Sunday Pinball Questionnaire - part 67 - ralph67

[Strangeways]

Feel free to complete today, Ralph - since yesterday was Sunday and you might not want to wait until this Sunday.

1. Earliest pinball memory?
2. All time favorite pin? Why?
3. Favorite pinball manufacture?
4. Favorite game in your collection? Why?
5. How long have you been collecting?
6. First game and how did you find it?
7. Do you still have it?
8. What are you currently working on?
9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought
13. Describe your collection
14. Describe your gamesroom
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?

[ralph67]

I'll format it for you mate 

1. Earliest pinball memory?

My Earliest memories would be playing at "Strombeckers" arcade in Barrack st Perth . really cool place crammed full of pinballs, some quite old 10cent games but most were 20cents all the "new" Bally games Kiss, EK, Harlem Globetrotters and of course Playboy. Would of been around 40 pins there and upstairs there was 2 large slot car tracks about 6 cars on each i think , you would take your seat press the accelerator and steer with the full size streering wheel! .I do remember there was tin nailed to the floorboards in places downstairs because of the pinball legs going through the floor!...

2. All time favorite pin? Why?

I don't really have a favorite pin but i do love the Quicksilver that i own.

3. Favorite pinball manufacture?

Early Stern games then EM Gottlieb are my favorites makes.  

4. Favorite game in your collection? Why?

My AC/DC premium , Black Hole and the Quicksilver...

5. How long have you been collecting?

Been collecting since 2007 but i did own a Williams Em when i was 17 but can't remember the name Doh but it was a Card Themed game..

6. First game and how did you find it?

as above...

7. Do you still have it?

no ...

8. What are you currently working on?

my sanity.. although i just finished a Kingpin for a collector here and just finished a EK for a customer that had been not used for 20 years. all good now.. I do have around seven projects here that need to be fixed including Raven, Cosmic Princess, Meteor, Spanish Eyes,Olympic Hockey,Speak Easy(Playmatic) and a Super Duo Italian Export model of Super Score(Gottlieb)...

9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?

I would love to own a Flash Gordon...

10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?

I would say the Spanish Eyes that i paid $250 for....

11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!

none really...

12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought

The olympic hockey bit of work needed on this old girl. but worth the effort i think..

13. Describe your collection

The collection around 18 games give or take i was into the card theme games but now the Outer space theme suits me including Galaxy, Cosmic Princess,Meteor,Quicksilver,Solar Ride and the mighty Black Hole . I do own a few new Sterns AC/DC Premium and a AC/DC pro(on site) Avatar and a POTC and some EM games the Spanish Eyes, Super Duo,Olympic Hockey and the Speak Easy...

14. Describe your gamesroom

I Have 10 games in my lounge  room   4 stored in one of the bedrooms and half a shed full of wreckers and projects...

15. Do you have other games other than pinball?

Other games include a Clay Champ 2 player Gun Game(1980) and a one arm bandit Aristocrat (1961)....

16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?

In ten years i hope to be still fixing and restoring pinballs even more than i am now which is quite a bit anyway!! Hope you like and sorry i took so long to fill this out. Regards Ralph   Viva la Pinball!!!

[oldskool1969]

Looks like you could,t sleep mate 
glad you could FINALLY do this 

[goodolddays]

Thanks for sharing your story Ralph. Sounds like you are well and truly addicted to the hobby 

[chris288]

Thanks for  sharing that Ralph it sure was a great read.

I Surely do remember Strombeckers and I remember all those machines you mentioned, they did also have a Black Hole too.

Heres a question Ralph, what was the name of the grumpy money changer guy who wore the lab coat???

Im pretty sure it was Bob, and he was the grumpiest bastard you ever met, no smile no emotion , just a permanent look on his face like someone just waved a turd under his nose.

And get this, if you tilted a machine and he saw it he would kick you out if he was having a bad day otherwise you would get a warning not to do it again. He was quite protective of his "babies"

[The pinballist formally known as Dean Morgan]

Interesting read, thanks

[Ford Fairlane]

love these questionnaires! thanks Ralph 

[Ballywannabe]

Gotta love those classic Sterns Ralph!  Now I think of it, I can't remember Strombeckers ever having any??

[ralph67]

Thanks for  sharing that Ralph it sure was a great read.

I Surely do remember Strombeckers and I remember all those machines you mentioned, they did also have a Black Hole too.

Heres a question Ralph, what was the name of the grumpy money changer guy who wore the lab coat???

Im pretty sure it was Bob, and he was the grumpiest bastard you ever met, no smile no emotion , just a permanent look on his face like someone just waved a turd under his nose.

And get this, if you tilted a machine and he saw it he would kick you out if he was having a bad day otherwise you would get a warning not to do it again. He was quite protective of his "babies"

I can't remember his name but he was a grumpy old bugger but i think he liked it when we were spending our pocket money there. The lab coat was a classic and the money bag around the waist! Not sure if he was involved with the Slot Cars upstairs but had some good times there and i must admit the games always played well and were maintained well  from memory

[ralph67]

Gotta love those classic Sterns Ralph!  Now I think of it, I can't remember Strombeckers ever having any??

Not sure but all the Bally games were there and Williams i think there was a few Bingo machines near the back corner were the old fart in the lab coat was , still remember him sitting behind the counter waiting to change your money for you!

[ktm450]

Good stuff 

[Strangeways]

Great read 

Williams Olympic Hockey is a cool title. I've been looking for one for years for sentimental reasons