1978 Bally Playboy Pinball Machine

[DPinball]

Hello everyone. I have just finished cleaning out my parents garage/house and found this 1978 Bally Playboy machine. I have plugged it in and played for over 2 hours last weekend. Although I am no expert, everything seemed to work just fine and it doesn't look like it needs any replacement parts. Just curious to all of you experts and pinball enthusiasts out there to ask any idea what it may be worth or a typical price range that this machine could sell for? I have attached a couple photos that I took to see the condition. Let me know your thoughts as I would greatly appreciate your honest opinions.


Thanks,

DPinball

 

[thegleek]

2015 Mr Pinball guide states 18,250 of these were made in production and are valued at $1,500 - your mileage may vary.

 

[hsapinball]

Condition is everything. Most Playboy pins suffer from high playfield wear. I can not tell from your pictures but what is the condition of the playfield?

Also how is your backglass?

 

[DPinball]

Condition is everything. Most Playboy pins suffer from high playfield wear. I can not tell from your pictures but what is the condition of the playfield?

Also how is your backglass?

Like I said I am no expert on pinball machines but it seemed to be in pretty good condition considering it being produced in 1978. I'll have to swing by and make sure to take better photos later tonight. What kind of things should I be looking for that might help determine the condition of the playing field and backglass?

 

[hsapinball]

Like I said I am no expert on pinball machines but it seemed to be in pretty good condition considering it being produced in 1978. I'll have to swing by and make sure to take better photos later tonight. What kind of things should I be looking for that might help determine the condition of the playing field and backglass?

Remove the backglass and look at the backside of the glass. You will see issues easier from the backside of the glass.

Playfield: Most Playboy's have heavy wear in the center. How does the artwork look? Any missing paint, bare wood spots, any cracking in the lacquer finish, etc???

 

[jbk]

Playboy cabs also suffer from fade in the purple areas. Check the sides to see the extent of the fade. Below is the area where you generally see the most playfield damage.

 

[jibmums]

Looks like you have not one, but two Playboys there in your photos.

 

[hsapinball]

Playboy cabs also suffer from fade in the purple areas. Check the sides to see the extent of the fade. Below is the area where you generally see the most playfield damage.

True but fixing and painting a cabinet is cheaper than either restoring a playfield or buying a new reproduction playfield. If you get other games down the road and put them next to a pin with a faded cabinet you will not really see the side of the game.

 

[cpu.slave]

True but fixing and painting a cabinet is cheaper than either restoring a playfield or buying a new reproduction playfield. If you get other games down the road and put them next to a pin with a faded cabinet you will not really see the side of the game.

Either way, cab fade will play a part in determining value - which is what I believe the original poster was ultimately trying to get. The usual backglass\playfield condition will also. His physical location will factor into this as well.

Yes, the photos provided appear to show multiple pins, and if they are looking to sell as a group that would also play into any final value.

 

[vid1900]

Job #1 = open the backbox, and cut the battery off of the MPU !!!!

This is super important, as once you warm up the game again, it will cause that old battery to leak it's alkali all over the MPU, killing it. Remove it today.

Job #2 = New Ball

Don't roll that old ball around the playfield another minute. Old balls have corrosion that acts like sandpaper.

New "super shiny" balls are $1.50, buy a few spares, they get nicked up fast - and nicked balls wear down your playfield.

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1325

Job #3 = Wax

Wax that game with a good, non-silicone, non-liquid, paste wax.

Wax the playfield, the ball guides, everything.

If you don't wax the game regularly, the ball will be riding on the paint - wearing it off.

Blitz is probably the best wax, it's always behind the counter at the auto parts store so clods don't steal it.

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=2589

Job #4 = New Bulbs

You probably have a bunch of bulbs burned out, and a bunch more that look shiny black.

Replace ALL the old #44 bulbs with new #47 bulbs. The #47 use 40% less electricity, so they will help out that old overtaxed powersupply.

A box of 100 bulbs is like $7, money well spent to protect your game.

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=2523

Job #5 - New Rubbers

Nothing makes a game play great like new rubber.

-

Manual:

http://mirror2.ipdb.org/files/1823/Bally_1978_Playboy_Manual.pdf

You won't need this yet, but in the future:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-quick-bally-driver-board-repair-bulletproofing