Looking for a pinball machine

steviebg

Hey all, I'm thinking about investing in a pinball machine but I know sweet f-all about them.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to buy one preferably in Ireland and cheap as possible. Second hand would be great. Also what sites are good for reading up on the keeping, playing and restoration of these machines. Thanks. Steve.

eddhorse

http://www.pinballinfo.com/

You could drop a couple of thousand at least.

Not too many available on the island

Optimus Prime

steviebg wrote: »

Hey all, I'm thinking about investing in a pinball machine but I know sweet f-all about them.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to buy one preferably in Ireland and cheap as possible. Second hand would be great. Also what sites are good for reading up on the keeping, playing and restoration of these machines. Thanks. Steve.

You and half this forum is after a cheap pinball machine ! Haha, they pop up every now and again but are not cheap unless you find a bargain and get in quick.

steviebg

Jesus im beginning to think it's going to be hard to spend my money, so it's only private sellers in Ireland.

I thought they were a bit more popular!

Optimus Prime

steviebg wrote: »

Jesus im beginning to think it's going to be hard to spend my money, so it's only private sellers in Ireland.

I thought they were a bit more popular!

There’s two on adverts at the minute , both over priced. Most of the guys on here including myself wouldn’t sell one of our pinballs unless it was to fund a replacement I’d guess, I wouldn’t anyways . Sometimes they pop up non working , needing a lot of work too.

steviebg

Optimus Prime wrote: »

steviebg wrote: »

Jesus im beginning to think it's going to be hard to spend my money, so it's only private sellers in Ireland.

I thought they were a bit more popular!

There’s two on adverts at the minute , both over priced. Most of the guys on here including myself wouldn’t sell one of our pinballs unless it was to fund a replacement I’d guess, I wouldn’t anyways . Sometimes they pop up non working , needing a lot of work too.

Yeah saw the star trek one, nice machine but a bit out of my budget. Also saw the questioning he got about the refurbishment from the lads on here

So it's a case of playing the waiting game or take a chance on something on eBay.

On the other machine on adverts, what price do you think is fair for it?

Thanks for the advice.

CathalDublin

steviebg wrote: »

Yeah saw the star trek one, nice machine but a bit out of my budget. Also saw the questioning he got about the refurbishment from the lads on here

So it's a case of playing the waiting game or take a chance on something on eBay.

On the other machine on adverts, what price do you think is fair for it?

Thanks for the advice.

Have a look in pinballinfo for sale section, you’ll get something decent for €1000-1500, the same machine as the other one on adverts was on pinballinfo in December for £600 and didn’t get any interest, it’s too old for the money they’ve it advertised as

eddhorse

Wouldn't mind a pin myself. You could get one delivered from the UK. I would also recommend knowing which pins you might like and which types. As some are vastly different. Maybe the pinball folk would expand more on that.

Optimus Prime

I’ve never bought one from the uk but I think a few on here have and said about 150 shipping. But I believe the trouble is finding someone in the uk willing to wrap it on a pallet and ship it to Ireland.

I’ve seen some crazy prices for Star Trek the next gen lately. It’s hard to tell what it’s worth now. I wouldn’t pay five grand for a pinball machine unless I’d won the lotto or something.

steviebg

eddhorse wrote: »

Wouldn't mind a pin myself. You could get one delivered from the UK. I would also recommend knowing which pins you might like and which types. As some are vastly different. Maybe the pinball folk would expand more on that.

Yeah that's a bit of a issue, I don't have a lot of experience with pins.

But I was in barcadia in cork over the weekend and they had a Indiana Jones a star wars and I think a star trek, they were pretty good.

But knowing my taste they'll be bloody expensive!?

BGOllie

they're a ton of work and a money pit as I found out
Arcade machines require maintenances in general, but pins have so many moving parts, multiple boards, electro mechanical parts, cosmetic maintenance ... it's not something I'd recommend getting into casually.
If you want a fully working one it'll cost you a S##£ load of cash as you'll most likely will have to import or fork out the money for one of those overpriced ones on advert. If you prefer staying on the cheap, you'll have to get a project pin and learn how to restore it the hard way ... in the end it'll still cost you in parts and bits.
You'll still have to do some maintenance yourself and fix things here and there regardless

and yeah, those pinballs you mentioned are top dollars for sure
https://www.homeleisuredirect.com/pinball-machines/vintage-pinball-machines/indiana-jones-williams-pinball-machine.html

CathalDublin

Project machines are just that, projects, they will likely still cost you the same as a fully worker but spread out over a couple months. You can get lucky and get one with all working boards but you can also be unlucky and end up with something missing parts that cost as much as the machine itself.
You’ll get a good fully working good game play machine if you can budget for €1000-1500.
Newer machines like AC/DC, Metallica, ghostbusters, Etc sell for €4000+
I don’t think you’ll have too much difficulty getting someone to ship you one from the UK for €120-€150, even better if you can get picked up.
Just a couple of decent examples which are either for sale or sold recently on pinballinfo

No fear, haven’t played in years but I remember it being decent gameplay.
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/no-fear.39237/

Lw3
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/lethal-weapon-3.38875/

Fishtales
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/fishtales.39061/

Dr who, great game
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/doctor-who.39110/

I think you should go for it, join the gang.
Pinball’s hold their value well so if you decide it’s not for you and you want to sell on you’ll never be stuck with it unless you’re a dreamer and looking for too much.

steviebg

Some great links there thanks, Some really nice machines. Really tempted now.

BadCharlie

Here is another pin
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/star-wars-trilogy.39292/

Sega Star Wars, had lots of fun on it the past 4 years. But time to move it on. Just put it up for sale today. Did not list it on the Irish sites yet.

Even if not looking to buy. You can play it as much you like. Also have the walking dead which is a super game “not for sale” but more than welcome to play it and try and knock my low high scores!!!

Jack burton

Pinballs getting very popular around here. I have 3 myself and I have no formal experience with servicing or electronics but you'll be amazed what skills you'll pick up.

Now electronics wise I'm still crap but there's bit communities that are very welcoming and will help you out

CathalDublin

BadCharlie wrote: »

Here is another pin
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/star-wars-trilogy.39292/

Sega Star Wars, had lots of fun on it the past 4 years. But time to move it on. Just put it up for sale today. Did not list it on the Irish sites yet.

Even if not looking to buy. You can play it as much you like. Also have the walking dead which is a super game “not for sale” but more than welcome to play it and try and knock my low high scores!!!

Lovely machine, didn't hang around long

steviebg

Ah jesus, you snooze you lose!!

CathalDublin

steviebg wrote: »

Ah jesus, you snooze you lose!!

speaking of snooze you loose
have a look at this Batman, pending collection means there is a still a chance
http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/data-east-batman.39274/

Optimus Prime

wow that one is a steal, looks amazing.

CathalDublin

stunning machine

CathalDublin

CathalDublin wrote: »

stunning machine

The game stinks thought !!!!

o1s1n

Really? Argh no, visually I think it's one of the nicest looking ones. Haven't actually played it though.

I only played one and I thought it was muck!

BadCharlie

Ya my Star Wars did not stay listed long. Thanks for the pm’s about the machine.

They don’t come up often in Ireland but keep checking adverts, DoneDeal and the uk pinball site.

Watch out for the very overpriced pinball machines. Just cause you might want one don’t pay the crazy money some sellers are currently looking for.

Jack burton

And dont buy one where someone has "varnished" the playfield :P

steviebg

Yeah I'm not in too much of a rush I think I can wait for the right one, I know what you mean about over priced one thanks to the lads here.

CathalDublin

Not sure if this is a decent game or not, I think some of the others in this thread might have played it before, It’s a bit old for me, want my next one to be newer machine, I’ve already 1 from this era.
http://www.adverts.ie/15111615

Optimus Prime

I bought my fishtales pin off that guy I think. Nice guy to deal with. Not sure about that pin though it wasn’t there when I picked up fishtales.

CathalDublin

He’s owned it a fair while, he’d it for sale in the past for £1000-1200stg if I remember correctly

Jack burton

I was thinking of trying to get a deal on it but I'm not sure. Think I hold off till a pin I really want pops up.

Love to get myself a swords of fury!

Theres a brand new star wars pro in the square by the cinema if any one fancys a game.
I played it in the states last month and was not impressed to be honest.
Good to see a new pinball in the wild!