Wanting a Pin

[maury]

Hello Pinball Wizards,

I need some advice. Where in this day - in - age can you pick up a good deal on a Pin. I have done a great deal of searching to have no results (I don't have a Pin yet, which to me equals, no results!) I'm a poor college student, so I can't spend too much, however I want a 'newer' dot matrix type machine that is fun to play. First, any suggestions on how to proceed with my quest to find a pin, I would be happy to find one that needs a lot of TLC, and end up turning it into something grand (a project pinball), or if I could find one in good working order, I would be happy as well.

Where can I find a good machine, where can I find 'broken' machines, etc...I live around St. Louis, Missouri. Please help!

[Chris]

Have you checked out this google pinball forum, keep checking on there. Always loads of games listed.

Discussions - rec.games.pinball | Google Groups

[millermaster1]

Maury, You can try 2 things: The ever popular Craig's List and locating your local game vendors. Most vendors that visit bars and restaurants have stickers on their games with contact numbers. Start calling and don't give up! It took 5 years for me to get my SW pinball and original arcade game but it did work out!

Good Luck!

[maury]

Yeah, the Star Wars DE is the one I want more than anything, however I will settle for something else (perhaps!)...Thanks for the feedback so far.

[PachiFool]

As a pinball collector for years I have always had good luck on the Mr Pinball classifieds:

Mr. Pinball Home Page

It's hosted by the same people that publish the Mr Pinball Pirice Guide. Literally thousands of pins for sale at any given time from projects to pristine home-use-only pins of all ages.

[revmondo]

I scored my fixer-upper Data East Star Wars on craigslist for $1200. Sometimes you have to expand your search, try looking at other major cities near you. It can be worth a drive. Most "vendors" are shopping the machines for you and you pay a steep price for it. I can recommend a few websites for supplies run by people dedicated to the art of pinball (which means they dont overcharge you) and they have all the mauals and advice for free. You can replace plastics, ect yourself. I found a complete set on ebay for my machine, NOS, for under $200. Used the 3 pieces I needed and sold the rest to someone else for $180. The pieces I needed by themselves were selling for $50. The only thing I havent tackled yet is fixing the one "bad side" of the machine that got gouged and worn over the years. Good luck in your search. May The Force Be With You!!!

[Eddie]

A machine was given away for free in the Brooklyn Craigslist yesteday. The guy had to move to Texas and couldnt take it with him! It was free to the first person who called and it was in full working condition.
If only I had a place for it I would have jumped on it.
Craigslist is good for cheap pinball fixer uppers.

[Frank A]

When you need to know what a machine would be selling for, you should pick up the 2009 Mr. Pinball " Pinball List and Price Guide ". It is only $ 20.00 from Pinball Resource and worth the price. If you need a quick on line price reference, look up the game by name in the Pinball Data base classified ads. Good luck. The cheapest that you may be able to find a 1992-1997 game is about $ 500-700 unshopped. Be prepared to spend about 15 hours and about $ 100 bringing it back to life. Pinball Resource again for rubber rings, lamps and parts. Replace # 44 lamps with # 47 lamps. Go to the Marvin website for instructions on repairs. PM me if you need a quick answer on something pinball.
Good Luck, Frank A

[maury]

I found a Star Wars very close to my home, but its listed as $2700 -- Which is over budget for me (I was thinking somewhere a long the lines of 2k, ) I tried to get him to come down on it, but only got him to $2600...Thanks to everyone for the great tips, I think its time to just sit on it and see if I can find a deal!
______________________________________________________

When you need to know what a machine would be selling for, you should pick up the 2009 Mr. Pinball " Pinball List and Price Guide ". It is only $ 20.00 from Pinball Resource and worth the price. If you need a quick on line price reference, look up the game by name in the Pinball Data base classified ads. Good luck. The cheapest that you may be able to find a 1992-1997 game is about $ 500-700 unshopped. Be prepared to spend about 15 hours and about $ 100 bringing it back to life. Pinball Resource again for rubber rings, lamps and parts. Replace # 44 lamps with # 47 lamps. Go to the Marvin website for instructions on repairs. PM me if you need a quick answer on something pinball.
Good Luck, Frank A

What is this Marvins website you speak of? Do you have a guide that you could look up a 1992 Star Wars Data East pin?

[luckydog]

PINBALL: Pinball Repair Guides. Collector buys pinball, arcade, coin operated sport games, baseball pitch bat, manikin mannequin games

[pinball wizard]

best place to find a good deal on a pinball is to check the classified ads in your local newspaper.you could post a wanted ad for them also.a lot of times a person would have a machine which quit working and is taking up space in their basement ,and since they do not know how to fix it,is junk to them,and they just want it gone.used to be able to get them for cheap or even free sometimes.if you can fix them,that would be the best way to go.i have gotten many that way.also check your local amusement operators.in any case,pinballs are much more scarce and more expensive since williams quit making pinballs in 1999.

[Frank A]

Star Wars by Data East 1992. There were 10,400 made and they are in the 2009 price book for $ 2,025.00 with a + sign which means that the trend is going up in value. The price in last years version was $ 1,900.00 with a + sign too. Good pin to buy and hold.

Frank A
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Marvin3m.com

[slotman]

search ----- mr. pinball classifieds ---- the internet pinball machine data base

[maury]

Thanks for all the helpful comments I've been casually looking, waiting for a good deal

[revmondo]

Thanks for all the helpful comments I've been casually looking, waiting for a good deal

Yes. Patient you must be.

[maury]

Just digging this thread back from the grave, some time next week I'll be finally getting this pin, which will be my first pinball machine!

[Sid]

Congrats Maury!!

really glad it worked out for you!

im expecting my first pin in a few days too!

[Moparformances]

Just digging this thread back from the grave, some time next week I'll be finally getting this pin, which will be my first pinball machine!

what game did ya find??

[drcrippen324]

darn maury wondered where you had run off to but great news your coming back and with pinball wooooohaaarrrr double selabration

[maury]

what game did ya find??

Star Wars DE
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darn maury wondered where you had run off to but great news your coming back and with pinball wooooohaaarrrr double selabration

Young Maury is growing up! Working on my masters in Comp. Sci and working part time building web applications!