1. Earliest pinball memory?
Hanging around the local fish and chip shop that always turned over games. Remember the 20 cent pieces lined up on the playfield glass and everyone seemed to know which one was theirs. Enjoyed going to Glenelg with the family and spending time at Alladin’s Castle – breaking the old mans balls for 20 c pieces.
2. All time favorite pin? Why?
Would have to be Paragon. To me this pinball has it all, great art and great game play and the widebody really suits the game. Love inline drop targets. Will be restoring mine this year and once done it will be the last to go in the collection.
3. Favorite pinball manufacture?
Don’t have a favourite manufacturer, collect machines based on the titles that I am interested in.
4. Favorite game in your collection? Why?
That is a hard one. I am a big Ali fan so having that pin is special to me. Paragon, for the reasons mentioned above. Really enjoying Diner at the moment. Was fortunate to pick up a very nice example from Tony Turner at the Pinball Shed recently. This is a great game, with fantastic art, great speech and good gameplay. It looks really nice sitting next to Creature from the Black Lagoon
5. How long have you been collecting?
Have not been collecting for all that long. Bought my first game in 2005, the next in 2007 and then from October 2008 until now have acquired another seven. AP has been a big help to me, giving me confidence to give things ago as well as many great people who have helped me out with repairs, parts etc over the years.
6. First game and how did you find it?
One of my clients was an amusement operator in Adelaide. I believe at one stage he was one of the largest in Adelaide. Unfortunately his son that he was in business with died suddenly in 2004 and over the next couple of years his father gradually sold off his machines. I asked if I could buy one from him and in 2005 I purchased a Dr Dude. I purchased Terminator 2 from him in 2007. Had many an interesting conversation with him over the years. Got told the stories about taking pinball machines to the dump by the ute loads when Space Invaders came in.
7. Do you still have it?
Yes we still have Dr Dude – my son won’t let me sell it!
8. What are you currently working on?
Too many! Should be working on the machines I purchased first, but finding that I am working on my latest acquisitions first. Currently shopping out the Diner, new legs, door, plastics etc. Will finish off Ali next, then Paragon and that should see this year out the way I am going.
9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?
Pretty much got all the games now that I have always wanted. Just waiting for a Spirit of 76 that I have purchased from a collector that is currently in storage. I have played this game and enjoy it and thought it would be good to have an EM in the collection. Would like to add a Viking and Title Fight eventually.
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?
Would have to say my Gottlieb Rocky for $1,000 that Michael Shalhoub located for me. Although a project and basically without a backglass this was one of my holy grails and with only 1,504 made I did not think I would find one. Michael also located for me my other holy grail pinballs – Ali and Paragon
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!
Probably a Haunted House that was available locally last year for what I recall was around $2,300 for a working game. Procrastinated too long on it and it was sold
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought
I have been very lucky, all the people I have purchased machines from so far – that client, Michael Shalhoub and Tony Turner have all done the right thing by me.
13. Describe your collection
Mixed bag. Ali, Rocky, Meteor, Paragon, Diner, Terminator 2, Dr Dude, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Super Mario Bros
14. Describe your gamesroom
Currently a portion of the undercroft garage (see pictures) Trying to convince the wife to let me set up a room in the house with pinballs that currently has a billiard table and bar as well as signed Ali/Frazier memorabilia, but she is not keen. Hopefully she will give in and I can set this room up sometime this year.
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?
My son has Wii and Gamecube. We have a Rock-Ola Jukebox and a soccer table (not great) as well
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?
Very strong. Think with forums such as AP, all the parts that are available and that are continually being reproduced,I think the hobby is in a good position. My son is only 7 but a pinball nut. If we can pass the bug onto the kids, then this will help the hobby as well. Hopefully the Pinball Expo in Sydney will gather momentum and Allan Tate will get his project operational. All this exposure will be good as I l think there are a lot of people that would love to own a pinball machine but either don’t know how to go about it or believe they are too costly or difficult to repair
