pinball in australia - some bits and pieces

[bossninja17]

Back in the late 70s / early 80s, I thought I would write a book on the history of pinball in Australia. I wrote to Gottlieb, Williams, Stern and Bally (see replies below) and began collecting bits and pieces (newspaper articles, etc) that I thought I might use.
Around that time, pinball was getting some bad press. My local council even thought about banning machines. I began a defence against this and ended up on the front page of the local paper.
The oldies amongst the AP members might find this stuff of interest.

[Strangeways]

That is really interesting, Mark - Thanks for sharing.

They obviously went to a fair bit of effort in replying - back in those days, they only had typewriters, so they took your inquiry seriously.

do you have a scan of the newspaper clipping ?

[Creech]

Wow! Very interesting. I'm impressed that they got back to you. Did Williams send you a reply?

[illawarra_steelers]

Thanks a million for posting those Mark!

How cool are they!

As to the second letter in reference to Goddards at Broadway, Sydney.

I remember visiting there around 1979 looking for parts for my Buckaroo as they were the major Gottlieb importer at the time.

Down stairs where their spare parts division was they would of had around somewhere between 300 to 500 pinballs all set up on there legs in storage. I can clearly remember waiting for the parts and just looking at all those games with my jaw on the ground.

Wish I took a camera!

[bossninja17]

I'll post the newspaper clippings and letters from williams and others tomorrow. I have scanned them too large and will need to convert them to smaller files.

[Strangeways]

Thanks a million for posting those Mark!

How cool are they!

As to the second letter in reference to Goddards at Broadway, Sydney.

I remember visiting there around 1979 looking for parts for my Buckaroo as they were the major Gottlieb importer at the time.

Down stairs where their spare parts division was they would of had around somewhere between 300 to 500 pinballs all set up on there legs in storage. I can clearly remember waiting for the parts and just looking at all those games with my jaw on the ground.

Wish I took a camera!

Yep - Goddards used to import the Gottliebs in the 70's - I remember the name, and when I was young, I used to call Gottlieb pins "Goddards" 

[ajlaird]

Very interesting stuff - thanks for posting.

Anyone else notice the typo in the Stern letter?

[bossninja17]

PART 2 of the bits and pieces.
(I also have some letters from Goddards and info about a pinball comp they organised. Will scan and post tonight.)

[felixthadog]

Very interesting stuff - thanks for posting.

Anyone else notice the typo in the Stern letter?

havy? 

Matthew

[illawarra_steelers]

How cool! Oh they were the days!

What is the pin you are leaning on Mark?

[Rod71]

How cool! Oh they were the days!

What is the pin you are leaning on Mark?

Stern Dracula by the looks of it.

[Extra Ball]

I must own a knock down Nugent then. Notice the price of the fridge.........not alot dearer today. This is a great collection of pinball history, ty for sharing.
 

[Rod71]

I must own a knock down Nugent then. Notice the price of the fridge.........not alot dearer today. This is a great collection of pinball history, ty for sharing.
 

Does your Nugent have an LAI badge on the back of it Greg?

[Extra Ball]

I must own a knock down Nugent then. Notice the price of the fridge.........not alot dearer today. This is a great collection of pinball history, ty for sharing.
 

Does your Nugent have an LAI badge on the back of it Greg?

I will check.

[Extra Ball]

Yep and here it is:



Be interesting to know how many were assembled here.