. it's a great classic

thanks ed

G

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Feb 12, 2012, 1:14:43 PM2/12/12

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Dave: always good to see you.

Ed: you must really love the game! If you ever want to sub out the
connector repinning it is something I like I like to do. I have done
almost every one of my 12 Bally games. Dave called me the connector
king last night. ;-)

G

Big12bus

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Feb 12, 2012, 1:17:34 PM2/12/12

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OK, OK, OK...As Joe Pesci says......Now I have it figured out.....:)

Bill

Gatecrasher

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Feb 12, 2012, 1:39:14 PM2/12/12

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DRDAVE;1883279 Wrote:
> I've got 3 of them and haven't restored one of them yet. I do like
> the game though and have a NOS clearcoated playfield waiting to go
> into one of them.
> Just played one last night at a friends house and it re-affirmed for
> me what a great player HG really is.

Yeah I have a nice NOS playfield, NOS playfield plastics set, and an NOS
backglass too for Harlem Globetrotters that I got a few years ago. You
used to be able to find them pretty-easily but like everything else are
getting more scarce.

I'll probably use them someday but no need for my current machine. I
plan to keep it original (plus everything on it is as good as NOS).

edcianci;1883286 Wrote:
>
> i have 2 in ri that are both mint - sadly both need some new
> connectors and i haven't been able to play them. i have to get them
> fixed as one is staying in my ri house and the other is going to our
> vacation house in nh. even my kids love hg. it's a great classic
>
> thanks ed

Man go invest in a crimper and some new connector inserts. It's a bit
time-consuming but pretty-easy to replace them yourself. You can't
hardly own these era machines and expect them to work for long without
the ability to replace connectors as they are all usually in dire need
of them. When I buy an early SS machine the first thing I usually do is
to replace every single wire connector as well as all the lamp sockets.
Then you are assured years of trouble-free play (plus every light
works). Once the cheap plating becomes oxidized or wears off the
connectors and sockets (like they are on almost all older machines), it
will be a never-ending battle to keep everything working.

--
Gatecrasher

*Quality Pinball Parts Made In The USA! *
Buy Direct and Save $

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