Museum piece for sale?

[Phulkrum]

interesting new listing on Ebay...


Antique Masamura Japanese Pinball Pachinko Slot Arcade Machine Vintage | eBay

[luckydog]

Its not a Museum piece they are just referring to the writeup

I'm not a vintage guy, untested and in that condition, I might give $20 bucks if it was local pickup

[Spyder138]

It has been listed at least 3 times. The first time I saw it there was a blind reserve and a Buy It Now price of $1600 or something like that. On subsequent posts the Buy It Now hasn't been there but there is still a reserve. I believe on the last auction the bidding was close to $300, but the reserve was not met. It will be interesting to see what it finally sells for.

[mxfaiman]

Well when most the description is about hit and miss stuff off of wikipedia you know it will be expensive.

It is a rather (dare I say) rare machine though. It is one of the first (and I mean 1st.) single shot to have an upper tray. It is probably late 40's like 47-49. It just has so many funky design features that I have never seen on similar machines. Like parts of the track that are spiraled up and the way the upper tray works with that little box and stuff. It is a very neat machine but, IMO as is I don't see it being worth much more over $350 very tops.

[JACKSJE4]

Is it just my aging eyes, or is the cell old and flaking? I'm looking at the close-up pictures and it seems like it is dried out from being stored in an attic too long.

Thoughts?

[Spyder138]

I wondered the same thing about the cell, Jeff. The win pockets seem to be fairly rusted so I wasn't sure if the cell was damaged or if it was printed with a flecked design. I personally don't think I would take a chance on it without seeing it in person and certainly not for the money the seller seems to be asking.

[pachiwall]

I don't think it is a single shot. Looks like a repeater. Can't tell if the cell is flaking, looks like a pattern to me...but pictures can be misleading. I agree with Max on the many unusual features. I have seen an automatically dropping track for the "ball dump" when the dump lever is lifted before, but I have never seen a machine where the "ball dump" empties into the front tray! I would pay $200 for it, and agree with Max on top dollar being around about $350.

[pachiwall]

I retract the ball dump into front tray response. Ball dump is on the opposite side of the frame. The part that made me think that is the metal part on the front left side where balls payout into the tray. Undershot balls also go there as well. Ball dump is on the opposite side of the frame and falls onto the floor like any other machine!

[Phulkrum]

I retract the ball dump into front tray response. Ball dump is on the opposite side of the frame. The part that made me think that is the metal part on the front left side where balls payout into the tray. Undershot balls also go there as well. Ball dump is on the opposite side of the frame and falls onto the floor like any other machine!

And that sir is when the A@@ fell out of it...

[mxfaiman]

Is it just my aging eyes, or is the cell old and flaking? I'm looking at the close-up pictures and it seems like it is dried out from being stored in an attic too long.

Thoughts?

No. It has one of those cool metal flake backgrounds. This one is neat because it also has brown and yellow speck along with the silver flake.

Just noticed a few nails are missing above pockets. (probably done to increase number of wins and not done by some random person).