I reckon there seems to be an increase in interest in the hobby with new guys getting into it. There are continually new members to the forums and guys posting about the purchase of their first machine/s. Without the Australian forums, there is every chance I would have sold the machine I started with and got out of the hobby because I would not have been able to afford to repairs and servcing all the time whereas the amount I have learnt from the you guys on the forums has meant that I keep collecting.
As for prices, some prices have been low on eBay from what I have seen and then other machines go for silly money. Doesn't seem to be any set pattern.
All good points. Not enough credit is given to Clay Harrell who wrote the Marvin guides which are considered the "bible" and the accepted standard reference material for pin repair and restoration. Forums are an extension of that initial interest with RGP. I kinda laugh these days when people say things like "Pinballs are too expensive to repair and parts are impossible to find". The classic is "Pinball techs are too hard to find". How many Newbies have become "overnight techs" ? Plenty !
The biggest movement in pricing is with early SS machines, and some later EMs. Guys of that era have the kids leaving home (or self supporting), have more cash, some are even eyeing-off retirement. But more importantly these guys are trying to claw back some youth (hit 40 and it happens), and yearn for the carefree days of playing pins as a young guy.
Collectors and home users continually ask for "quality" EMs and SS more than DMD. It is only because DMDs are easily accessible that they sell so well. Proof of the pudding are the 5-6 requests a week for EM / SS machines. KISS, Fathom, Paragon, Eight Ball, Star Trek, Black Knight, Haunted House, Black Hole.. List goes on. Having said that - People now want TOP Condition machines more than ever.
SS and EMs are starting to creep up again.
I agree, this is where money will be made.
Like Wotto said "Boy have I got plans" !
