$30 Gravitar w/free Major Havoc + Quantum boards

luxmatic

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Somebody here told me (jokingly) pictures or it didn't happen.

Here's the Gravitar I picked up 16 years ago from a yard sale. Guy who owned it was ex-Atari. Said it didn't work and he had no idea how to fix it.



Got it home and noticed a few things. First, he had installed a track ball.

attachment.php


Why? He had these in the cabinet... a Major Havoc conversion board:

attachment.php


And both a Major Havoc and Quantum board:

attachment.php


A closer look:

attachment.php


The monitor needed a cap kit and once installed, the game worked great for 5 years. Major Havoc was playable with the track-ball. (Found out a few years ago that the creator, Owen Rubin, lives just a block away from me here in Oakland. He and I shared quality time antagonizing our neighborhood mailing list.) I've never tried the Quantum out, but would love to find a way to get it to work without bastardizing the cabinet.

Posted my find back on rgvac: http://groups.google.com/group/rec....gst&q=gravitar+quantum+brady#0aeaeff745818cec

I think the same mrbill that is around here came by and checked it out.

3 years ago or so I picked up a cocktail Asteroids Deluxe, followed by a Tempest, and very recently, a Defender. Bought a Space Duel board way back then for $15, and am now trying to retrofit my Gravitar to play. I've room for one more game - and that will be a Robotron - my all time favorite. On the hunt, but I'm in no hurry...

Anyway - there's the pics. Hope you enjoyed.
 

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What a steal! I don't think anyone here could have you beat for a deal like this for the last 16 years.
 
Agreed. Greatest *single* arcade score in history.

I've heard this tale before, and seen the posts that backed it up, but putting pictures to the words really does kick it up a notch.

You sir, are legend.
 
I think I capped your monitor.. I might have replaced big blue. If big blue has not been done yet in any of your ataris, you should do so asap.

Somebody here told me (jokingly) pictures or it didn't happen.

Here's the Gravitar I picked up 16 years ago from a yard sale. Guy who owned it was ex-Atari. Said it didn't work and he had no idea how to fix it.



Got it home and noticed a few things. First, he had installed a track ball.

attachment.php


Why? He had these in the cabinet... a Major Havoc conversion board:

attachment.php


And both a Major Havoc and Quantum board:

attachment.php


A closer look:

attachment.php


The monitor needed a cap kit and once installed, the game worked great for 5 years. Major Havoc was playable with the track-ball. (Found out a few years ago that the creator, Owen Rubin, lives just a block away from me here in Oakland. He and I shared quality time antagonizing our neighborhood mailing list.) I've never tried the Quantum out, but would love to find a way to get it to work without bastardizing the cabinet.

Posted my find back on rgvac: http://groups.google.com/group/rec....gst&q=gravitar+quantum+brady#0aeaeff745818cec

I think the same mrbill that is around here came by and checked it out.

3 years ago or so I picked up a cocktail Asteroids Deluxe, followed by a Tempest, and very recently, a Defender. Bought a Space Duel board way back then for $15, and am now trying to retrofit my Gravitar to play. I've room for one more game - and that will be a Robotron - my all time favorite. On the hunt, but I'm in no hurry...

Anyway - there's the pics. Hope you enjoyed.
 
today is your LUCKY DAY!!

I am going to afford you the opportunity to make 20 times what you paid for that game.

I will be over with $600 to pick up the game this week. :)
 
Am I on borrowed time?

I would say you should replace them before you turn them on again. Its $12.50 each. Once you change them, you probably will never have to do it again..

http://www.therealbobroberts.net/bigblue.html

If yours is black, then its been changed. IF its grey, it might have been changed. If its a light blue, it probably has not been changed.

You should probably recap your audio reg boards too. Its a $12 kit..

http://www.therealbobroberts.net/ar2.jpg

maybe do a pcb cap kit too
Asteroids Deluxe PCB Cap Kit
new.gif
$6.00

asteroids deluxe uses a different kit..
Atari A/R or A/R II-01 Repair Kit (Caps+Q2/3+R29)$9.00
 
Last edited:
A small update: last week and after 24 years, I was finally able to test the Quantum board, thanks to @jkoople.

IT WORKED. :D


Now, what should I do with it? Seems a shame to just let it sit on a bookshelf.
 
today is your LUCKY DAY!!

I am going to afford you the opportunity to make 20 times what you paid for that game.

I will be over with $600 to pick up the game this week. :)

A small update: last week and after 24 years, I was finally able to test the Quantum board, thanks to @jkoople.

IT WORKED. :D


Now, what should I do with it? Seems a shame to just let it sit on a bookshelf.

My offer from 7 years ago still stands.
 
A small update: last week and after 24 years, I was finally able to test the Quantum board, thanks to @jkoople.

IT WORKED. :D


Now, what should I do with it? Seems a shame to just let it sit on a bookshelf.

Oh man, just when you thought it couldn't get any better! That is awesome!
 
This thread is full of win.

It needs to be in the KLOV hall of fame.
 
This is really interesting.
I assume this is something that was done by someone at Atari where they added the trackball so you could play Gravitar, Major Havoc and Quantum all in the same cab?
It would be interesting to see the underside of the controls panels as well as the harness.

If they guy was an Ex Atari employee and didn't know how to fix the game, it seems unlikely he was the one who installed the track ball. Seems more plausible this was done at the factory maybe?
 
A small update: last week and after 24 years, I was finally able to test the Quantum board, thanks to @jkoople.

IT WORKED. :D


Now, what should I do with it? Seems a shame to just let it sit on a bookshelf.

Time for you to start a cabaret project build or two for those boards...
 
If they guy was an Ex Atari employee and didn't know how to fix the game, it seems unlikely he was the one who installed the track ball. Seems more plausible this was done at the factory maybe?

The trackball install, while not horrid, is definitely not clean or factory quality. The CP cut out isn't quite round, there's a bolt with a low profile nut above the trackball, and the cabinet has been chiseled to make room.

IMG_2889.jpg

IMG_2888.jpg
 
Time for you to start a cabaret project build or two for those boards...

I'm definitely up for doing something like that, even building a full cabinet. Unclear how to even start a project of that magnitude. I start to think about the shopping list I'd need and the rarity of some of the stuff - like a monitor - and it feels overwhelming. I'd love, absolutely love, to do that though!

Other options: I've a working Tempest and Gravitar, and think there could be options there.
 
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