wiseguyusa Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) I bought my first pinball machine, and I am having a blast restoring it. It is a home machine from Brunswick called "Aspen" I got it delivered to my living room for $100. Since home machines aren't worth very much I am not going to restore it to "Showroom new" but rather experiment with some tweaks and mods. Since this machine was so easy to fix, I am considering getting its bastard cousin "Star Explorer" for $100 and getting a 2nd SE-PB that is dead, for parts for $50 or so Thoughts? Advice? "Congrats" or "Condolences" ? http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/tag/4562704750.html http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/ele/4509476021.html Edited July 30, 2014 by wiseguyusa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Cool! I've never tried to work on machines like that, but I got my first pin last year (Revenge From Mars). The Home Machines are interesting though, I'd probably get one for $100 if it came up just to have something different. Not sure if I'd go in for more than one unless it was just a really good game or I knew I could store it easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguyusa Posted July 30, 2014 Author Share Posted July 30, 2014 I am attracted to having a dead one for parts for $50 and having 2 working machines and spare parts for less than $350 When I finally own my own place I want different machines entirely! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 There are some home machines that seem kind of cool, like the Fireball home model (it seems competent enough). I haven't played any myself though except for the modern Zizzle machines (which aren't very good, unfortunately). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onemoretime Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've never owned a home pinball, but my first commercial one was a Gottlieb Sky Jump conversion. In the old days if a unit got stagnant and wasn't making money, they would replace the playfield, marquee, and repaint stencils. And poof, you had a new machine. You can get an old Gottlieb, Williams, or even Bally cheap, but the old electromechanicals seem to be constantly tweeked . I've rebuilt and owned several, and to be honest if you're handy , it's no big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I bought my first pinball machine, and I am having a blast restoring it. It is a home machine from Brunswick called "Aspen" I got it delivered to my living room for $100. Since home machines aren't worth very much I am not going to restore it to "Showroom new" but rather experiment with some tweaks and mods. Since this machine was so easy to fix, I am considering getting its bastard cousin "Star Explorer" for $100 and getting a 2nd SE-PB that is dead, for parts for $50 or so Thoughts? Advice? "Congrats" or "Condolences" ? http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/tag/4562704750.html http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/ele/4509476021.html Just wanted to extend my condolences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimefighter Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 That's an arcade quality pinball machine. Not like those toy ones you see at stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguyusa Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 I think that they get a bad rap, I like my "Aspen" and "Alive" was just a clone of it with a different theme. I've also been quite fond of the Bally home machines "Fireball" and its clone "Elton John - Captain Fantastic" (one was sold at Wards, one was sold at Sears) I want to own 1 of each "genre" of pinball woodrail, EM, SS, and multiball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Looking at the pics, Aspen looks like it could be a solid little game. Star Explorer on the other hand I would probably pass on, the shot layout looks horrific (shoot into the pops over and over.. exciting!). Aspen looks like it has a few nice shots, two main left and right shots where ramps would be on modern games, then a loop-around shot that I'm assuming goes into the plunger lane? For a hundred bucks, I'd buy one. Not a Star Explorer though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racerx Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 A home unit?? Just kidding man...nice pickup! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguyusa Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) I replaced the old school bulbs with LED's and added some LED's to the backglass. Swapped some of the white bulbs with colored LED's. Replaced the plain white bumper cap with a color coordinated one from "Sharpshooter" pin. I am going to put a few more white LED's on the playfield to light it up a little better, here is how it looks so far. Edited August 5, 2014 by wiseguyusa 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 And whoever said a turd can't be polished? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mxyzptlk Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 And whoever said a turd can't be polished? That is EXACTLY what I was thinking after he did the work on it. Pretty impressive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I think it's really cool that the machine apparently uses traditional pinball machine hardware for the lamp sockets and what-not. It allows you to customize it to your own tastes just as you can a real pinball machine. Cool stuff! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onemoretime Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Always wanted to whore-up an Addams Family pinball... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 I remember as a kid DROOLING at the Sears Christmas catalog over the Alive machine. Wanted it so bad!! Would still like to play one, as I never saw one in person, but I did see some vids on Youtube, and realized I am glad I never got one. I guess as a kid it would have been fun. I love when the ball hits a spinner and knocks it silly, and this game had three of them. Aspen is identical just a different theme. Would love to see one in person as well. I love the ads you see for this, the Vectrex etc, Where a family of four is standing around watching the young boy play and they have these fake smiles on their face. That stuff never happened in real life. Most sisters cared less what their brothers did! http://www.pugo.org/media/collection/console/vectrex-ad.jpg http://mirror2.ipdb.org/images/50/image-7.jpg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neogeo79 Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I bought Twilight Zone around 1998 for $1200. That was the time to buy pinball because now that machine has gone up so much it is ridiculous. And it is sad because now many of the machines cost as much as a car. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguyusa Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Actually the new(ish) 50th Anniversary Mustang pin, costs more than the new Mustang from Ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Actually the new(ish) 50th Anniversary Mustang pin, costs more than the new Mustang from Ford. Uhhh.. Not quite. A new Mustang is going to run you over $20k. The new Mustang pin is going to run you between $4.5k and $8k, depending on what model you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neogeo79 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) My second pinball was Jurassic Park by Data East. I picked that one because it was much different than Twilight Zone. Now I regret not buying another Williams or Bally machine at that time. Edited August 31, 2014 by neogeo79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguyusa Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 I swear I thought that I saw a Mustang machine for $18k somewhere. How much does WOO go for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 (edited) I swear I thought that I saw a Mustang machine for $18k somewhere. How much does WOO go for? What do you mean by WOO? *edit: I think I got it-- Wizard of Oz. Normally people just call it Woz for short. Those are $8k, brand new. Slightly more if it's a limited edition (assuming those are still available). Link: http://www.pinballsales.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=45&idcategory=2 Edited September 5, 2014 by Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguyusa Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 Sorry WOz LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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