Custom Built Pachi!?

[Banzaitrooper]

Has anyone on this board built their own (from scratch) vintage style pachinko machine? I think that would be absolutely awesome! And if not we could do a group collaboration type thing! i think it would be cool, and if we ever did we could construct a parts list and make instructions so everyone on the board could have one!

[sharmoni]

I've thought about it. My oldest machine from the late 40s has no plastic other than the laminate that was on the backboard (which was warped so I had to strip it off). The back mechanisms are extremely minimal and all handmade. Even the front pockets are handcut pieces of metal with handpainted images. The front tray, lever, and finger post would need to be cast. Stock brass nails would need to be found in the correct size.

I don't quite like the pin layout of this machine as well as the later Masamura gauge machines from the early 50s. Also this machine only pays 5 balls. If I can find an All-15 Masamura gauge machine that has no plastic parts I would consider trying to make replicas.

The main thing keeping me from seriously getting into it is the fact that there is no market for these really old simple ones, at least not at the prices one would need to charge to cover the costs of manufacturing parts and assembling the machines.

[Banzaitrooper]

Well im thinking you wouldnt need to cast the parts, the front lever looks like a door handle to me, and the front tray looks like something you might be able to pick up at a home depot, or a cereal bowl cut in half?! I mean this machine im talking about isn't anything too fancy! just a fun project we could all do to kill some time and have a little fun pachi to add to our collections!

[compirate]

You could always take a busted one and use the appropriate parts.