This is so unfair having to follow the boss, but here goes.
1 Earliest pinball memory?
I must have led a sheltered life until I was 14 or 15 years old, because I have no memory of pinball before this age. The first time I remember seeing a pinball machine and playing one, I was hooked. A mate and I were at a shopping area and went in to a fish and chip shop, we got some chips and my mate said lets go in and have a look at the games room. Man it was love at first sight. EM pins, SS pins, Space invaders.
2. All time favourite pin? Why?
That would have to be Bally Strikes and Spares, very simple pin but I love the back glass, and I can still hear the chimes playing when you hit the start button.
This would have been the first pin I ever played. And it had these funky digital scores, it was so futuristic like nothing I had ever seen before.
3. Favourite pinball manufacture?
For me this would be Bally, late 70s early 80s era.
Loved Star Trek, Paragon, Playboy, Kiss, Mata Hari, Harlem Globe Trotters ETC.
My local arcade only had Bally games at this time (1979) the milk bar up the street a bit had some Gottlieb games but I cant remember what they were.
4. Favourite game in your collection? Why?
My recently purchased Haunted House.
I love the three level playfields, and the art work on the whole machine. And it was a bargain.
5. How long have you been collecting?
I have been collecting for a short time, only about 3 years, but have always wanted a pinball machine, just didn’t know you could buy them until I discovered Ebay.
6. First game and how did you find it?
First pinball machine I owned was a Mr & Mrs Pacman by Bally 1982.
I found it on Ebay.
One day while cruising ebay for things I typed in pinball and from then on checked evert day and bid on a couple until I finally won Pacman.
7. Do you still have it?
No I sold it a few months ago so I could buy project machines.
8. What are you currently working on?
My current project is my Haunted House restore which is progressing slowly due to time. Check out my HH restore thread.
http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=311.0 9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?
1978 Bally Strikes & Spares is the only game I want, the rest I will take it as it comes.
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?
Haunted House, I bought this game none working, it didn’t take much to get it going.
Basically it was a fuse blown, but it needed a bit of work to get the lower PF working again, the original owner played it for years without the lower PF installed, he didn’t know what he was missing only playing half a game.
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!
None, missed a few on ebay in the early days but I was after anything to get a start in this hobby, so they were not worst ever misses.
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought
None so far
13. Describe your collection
At this stage I only have 3 machines.
The Flintstones – good fun family machine.
Dolly Parton – bought as a project machine, and is a fun machine.
Haunted House – fantastic machine.
14. Describe your gamesroom
Double garage under the house, pinballs share this space with two cars washing machine, clothes dryer, freezer and a couple of bicycles.
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?
I have a one arm bandit (1968) Bally Liberty Bell that I have owned for 20 years.
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?
I think the home market will build with the availability of so many spare parts.
New pinball machine prices are out of the reach of the average jo blow, so spare parts are very important to keep old machines up and running.
Cheers Ian.
