found a old machine....is it any good?

woodrailsrus

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hello i have the chance to get a old pinball machine from the 1940's, its called a G.I. Joe. it has a military/war theme and is in good condition. how much are these worth? i looked online and all i can find is that it says these were a conversion for a genco jungle. i thought that corversion games were not worth alot of money at all. but my dad is saying he thinks it might be good because of the military theme. any thoughts or input????
 
It's a conversion, but not a conversion done in somebodies basement. During WWII, Harry Williams (and some other guy, forget the name), couldn't get materials to make new machines. So, they bought up as many old machines as they could, stripped them down and refurbished them, usually with some type of super-patriotic theme.

So, it's a legit machine, with a legit history behind it. However, it's almost definitely NOT going to be a flipper type machine. Those came much later. More akin to a bagatelle.

If you've already got a pin collection, it would make an interesting addition from a historical sense. But if it's your only pin, it will probably bore you to tears within days.

-Hans
 
any idea on a value for it........general idea i mean....i can probably get it for $300........but for $400 i missed out this weekend on a old vagabond pinball that i really wanted. im not sure if this gi joe machine is worth it. i am expecting it not to be fun to play
 
any idea on a value for it........general idea i mean....i can probably get it for $300........but for $400 i missed out this weekend on a old vagabond pinball that i really wanted. im not sure if this gi joe machine is worth it. i am expecting it not to be fun to play

I wouldn't pay $300.
 
It's a conversion, but not a conversion done in somebodies basement. .

Sorry. Not correct.

G.I. Joe was a conversion kit which could have easily been installed in a basement, barroom, or any other location.
 

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i was thinking its not a good one to get........but my dad was saying it might be........i think im going to pass on this one and look for more wedgeheads and woodrails....(if i can find them) haha
 
hello i have the chance to get a old pinball machine from the 1940's, its called a G.I. Joe. it has a military/war theme and is in good condition. how much are these worth? i looked online and all i can find is that it says these were a conversion for a genco jungle. i thought that corversion games were not worth alot of money at all. but my dad is saying he thinks it might be good because of the military theme. any thoughts or input????

Super pristine woodrails can be worth a fair amount to the right person so the question is just how good is the condition?

It's a pre-flipper game and the main purpose of games of that era was gambling, so you won't find it much fun to play.

For reference, woodrails in "fair/player" condition can often be had for $50 - $100 because there is not a lot of demand for them.
 
Those 40`s pre-flipper pins are more lookers than players. You should have bagged that vagabond with the repro glass for 400 !!!! Those Williams inverted wedgeheads are overlooked way too often.
 
Sorry. Not correct.

G.I. Joe was a conversion kit which could have easily been installed in a basement, barroom, or any other location.

Ok. But you kinda missed the spirit of what I was saying. It was a factory produced conversion, not something akin to people doing their own custom conversions.
 
Those 40`s pre-flipper pins are more lookers than players. You should have bagged that vagabond with the repro glass for 400 !!!! Those Williams inverted wedgeheads are overlooked way too often.

dude i know!!!!! i consider that a HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY!!!..........i called the guy and it was 3.5 hours away and i have been looking for a vagabond for 3 or 4 YEARS now. this guy told me that he had someone else coming to look at it and he felt it wouldnt be fair and that he had to give that guy a chance since he contacted him first........i said just by looking at the pics i am telling you i will buy it........check my ebay feedback and consider it sold tomarow morning.....and he still wouldnt do it......
so the next morning he called and said he sold it to the other guy who came to just to "check it out" and i said "well, alright but thats not the way we do things in pittsburgh when i sell stuff.......when i sell something its the first person here with the cash gets the item......doesnt matter if its 3am in the morning....whoever is here, with money, and serious buys it......"
i have a 4 roses inverted wedgehead but thats nothing like the artwork on a vagabond !!!!
 
I think Vagabond was the 1st Williams pin with a drop target. A friend of mine had one long ago. I had a Williams Soccer & still have a Heat Wave which is overlooked by many.
 
i missed out on a heat wave last year.....i just posted about it in the thread i started about great deals i passed on. i wish i would have had that heat wave in my basement
 
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