Sorry it's late but here it is
1. Earliest pinball memory?
First memory would have to be when I was 10 , we moved from Cowra in country NSW to a place called Belmont near Newcastle .Coming from a small country town where I couldn't recall seeing a pin to a place which had a few Pinny parlors & nearly every corner store had pins as well was just great. On weekends we used to catch the bus into Newcastle & spend the proceeds from my "paper run" job at Orbit 1.
2. All time favourite pin? Why?
Would probably be Gorgar or Kiss. Why ,I loved the band & the artwork & Gorgar the first talking Pinball I just loved, man I must of put some coins thru them when I was young.
3. Favourite pinball manufacture?
Gottlieb in the Electro Mechanicals & probably Bally in the Solid states
4. Favourite game in your collection? Why?
It would have to be My Gottlieb Pioneer.
Maybe because it was my first pin , but it is a great game. Star rollovers, Eight drop targets, kick out hole, double bonus, extra ball, special , etc. Some Pin collectors have rated its 4 player version ( Spirit of 76 ) as the best Electro Mechanical Pin made.
Everyone that plays my pins agree that it’s the best one I have.
5. How long have you been collecting?
Only since 2006
6. First game and how did you find it?
My First Game was a Gottlieb Pioneer.
It was bought from a Garage Sale. Mostly working but needed a service to sort it out.
I was in the right place at the right time. It was the first & only Pinball I had ever saw at a garage sale & for once I had the money to buy it.
7. Do you still have it?
Yes I still have it & would never part with it.
8. What are you currently working on?
Gottlieb Surfer, Its not mine but a mates who bought it as a project. It's a roughy & might be a bit more than I can handle but I'll see how I go.
9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?
I would love a '79 Stern Dracula, Gorgar, Kiss, Space Oddysey, Eldorado, Skyjump, theres so many that I'd love to add.
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?
My Pioneer was “ financed” from a book I bought at a garage sale for $1.
I picked up a book written by Jack Pollard on Rugby League, It had been autographed by the 1963 or 1965 ( can't quiet recall which year ) St George Rugby League Grand Final Team, anyway it sold on ebay & paid for my first pin.
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!
there's probably plenty because I haven't had the money at the time but none in particular.
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought
At the time I thought it was a bad buy. I bought a Space Oddysey on ebay $150 , No pictures & "working" ??
I drove all the way to Penrith to collect , it was a mess. The cab & head was water damaged, the only thing working was the swinging target & a few lights. The top half of the playfield was covered in Mylar which was so sun damaged it was black. Anyway I brought it home & later decided to get rid of it. A mate bought it off me for the price I paid & restored it. Ive played some games on it & loved it. That game was the one I wished I'd never bought that became the one I wish I'd never sold.
13. Describe your collection
I have 3 pins.
I have a Gottlieb Pioneer it's fully working & has the typical faded washed out backglass that old Gottliebs seem to have.
A Gottlieb Golden Arrow single player wedgehead it's also fully working & it too has a very ordinary backglass.
The Pin in the best condition I have is a Bally Hi Lo Ace, single player EM. It's in top Condition I only bought it a few months ago from a guy who's family owned it since the early eighties, that guy was Jeff from The Wiggles.
14. Describe your gamesroom
My Gamesroom is half of a 12.6 metre by 7.2 metre shed. Its insulated & is airconditioned. It has a rustic looking bar & Home brewed beer on tap, a pretty good collection of Tooheys memorabilia , signs , cans etc , an ex pub Pool Table & 2 pokies as well as an upright 48 in 1 cab. It has a few lounges including one made from the back end of a 1962 EK Holden. the other half of shed is for the cars but when people come round it becomes the dance floor, it's decked out with a fog machine, lights, bubble machine, strobe, uv flouro's etc, great place to party.
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?
please see above.
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?
Guy's like us will still be collecting & buying parts, but as for younger people getting into the hobby I just don't know. My kids play occasionally but would rather be on the Playstation 3 , nintendo's etc. Maybe they'll hang onto those old pinballs that their dad used to spend so much time playing. I really hope so.....
