Me and dad grabbed saturdays paper early to scan the for-sales, and garage sales for pinnys.
100 bucks was the going rate in the early 80's, we sometimes got them much cheaper. I remember buying an Orbit 1 (it wasnt that old at the time, and our first SS) for 200 bucks, crap game, but the sounds were revolutionary compared to our EMs. Remember buying a mint Vulcan for 100, and selling in on for 300 to a Sydney guy the next week (we couldnt get it going). We maintained EMs buy wrecking EMs, if dad couldnt get a machine working within a week it was toast. The shed was full at 12 or so pins, with 8 or so wrecked and parts stored under benches. Shame I lost interest back then when I later got my license, discovered alcohol, pool rooms, and video games  All those machines from my childhood would be great to have back, but they are some of the best memories of my the time with dad.

Dad wasnt an OP, but he liked Bally.