I'm hooked!

[BG1996]

Hello pachi folks! New guy here!

So late last Sunday night, I found a strange object sitting in my living room that wasn't there earlier in the day. Turns out my wife had requested the pachinko machine she had played with as a child from her parents and they dug it out of the attic. One week and many Google searches later, I'm hooked. (Not to mention silently stalking PachiTalk, not letting myself register and get sucked into the vortex. )

What I've slowly discovered is that it's a Nishijin Sophia B "Super Deluxe" with an expiration of 12/75. The only real distinguishing mark/feature is the word "Jet" on the center jackpot. All in all, it's in pretty decent shape, for spending 20 or so years in an attic. The shooter works as I'd imagine it should, with a good spring. There is some yellowing and slight water damage to the playfield, along with a few small cracks around a couple of the pins, but nothing horribly undesirable. Best yet, it came with 300 or so balls, most in great shape and in the original-looking green bucket/tray.

It's pretty dusty and the cabinet is beat up a little, but I hope to change all that! I don't know that I'm planning on going too nuts with cleaning this one up (for fear of destroying an inherited "heirloom"), but I'd like to clean up the chrome for sure and maybe slowly work my way toward polishing up the playfield. The wiring and lights in back also need some work, but that's part of the fun, right?

Any tips on where a newbie should start?

Looks like a great place you all have here!

Edit: Oh yeah, here's a pic, too!

[hanabi]

Welcome to PachiTalk!!

How wonderful to have a pachinko with such great sentimental value

There is lots of information on the Site, you could take a look at some of the 'stickies' at the top of this Vintage Section, and also check out the Model B video, that really helps with explaining how the machine works

The members here are very friendly and knowledgeable and will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and of course they'll probably ask for more pics too

[ironworkerdalton]

Welcome to the group.

[dattia]

Hiya!

Welcome to PachiTalk!!!

[takethecastle57]

YouTube - Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Karn Evil 9

[BG1996]

Thanks for the welcomes, everyone!

I just got dangerous and figured out how to open the front panel. My free time is toast.

And as far as the "sentimental value" goes, I was a little disappointed when my wife asked her father the story behind the machine and he said "I don't know, I think we bought it off some guy for 50 bucks." Oh well, it's still been "in the family" for a couple decades and is an awesome conversation piece!

I'll just have to go find two or seven more to hack up without the sentimental worries.

[JACKSJE4]

Welcome to the addiction!!

As you probably figured out while you were "stalking" us, one machine leads to two, then four, and so on... It's a really fun hobby and the restorations are very rewarding.

Here are a few threads to get you started:

http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/vint...o-machine.html
http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/vint...l-b-video.html

In a nutshell, #000 steel wool works the best for me to remove rust from the chrome and make is shine like new. Just be sure to wear gloves while using it, otherwise you may rub several layers of skin off the tips of your fingers (i know this from experience )

Please post more pics of your machine when you get a chance. We really love to look at pictures! Also, let us know if you get stuck or need information. We are all eager to help.

Jeff

[Moparformances]

Welcome to Pachitalk

Great to have a Family Machine to Suck you into the Dark Side of Pachinko.. More to come..

If you have not had a chanch to check this out it should answer a question or two for ya

http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/vint...l-b-video.html

[whybenormal]

!!!WELCOME!!! I myself had 2 machines growing up and just a few years ago they were passed to me. That simply sparked the insanity. I am now up to 10 machines and still looking. From what I have seen here, it's not just me that has this issue. Hope you have enough room for all the machines that you don't know you want yet!!!

[Drunkenclam]

Welcome Aboard


Thats a nice clean looking machine you got there.

[teachermaniac]

Welcome aboard!

Watch that machine you have there - they have a tendency to multiply quickly!

[BG1996]

Thanks to the next wave of friendly folks! I think I watched the video twice before I registered. Great work!

I've definitely got steel wool on the list for this week. (And gloves!) I've skimmed the suggested threads posted above. Are there any other "must-haves" to help burn through a shiny new Home Depot gift card?

I've seen several references to the tumbler to clean balls. Is there another recommended way to get them shined up? There are only a few that are in rough shape, most just need some superficial rust knocked off. I figure I'll wait until my 5th or 6th machine before I drop $70 on a tumbler!


I just wish my wife had found this in warmer weather. The first project may end up being a heater for the workbench!

[pinball wizard]

[Moparformances]

Luckydog uses CLR on his Balls

[yose]

Welcome to pachitalk. I am sure you will find many answers to your questions.

[BG1996]

Luckydog uses CLR on his Balls

Doesn't that burn?


Okay... PG... PG... PG...

[beachcat]

Welcome to Pachitalk

from what I see you fit right in

Spoiler

I gave you your first

[luckydog]

use a bowl or really hot water with some CLR added, dump in the balls and swirl them around for a min. then put them in a bowl of plain really hot water.

remove a handfull at a time and put them in a towel fold corners of towel and roll around in the towel.

then lay then out on another towel to dry, they will dry fast because they will still be hot from the water.

[BG1996]

I'll give that CLR trick a shot! Thanks!

And beachcat, if "fitting right in" means wearing the Groans as proudly as the Thanks, I think you're right!

[luckydog]

you can clean tokens the same way too