1. Earliest pinball memory?
I think I was 7-8 years old, every Sunday we would drive into town to go to church and after mass we would get fish and chips from the Greeks across the road from the church.
The greeks also had an arcade nexct door, mayby 2.5meters wide, but at least 30 meters deep.
I always wanted to go in, but my parents told me that only bodgees went in there and that they would kick my arse if I did.
I remember looking through the door and seeing the pinballs and cocktail tables with the carona seats.
2. All time favorite pin? Why?
Probably Dr Dude, It was my first machine and I learnt heaps about pinballs because of it.
3. Favorite pinball manufacture?
Bally Williams, but the early Gottliebs are growing on me.
4. Favorite game in your collection? Why?
Indianapolis 500, great sounds, great light show and the it has a pretty deep rule set.
5. How long have you been collecting?
I have just passed my first year.
6. First game and how did you find it?
Bally Dr Dude, I went around to all the pinball places and looked what was available.
I ended up at MarkC, and told him that I was not after a particlaur pinball, but the best quality example for my budget.
I purchased an absolutly mint Dr Dude from him that day.
7. Do you still have it?
No, I restored a 1963 Caddilac for a customer and when he came to pick it up he asked what pinball machines were for sale.
The Dr Dude was the only one that I would of been happy to go as it was the best condition machine and in perfect working order.
All the others were not 100% perfect so I told him a price, and he said deliver it to Melb for him.
8. What are you currently working on?
I have a 1978 Bally Playboy waiting for a playfield from CPR (xmas if I am lucky)
I have Derek in Sydney (DJ1055) doing all the boards for me and I am getting the cabinet ready to go to the panel beaters for a new 2 pack paint job.
I have collected all new pop bumpers, NOS drop targets, new backglass and heaps of other new parts.
I am also restoring a Bally Cybernaut for a mate, and Nino is helping me with my Gottlieb Drop a Card.
I am also getting stuck into the Prototype Guns N Roses that I bought of Dave (Silverball)
9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?
Bally Cirqus Voltaire and Bally Nitro Ground Shaker are on the top of the wanted list
The ones below these would be Twilight Zone, Mediaval Madness, Monster Bash and funny enough Car Hop
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?
The Playboy and the Drop a Card for 1K all up.
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!
Not yet....
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought
I have been really happy with all of my purchases.
13. Describe your collection
Most of my machines I have chased down, a couple have dropped into my lap.
I prefer the car based machines, Getaway, Indy 500, Junkyard but I always try to buy machines with the best possible playfields and go from there.
My Junkyard is spotless, a Japanese import, zero marks on the cab and playfield, no repairs, all plastics are 100% and heaps of new parts added. It is the jewel in my collection and I enjoy playing it alot.
The Drop a Card is my EM for my collection and is also in very good condition.
The Playboy is my SS for the collection and will be immaculate when finished.
14. Describe your gamesroom
It is my workshop where I am suppoosed to be rebuilding my 1965 Lincoln Continental.
I have heaps of old stuff in there, my 1961 Rockola Wall mount jukebox, a 1960 Fridgidaire that I am restoring, my pinstriped and flamed shed fridge a few neon signs and one from an old pokie place here in town that I restored.
I live in the shed and am in it most nights untill at least midnight.
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?
I have made quite a few custom LAI cocktail cabinets from scratch, and I have one in the upstairs part of my shed for my kids to bash on.
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?
I think that demand for professional restorations will grow.
I have seen this in classic cars, there are no tradespeople who have the knowlegde and passion to restore the old girls.
Parts and machines will slowly dry up, and the price for mint (NIB) machines will sky rocket as demand grows.
I beleive that we will see more machines parted out in the near future.
I hope that people will tool up and produce more parts for our sake.
I do not believe that Stern can survive for much longer with the titles that they are making at the moment.
I also don't think that if they were making great themed pinballs, that they would be selling heaps more to collectors like ourselves.
I have meet some great people because of pinball, genuinally nice people, who if you removed their passion for pinball are still great people.
Cheers Angelo
