1. EARLIEST PINBALL MEMORY
Another sheltered life; I didn't frequent milk bars, fish 'n chip shops or other dubious places when I was a boy.
The local burger joint had a soccer table that my pals and I gave a good hammering.
It all started at the Perth Royal Show circa 1965 in my first teen year. Yeah, I'm 57 (put away the calculator).
We walked in to a huge "shed" in sideshow alley which had wall to wall EM's & rifle games. There SEEMED to be at least 200+ machines flashing and clacking and dinging away. I was totally overawed by the pins and mesmerised by the silver balls careening around in them. They moved so fast I thought they were hollow! Sixpence a game with all the classics of today at my fingertips. The beautiful cartoon style artwork (and the tits) made a huge impression on me back then as it was thought I would become an artist IF I grew up. After that initiation, I would hop the fence or occasionally pay to enter the showgrounds any time it was open. Speedway nights were great for this; my mates got the shits with me because all I wanted to do was slope off to said shed and play the pins.
2. ALL TIME FAVOURITE PIN? WHY?
I suppose it's TAF because it got me back into the hobby after a considerable hiatus.
3. FAVOURITE MANUFACTURER
No real biases here, they all have their pro's and cons.
4. FAVOURITE GAME IN COLLECTION? WHY?
Lord of The Rings is the standout currently. It boasts the deepest and best organised rule sets, gorgeous artwork, fantastic quotes and music, plenty of "surprises" and is very challenging if not trying.
5. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COLLECTING?
Seriously collecting for about 7 years.
6. FIRST GAME AND HOW DID YOU FIND IT?
Centigrade 37. A good mate and his electronic tech pals had been operating pins, but pulled out "because of the damage the kids do to them". He had 2 machines in his back shed and when I spotted them I was pinstruck all over again. I made overtures about buying one and he said " I'll fix one up and it's yours for a hundred bucks". Wish I'd bought both - think the other one was Jungle Queen - bugger it.
7. DO YOU STILL HAVE IT?
No, I sold it at auction about 6 years ago for $1,100 and it helped pay for my TZ From the same auction. AND at the showgrounds again. I'm afraid I was seduced by DMD era games after purchasing TAF then TZ. Concession: I do have a splendid framed original C37 backglass taking pride of place in my workshop. (no, I DID NOT trash a machine)!
8. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
Recently finished restoring my Who Dunnit? Awaiting my Safe Cracker on the water from the US. Doing artwork on someone's Warlok. About to do similar on a FT and a funyucked TAF. Plus trying to complete my pinball kinetic.
9. MOST WANTED GAME TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION?
Pinball Magic
10. BEST ALL TIME BARGAIN
Have to be Centigrade 37 (see above)
11. WORST EVER MISS
The miss that I made missus many years ago. Now gone from the collection thank the Lord.
12. WORST EVER PURCHASE - THE GAME YOU WISHED YOU NEVER BOUUGHT.
That'd be STTNG. Never made friends with the bastard, never got to the Final Frontier, had to sort numerous tech issues and to cap it all - I kept corking my thigh on the f***ing gun launcher.
13. DESCRIBE YOUR COLLECTION
Vaguely on the "dark side" like many of you guys. TAF, TZ, TOM, CFTBL, SS, FH, LOTR & WD?
14. DESCRIBE YOUR GAMES ROOM
Actually more of a home invasion. Room 1 is pinball blue walled & black ceilinged. it's the Addams room and has some spooky bits of decor. Room 2 is conversely black walled with blue ceilings. It houses the next three pins respectively and has the main part of my pinball kinetic running around it. Room 3 is part of the dining area, it has the last two machines in a relatively conventional setting. Safe Cracker will go in the lounge in a special corner which will perfectly fit its smaller physical dimensions. Finally, half the double garage is the workshop with 97 framed A4 piccies of backglasses/transites ranged around it. Other people's pins are always flowing through in transitory fashion.
15. DO YOU HAVE OTHER GAMES?
No
16.WHERE CAN YOU SEE THE HOBBY IN 10 YEARS?
Obviously still in the hands of people like us - the dedicated collectors/restorers and lovers of these wonders.
Also to a large extent the odd 1 or 2 in punter's games rooms. It's all been said about operator aversion to pins and the tasteless younger generation enthralled with boring 2 dimensional and often nasty video shit.
I take my hat off to Gary Stern, may he long keep production alive. My fervent hope is that one day the fashion will cycle back around to pinballs - when kids &c get tired of the inane and non tactile arcade games currently holding sway.
Maybe I'm a dreamer . . . . . . .
