Why are there so few Sanyo machines out there

[njlou]

YES I am new to the hobby and this forum.
I have a 1975 sanyo bussan.
It was a very neglected and tired machine , but after a few months it is looking and working great.
It even had some parts that i couldnt identify......turns out that some little kid must have put 2 of those magnetic toy sticks in the jackpot section, marbles and ball bearings instead of p. balls,and other assorted issues.
My question is this. Why dont I see more Sanyo machines on this forum or for sale generally?
Were they rare or just not good machines?
Also from what I have been able to find, is that they are very basic. could that be the answer?

[compirate]

I suppose they weren't imported as much. Mostly what you see are Nishijin.

[Bowl987]

I'm new as well with only two machines. No Nishijin's yet for me, but my second machine is a sanyo bussan - not sure of the year.

20220611_131058.jpg20220611_131012.jpg

[njlou]

That looks like mine (but in MUCH better condition).
Mine is ~1975?? Yours looks a little newer.
I dont see any government stamps, so I would guess it was substantially restored.

[Bowl987]

That looks like mine (but in MUCH better condition).
Mine is ~1975?? Yours looks a little newer.
I dont see any government stamps, so I would guess it was substantially restored.

It cleaned up pretty good. Here's what it looked like when I got it off craigslist for $20.

20220426_151301.jpg20220426_151018.jpg

[sparky kilowatt]

Looks good, nice job on the resto.

[lotsoballs]

Regular Sanyos aren’t that “rare” they were just not imported as much as Nishijins; which take up 90%+ of the vintage market. Also the Sanyo comet 2 is known to have a sticky payout seesaw mechanism. Nishijins are more reliable; and the Nishijin model A recycles lost balls so it’s the superior machine for at home; especially for cabinet use. I’d say they are second most common next to Nishijin.

This is a extremely rare Sanyo; “Diasangen” (this is the only one I’ve ever seen) more tulips than a Powerflash and has solenoid activated tulips and similar gameplay to the Powerflash

[Drunkenclam]

Whats with the mahjong tile buttons?

[lotsoballs]

Whats with the mahjong tile buttons?

Just decoration. I guess to let you know this is a “special” Mahjong machine? Not unlike the Powerflash and it’s playing card theme decorations. They play very similar with a couple of yellow tulips that you must avoid or all tulips get closed at once, like the joker yellow tulips on a Powerflash.