Cocktail Pins

jdoz2

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This is just a photo I found online, but they seem really neat. I havnt heard a lot of good things about them, but for some reason I really want to own one. Do they come up for sale very often? Never seen one for sale before so I dont really know what they sell for.

Any love for these pins?
 

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Some of them get neglected and no one ever opens them up to look at things. Generally, you will find major battery leakage damage.
 
I had an Eros II and I thought it was a pretty fun machine, but I doubt if I will ever own another one. The whole time I had it, I was afraid of it breaking and I wouldn't be able to fix it.

These machines come up for sale from time to time, but the older ones are only worth $400 at best. You will see a lot of sellers boasting how they have one in "like new" condition or "near mint." Well, yeah. Almost all of them out there are like that because they were prone to failure on route backin the day and they weren't repaired, so they sat and collected dust.

Gottlieb did introduce a few in the late 1980's that are worth more money, but it's still the same concept.

IMO, they're neat to own once but that's about it. Parts for the older machines are too darn difficult to locate, so if something breaks, you might be stuck with a non-working machine for awhile. If it's the boards that needs work, thankfully there's John's Jukes in Canada for repairs.
 
I had an Eros II and I thought it was a pretty fun machine, but I doubt if I will ever own another one. The whole time I had it, I was afraid of it breaking and I wouldn't be able to fix it.

These machines come up for sale from time to time, but the older ones are only worth $400 at best. You will see a lot of sellers boasting how they have one in "like new" condition or "near mint." Well, yeah. Almost all of them out there are like that because they were prone to failure on route backin the day and they weren't repaired, so they sat and collected dust.

Gottlieb did introduce a few in the late 1980's that are worth more money, but it's still the same concept.

IMO, they're neat to own once but that's about it. Parts for the older machines are too darn difficult to locate, so if something breaks, you might be stuck with a non-working machine for awhile. If it's the boards that needs work, thankfully there's John's Jukes in Canada for repairs.

I saw a video of a Night Moves in action. That thing had a ton going on in such a small amount of space. A lot of the other ones seem like you spend a lot of time just waiting on the ball to slowly roll back to you.
 
I've looked at a few that popped up on CL, but everyone had major battery acid damage and as other have already said - good luck finding replacement parts. Board repair on something like that would cost more than the whole machine is even worth. They usually have terrible playfield wear as well. Non working I wouldn't pay more than $100 for a nice one, and that's only if it doesn't have acid damage.
 
I would love to have a Night Moves or the other one that is similar. The older EM ones? Not so much.
 
Those 3 in the pic were mine a couple of years ago. They are kinda cool, but not particularly fun to play.
 
I have a Star Shooter but I'm missing some parts including the MPU board. If anyone has a working MPU board, let me know!
 
4 were eros one....2 were roy clark....only boards left now....sorry.
If you have any MPU's left I would be interested.

I bought 5. Selling my third. One more will be repaired. The last for parts. I have 2 boards but both have chipset problems.
regards
 
I hve a Spectra IV which isn't pictured here. Cool machine.. rotating playfield under glass. But like others have said, the battery damage was extreme and I've put hundreds into making it work. It is partially working at best today. I hope to spend more time with it in the future but too many other projects.

The biggest problem with cocktail table pins is the size of the playfield and the fact that while some are multi-player having to get up and switch seats constantly is a bit of a pain. The spectra IV allowed for all 4 players to remain seated. Some games have dual sides and one I've played even allowed for 2 players at the same time playing against each other.

One of the big problems with cocktail pinball machines and arcades too for that matter is the fact that they make convinient tables (duh). What this means is that some one (or group) will sit down with their drinks and snacks and only play a game are two but then just continue to sit there using the table as a (duh) table. Thus reducing the potential for revenue. They also take up more floor place if you expect for people to 'sit around' them. Then.. what do you do with the power cord...???

So... they are unique but for all the reasons mentioned above were big sellers nor did they get played alot. Fiinding them isn't that difficult.. finding one with a decent play is tougher... finding one with out battery damage is difficult... finding one cheap (compartively) isn't... getting parts can be difficult.

Just my opinion. (Although the Spectra IV makes a great table for a poker topper!)

Rusty
 
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