Nino's turn !
1. Earliest pinball memory?
2. All time favourite pin? Why?
3. Favourite pinball manufacture?
4. Favourite game in your collection? Why?
5. How long have you been collecting?
6. First game and how did you find it?
7. Do you still have it?
8. What are you currently working on?
9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never bought
13. Describe your collection
14. Describe your gamesroom
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years?
1. Earliest pinball memory?I would have been four or five years old at the time - Dad had a GTB "Showboat" in the workshop for repair. I remember looking at all the colors and I was totally mesmerized by the moving ball, and the ball lifter (for a reason I cannot remember). I remember the exact position the machine was in the workshop, and the backglass. Unfortunately, a few years later the machine was destroyed on location in a fire at one of the Universities. It is the earliest memory I can recall.
2. All time favourite pin? Why?Tough question as there are so many Pinballs that I love.. But I will go with Bally Paragon. Why ? Again - This machine has a really nice story to it. Dad imported a shipment of NIB Ballys - Space Invaders, Paragon, KISS', Mata Hari's and a few more. The Paragon was unboxed in the workshop and I was totally blown away by the artwork and the game just looked AWESOME. I would have been 11 or 12 at the time, and I told Dad that "I LOVED IT" (along with KISS), and I was upset that it was going on location... In 1992, Dad remembered this... and he stored the game for me. It is now in my gamesroom, and is a permanent part of my collection.
The artwork on Paragon is second to no other pinball. In my opinion it is one of the best Bally's ever, and is easily the best widebody ever made.
3. Favourite pinball manufacture?Bally - Circa 1977 - 1981. Changed the face of pinball, and is the most important era in Pinball history.
4. Favourite game in your collection? Why?Paragon - See my answer in question 2
5. How long have you been collecting?Can't really answer that.. Being the son of an operator who operated 100's of pinballs from the early 60's...I "inherited" 30 pinballs and a garage full of parts. Pinball has been part of my life, and "in my blood" since I can remember. When did I own my first pin that was going to be MINE - 1992 - When he said to me "Son - they are all yours to do what you wish...." Then I went into one of the storage buildings and knew it was always going to be a part of my life.
6. First game and how did you find it?They all came at once.. as in 30 machines that were not sold or given away..I was left with the games Dad knew I would want - The best ones were - KISS (2), Paragon, Playboy(2), Night Driver, Strikes and Spares, Meteor, Galaxy(2), Sky Jump, Smart Set, King Pin, Spirit of 76, Street fighter 2 (yes a DMD), Hot Hand, Supersonic, Six Million Dollar Man, Star Trek and some I can't remember !! There were also Bally Bingos.
7. Do you still have it?I kept the KISS', Paragon, Playboy, Sky Jump, Spirit of 76, Night Driver, smart Set and the Bingos. All the others were restored and sold over time.
8. What are you currently working on?GTB Pro Football - Just waiting to paint the cabinet (full respray)
GTB Buccaneer - I'll start it later this week
WMS Time Warp - Next in line
9. Most wanted game to add to your collection?WMS "Winner" or "Planets"
GTB - "Devil's Dare" or "Super Score"
Bally - "Embryon"
Bally/Williams - "Scared Stiff" or "T2"
If it came down to one machine it would be "Winner"
10. Best all time bargain game added to your collection?Apart from being "given" 30 odd machines... I would have to say a trade of my restored "Strikes and Spares" for four projects pins.
11. Worst ever miss – tell us about the one that got away!About 6 years ago - I missed out on a pristine Hulk for $300. Does not seem like much - until I found out that the guy selling the Hulk also had a "Jungle Lord" that he GAVE AWAY with the $300 Hulk... I ended up fixing the driver board for a bottle of Jim Beam...
12. Worst ever purchase – tell us about the game you wished you never boughtNone. They have all been part of the journey. I'm also very prone to "impulse buying" - but never regretted a purchase
13. Describe your collection"A collector's dream" - Well it is to me...
Paragon - 8/10 - Favorite machine of all time
KISS - 10/10 - Future restore - I've spent $2000 on PARTS alone
Fathom - 9/10 - Future restore - Repro playfield in months away
Medusa - 9/10 - Future restore - Fine as it is, but I will restore it anyway !
Haunted house - 8/10 - Project - BIG Future restore - Repro glass is sitting in front of me !
Spirit - 8/10 - Project - BIG Future restore
Flash Gordon 7.5/10 - Future restore
Circus Voltaire - 10/10 - Future restore - Cabinet decals, clearcoat - A complete restore..
Jurassic Park - 8/10 - Great game - restored, just waiting on a motor
Spirit of 76 - 10/10 - Project - BIG Future restore
Force II - 8/10 - Future restore
I have another 12 project games that may or may not make it into the collection, and it will change over time.
14. Describe your gamesroomTwo criteria for the house when we were in the market - "Big Gamesroom and garage" and "I don't care about anything else"...It is a large gamesroom and can easily house 14 games along one long wall and two along the opposing wall. I currently have the Medusa, Jurassic Park, Flash (Tony's) and Paragon in the room, along with a restored Soccar Table Dad build in the 60's !
15. Do you have other games other than pinball?Dad has around 20 arcade games in storage as well as 100 or so pcbs, Juke Boxes and Billiard tables. I will get round to repairing and restoring them ONE DAY
I don't have much interest in them, but I will keep them for now and start on them next year.
16. Where can you see the hobby in 10 years? Contrary to popular opinion, Pinballs are like classic cars. No one makes them anymore, but they have the appeal to keep the hobby alive for years to come. It is up to US to ensure the hobby does continue by working towards every pinball out there being repaired or restored. Keep our kids interested and teach them as much as we can about them. My son shares the passion (for his age) for the games, and he loves playing them. He has his own "toolkit" and he spends HOURS with me. That's how I learnt.
As long as there are people out there that care about pinball as much as we do - they the hobby will thrive. We are supported by people like Steve Young, Classic Playfield Reproductions, IPB, RTBB, PinballSpareParts etc etc.. Then we have the local guys doing their bit importing the games.
Resources such as Marvin's Pinball guides and the TOP series DVD's are a fantastic resource for newbies..
The entire aim of aussiepinball.com was to be a technical resource for Pinball enthusiasts.. Both Newbie and experienced. Even if a handful of newbies become experts due to this site, Marvin's and TOP - Then personally, I will be VERY pleased that the Hobby will continue for YEARS to come !
