Hi All
How did I get introduced to the T2 pin? Well I have not seen or played a T2 since the early 90's when it was released, but I loved it straight away and for quite a few years, I have always wanted one. I first saw a T2 at "Henry's Diner" in Frenchman's Road, Charing Cross (basically its Waverley) in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Henry was an old guy in his 60's who ran a dodgy food joint that was basically the only place open at 3am when my mates and I wanted to get some food after drinking solid at the rugby club all evening. Good old Henry had a few MOB's in his kitchen at all times... Its not there any longer I believe.
Anyway, we would go there, play his T2, order cheeseburgers +1 extra, and thick shakes. We would remain inside the diner whilst another mate ran across the road and started a long fast bowlers run up towards the diner armed with the spare cheeseburger. We would nominate to Henry: "Henry, coming in right arm over the wicket." My mate would pelt this cheeseburger at Henry's shop and we would take off. Sometimes it was also a thick shake.. Henry would chase us with a baseball bat. This went on most Saturday evenings for about 1 year. I don't think he minded as we spent a bit of money each week at 3am. It is quite a funny memory.
Anyway, I engaged Tim from Hot Rodded Pins in 2011 to locate a good base game for me as a suitable candidate for a full restoration. Tim found one with a sensational playfield. I did not want to hijack Tim's thread re his restoration, so I have started this new pin thread. This was all done on the back of me viewing Tim's personal restore thread on his machine. I had not met Tim and I had not seen the machine when I transferred funds for the machine and the resto process. That's how much I trusted Tim, his work ethic and his workmanship. I was not disappointed.
I purchased a TONNE of new parts for the restore, including new HK ship + led light mod, new skull, targets, plastics etc etc. The list was huge. Tim certainly weaved his magic on this machine. I picked it up yesterday, and it is simply astounding. The cabinet artwork is just gorgeous. He has installed mirror panels on the inside of the cabinet and done a few other custom mods. I got the Pinball pro speakers and the playfield has been clearcoated to Tim's high standards. The machine was wrapped up beautifully when I went to collect it.
Tim also received a few calls from people wanting to buy my machine after viewing the progress of the restore on his website. I won't divulge what they were as I was not party to those conversations, but its significant and testament to the work that Tim does! He also received a personal email from Steve Ritchie complimenting him on this restore. Tim really did a remarkable job on my machine and basically told me from day 1 that it would quite possibly be one of the best T2's on the planet when he gets done with it.. I completely agree
I will post some pics later of the machine after I have got it home etc. I now have 5 pins in my house... all in the space of 15 months I reckon. My wife has been very good about it all also.
On another note, many many years ago, a friend gave me 2 x original and one off black and white photo's of Arnold. One is of him sitting at a desk, shirt off with what looks like the Campbell Parade Bondi streetscape in the background. I know this as I worked in Bondi for years many years ago. Arnold did his 1980 Olympia at the Sydney Opera House and was great mates with a famous Aussie bodybuilder named Paul Graham. Paul had a gym in the east of Sydney and Arnold would come to Australia to train / live with him. Anyway, this is where I think the photo's came from. The 2nd photo which IS THE REAL JEWEL in my opinion, is a sensational photo of Arnie standing in a PINBALL PARLOUR surrounded by a hot chick, a few kids, lots of EM pins and a pool table. It is a truly great original one only photo. I am exploring ways of possibly incorporating that original photo into my T2 machine.
