The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => News & Announcements => Topic started by: Pinballer on July 15, 2009, 04:32:49 PM
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Having returned home from a brief break in Queensland, I have put together this update on the Aussie Pinball Museum. Staying with a good friend, Lee Feldwick and family, it was a very enjoyable few days. Saturday night we caught the train and went to the GABBA to watch the Lions vs Cats game. Unfortunately the Cats played poorly with so many senior players out of the side and got hammered. Listening to the Lion roar from the stadium PA system so many times got old, real fast!
Anyway, back on track, back to the pins. I was very fortunate to get a look around at the future Museum site and what’s been done so far. What follows has the approval of the owner Alan Tate.
Before we get into things, it needs to be explained that the Aussie Pinball Museum (APM), is not open to the public as yet. Alan is working towards that goal. As has been reported by others, land has been purchased in the Mt. Tamborine area of QLD. It’s a long road to opening day with many obstacles yet to over come. These include such things as planning approval, building design and construction plans, land clearing, building works, fit out etc. Not to mention the many hundreds of machines still to be restored.
I must stress that the museum is a long way from opening at this stage. There is no building as yet and nothing is open to the public. No dates have been penciled in for an opening, with the work on the game restorations continuing along each week. Alan will make his own announcement when the time comes to open the doors.
Alan has been sourcing machines for many years, mainly from the USA, some from Australia. The impressive collection of pins, ball bowlers, fortune teller, grip testers, rifle games, baseballs/pitch and bats and more is around the 1500 mark. The machines range from most eras, from the 30’s through to the very late 90’s. To date there are no machines from this century.
Lee is patiently and methodically restoring each machine, with game 139 (Williams – Big Daddy) in the workshop this week. The other 138 are either fully restored or progressed as far as possible, waiting on parts and where required cabinet repaints. As you will see in the photos that follow, the quality of Lee’s work is outstanding. Keeping in mind, they are not gold plated, pimped out machines. Lee is aiming to restore each machine back to its original glory.
As an example, with each woodrail game, Lee refinishes the cabinet, backbox and playfield timber surrounds, sanding them back to remove the years of dirt, grime and carved initials, then stains and lacquers them. The result is very true to the original finish. The playfields are stripped of all top level parts, cleaned down, artwork touched up where required, polished and reassembled. The reassembly process can sometimes include clear coating of the playfield if Lee deems it is required to prevent further wear or sealing the touch ups.
Each EM pin has its relays, score motors, score reels, cleaned, and all switches are cleaned and adjusted. All metal parts off the playfield are tumbled and buffed to a nice shiny finish. New globes and parts, such as flippers, posts, plastics or backglasses installed where required and available.
A similar process occurs with the modern electronic games.
Once a building is erected, the restored and fully working machines will be setup ready for use. Also on display will be Alan’s vast range of miscellaneous collectibles, with a strong focus on Australiana collectibles.
On a side note, I got a sneak peak at the new Pinball Rescue products that will be available shortly, some real nice plastics for the golden era of Gottlieb EM’s. I’m sure they will make some collectors very happy.
Anyway, onto the pictures……
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More photos...
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Thanks for posting this is awsome to hear and the pictures are even better ^^^
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Wow some amazing collectors machines there, thanks for sharing these!
I wonder what the cost will be to maintain all those machines once the museum is open? Definitely a full time job for some lucky Queenslander ;)
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WOW! #.#
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Glad you all like the pics. Will post some more later today.
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Some more....
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WOW! #*#
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ty for the update #*#
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Thanks for the update - sounds like it won't be ready by Christmas, then. Will have to wait a year or two by the sound of it. At least things are progressing.
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WOW WOW WOW those machines look fantastic.
Ian
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Yep thanks for posting ! ^^^
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WOW - That's amazing - Well done to all involved !
Dream job - BTW !
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Some beautiful looking machines there.
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Bloody amazing. ^^^
Awesome stuff, thanks for the update.
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Wow....
Thanks for the update, Lee is doing a fantastic job
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Just resized some more pics ready for posting....
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Great write up and pic's,thanks for your time to get pics and post this terrific article @@* @@*.The work on the pins that lee has done looks so good,what a credit this team is making to the hobby.
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.....few more....
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Fantastic pics, the Nags head box and playfield look in great condition, heaps of colour
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Fabulous! Thanks for posting, particularly the pics. The restorations of those woodrails is amazing.
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Big thanks to Pinballer (Stu) who was kind enough to let me republish his story & pics on JustOneMoreGame,
and yesterday.. I put up a followup story... with contributions from Michael Shalhoub.
There's some concept art for the building and a couple of lovely photos
with the legendary designers whose work will be celebrated in the museum.
Here's the update (http://justonemoregame.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/australian-pinball-museum-michael-shalhoub-speaks/).
*If you've got Michael's 3rd book, you've probably seen these shots,
but many people may not have seen them.
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any updates on the pinball museum???
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My life's ambition (pinballwise) is to fly over to Queensland to:
(1) Visit what promises to be just the most amazing arcade museum in Oz.
(2) Get on a BIG roller coaster so as to discover how it feels to be a pinball.
Your post has whet my appetite all over again - I hope things come to fruition before I hit my sixth decade.
Might just squeak it in by the looks of your report.
Thanks for posting and please keep us in the loop!
P.S. keep the pics coming. $#$ $#$ $#$
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My life's ambition (pinballwise) is to fly over to Queensland to:
(1) Visit what promises to be just the most amazing arcade museum in Oz.
(2) Get on a BIG roller coaster so as to discover how it feels to be a pinball.
Your post has whet my appetite all over again - I hope things come to fruition before I hit my sixth decade.
Might just squeak it in by the looks of your report.
Thanks for posting and please keep us in the loop!
P.S. keep the pics coming. $#$ $#$ $#$
1) How long until your 50th? I think this thing is going to take years to come to a point where it is up and working, with all the work involved in getting it off the ground, council approval and so on.
2) According to my sources Lethal Weapon at Movieworld is the most pinball-like!
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Here's hoping it opens in 2010...cos another year of building anticipation is gonna be too much to bear. !!! Man it looks awesome already!! CANT WAIT
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Here's hoping it opens in 2010...cos another year of building anticipation is gonna be too much to bear. !!! Man it looks awesome already!! CANT WAIT
My guess is late 2011 or early 2012.
Here's hoping I am wrong!
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1) How long until your 50th? I think this thing is going to take years to come to a point where it is up and working, with all the work involved in getting it off the ground, council approval and so on.
2) According to my sources Lethal Weapon at Movieworld is the most pinball-like!
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Actually, It will be my 60th !!!
I have two and a quarter years left to go.
Thanks a lot for the tip about the LW roller coaster.
Perhaps I will get to pinball heaven first - the 'coaster ride may expedite that.
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1) How long until your 50th? I think this thing is going to take years to come to a point where it is up and working, with all the work involved in getting it off the ground, council approval and so on.
2) According to my sources Lethal Weapon at Movieworld is the most pinball-like!
Actually, It will be my 60th !!!
I have two and a quarter years left to go.
Thanks a lot for the tip about the LW roller coaster.
Perhaps I will get to pinball heaven first - the 'coaster ride may expedite that.
Oops, misread the bit about sixth decade and saw it as fifth (or something like that!)...
If you have 2 1/4 years to go you could be in luck!
Let's hope it is definitely built and open by the time your 60th comes around.
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Australia needs a pinball museum.
Gees I hope this project comes to fruition especially now that pinball is making a strong comeback.
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Someone will need to convince the Gold Coast Council.
It hasnt seemed to have worked in the last 4 to 6 years so far. Hoping one day it gets approval and opens. Would be 30 mins away if it did.
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Any recent news on Alan Tates pinball museum????
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Not sure who runs this one but maybe someone beat him to it. It’s in Nhill Victoria.
http://pinballmuseum.com.au/ (http://pinballmuseum.com.au/)
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The Nhill one is good but a drop in the bucket to what the GC guys want to achieve and are working towards
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it has been over 14 years
cannot see it happening
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it has been over 14 years
cannot see it happening
I concur. Council permits can take years, but seldom over 4 years, let alone 14 years.
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Thanks Chris,
This is a great feature and I cant wait to try it out.
Do you have a rough idea when the beta will be released?
Cheers
Dave