Blue TKG3 “No Copyright" Donkey Kong Restoration

I just picked up an early DK (3200 ish serial I forget exactly what it is) no copyright on the marquee but it does on the overlay but that might be a repro as the side art is repro for sure. Anyway along with some bad touch ups look what joystick it came with.

joystick.jpg
 
Nice! It's been a long while since I restored an upright donkey Kong. It seemed like there was at least 10 of these being restored a week back in the old days. You don't see them pop up as much these days. Kind of miss having a dedicated donkey Kong in the arcade. I've had all three versions, and for some reason sold all three over the years.
Bruh, I'm right here:

 
I just picked up an early DK (3200 ish serial I forget exactly what it is) no copyright on the marquee but it does on the overlay but that might be a repro as the side art is repro for sure. Anyway along with some bad touch ups look what joystick it came with.

View attachment 834991

The plot thickens! 🧐 lol. I wouldn't be entirely shocked if Nintendo had maybe been considering using WICO brand JoySticks prior to releasing Radar Scoop, DK, or possibly even their next game. You have to remember Nintendo America was in trouble before DK becoming a MASSIVE hit eventually saved the compan! Why the heck not would a struggling company throw in some random WICO stock they may have prior tested / still had lying around to save some money!

Again, I still believe it's highly unlikely it happened.. but if something came out one day that definitely proved some early machines actually did, I wouldn't be all that surprised… 🤷‍♂️

I would bet there were multiple "stations" where these machines were getting assembled and the ID plates with the serial numbers were divided up between stations / assembly lines somewhat randomly. The more early TKG3 cabs I discover on old forums, in marketplace ads or in collectors, collections the less confident I've become that a given cabinet's serial number accurately reflects what actual number DK Cabinet produced the given machine actually was..

There have been few, If ANY clear cut rules to what machines came with what, when various artwork started / stopped at least when its comes to the no trademark stuff.. obviously they eventually ran out of it and all remaining cabs had trademarked art but I saw someone with a TKG3, serial # in the 7,000s that by all indications was an all original time capsule with appropriately faded art / t-moulding and all other expected proper internals. BUT I've also seen ant least a couple earlier serial numbered TKG3s than my 5,XXX matching, that by all accounts had matching "original" appearing copyright pieces 🤷‍♂️ .
 

Attachments

  • 555812639_10239517137562671_8672784899738844500_n.jpg
    555812639_10239517137562671_8672784899738844500_n.jpg
    139.5 KB · Views: 3
  • 556028344_10239517137602672_3105916176198329053_n.jpg
    556028344_10239517137602672_3105916176198329053_n.jpg
    116.4 KB · Views: 2
  • 556695514_10239517137442668_1535432736141027971_n.jpg
    556695514_10239517137442668_1535432736141027971_n.jpg
    150.8 KB · Views: 2
  • 556855028_10239517137482669_1936178553245464837_n.jpg
    556855028_10239517137482669_1936178553245464837_n.jpg
    159.2 KB · Views: 3
  • 556855469_10239517137522670_8187952070486091520_n.jpg
    556855469_10239517137522670_8187952070486091520_n.jpg
    125.7 KB · Views: 3
Back
Top Bottom