InsaneDavid
Well-known member
After buying a few lots of VFD (Vacuum Florescent Display) tabletops and trading some others around I have these two remaining. Neither is perfect and I'm not expecting a lot for them. Condition of each is noted and I've also included a short demonstration video for each. The pictures and videos are of the exact games being sold.
Payment is to be made via PayPal, gift is ALWAYS appreciated but not required. Shipping only within the lower 48 United States during this time of year. Shipping not included unless stated. As always, I'm open to offers or package deals.
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Coleco Frogger VFD Tabletop
This one came from a lot of Coleco tabletops from and independent game store. Originally the audio was not working but everything else was fine. The audio issue turned out to be a disconnected piezo buzzer (common) and was easily remedied. However the plastic speaker cone that sits atop the buzzer was missing, instead a piece of an envelope was being used in its place. Obviously someone who didn't know what they were doing tried to work on this game at one point. Thankfully they left their "repair" at that. I made a replacement speaker cone out of file folder cardstock and the audio now works great, a little softer than the plastic cone would have been but most would consider that an improvement. The game is missing the top sticker, the laminate over the control panel sticker is cracked in the upper left corner from the earlier "repair" attempt, and there is no battery door. The game functions perfectly, there are no VFD issues, the battery compartment is clean of any battery damage or corrosion, and the joystick is responsive with good switch cycles. No cracks or damage to the housing and of course the entire game has been cleaned both inside and out - no dirt, grime, or insects inside.
Although the game works fine, just to make sure we're on the same page, here are things that make it non-perfect:
No battery door.
Top sticker missing.
Control panel sticker laminate is cracked in upper left corner.
Control panel sticker is starting to peel slightly on bottom left corner.
Plastic speaker cone was torn out, replaced with cardstock speaker cone, slightly softer sound.
One screw is non-matching due to it coming that way from the earlier "repair" - no damage to plastic standoffs.
Video of this game running.
Frogger will be $45.00 shipped, or offer.
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Parker Bros. Q*bert VFD Tabletop
Q*bert here is a little different. This is one of three Q*bert tabletops that I acquired to do parts swaps back and forth. This one could be considered the "runt" of the three and received the recessive components although it functions fine. It is missing the top and side stickers. The bezel sticker is present but is pretty worn. The control panel sticker is worn as well but it's no more worn than what you usually find with Q*bert. The game has been completely disassembled and cleaned including a full soak and scrub of both halves of the game shell. As with Frogger, no dirt, grime or insect surprises inside. The battery door is not included and as is usual with Q*bert the battery compartment fit is extremely tight - I have no idea why Parker Bros made the battery compartments on these so small, it's almost as if they didn't know how big a C size battery was. Controls work great with the elastomer under the joystick in excellent shape. The battery compartment is clean with no battery damage or corrosion. In addition to the missing battery door and stickers, there is a small missing area of the upper PCB however it is in an unpopulated area and no components or traces are affected by it. The game also exhibits occasional graphics flicker in a section where an object is being illuminated. For instance Q*bert may enter an area and as he leaves, for just a split second, Coily may flash up in the same area. This doesn't affect gameplay or the game program, but I do see it from time to time. I inspected the PCB for bad solder joints or some VFD issue but couldn't find any. Perhaps the capacitors are starting to dry out, this is a 30 year old game after all. It still works fine and I played it for an hour without and gameplay issues, I just want to make sure that everything is explained. I do have a scan of the Q*bert labels that can be found online if you're looking to print them out on photo paper and replace them yourself.
Although the game works fine, just to make sure we're on the same page, here are things that make it non-perfect:
No battery door.
Top sticker, left sticker, and right missing.
Bezel sticker is worn.
Blue parts of game (bottom shell) are faded to teal. Doesn't look out of place but if you have it next to another Q*bert or look inside the battery compartment you can tell.
Cracked edge of PCB in an unpopulated area (no damage to traces or components).
Display has occasional graphic flicker when moving in / out of a populated plain - seems to be random, possibly failing caps.
Video of this game running.
Q*bert will be $40.00 shipped, or offer.
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I'd be fine with $60.00 shipped for the pair.
Please PM me if interested, have an offer, or any additional questions. If you want them both I'm all for working out some kind of package deal. Thanks!
Payment is to be made via PayPal, gift is ALWAYS appreciated but not required. Shipping only within the lower 48 United States during this time of year. Shipping not included unless stated. As always, I'm open to offers or package deals.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Coleco Frogger VFD Tabletop
This one came from a lot of Coleco tabletops from and independent game store. Originally the audio was not working but everything else was fine. The audio issue turned out to be a disconnected piezo buzzer (common) and was easily remedied. However the plastic speaker cone that sits atop the buzzer was missing, instead a piece of an envelope was being used in its place. Obviously someone who didn't know what they were doing tried to work on this game at one point. Thankfully they left their "repair" at that. I made a replacement speaker cone out of file folder cardstock and the audio now works great, a little softer than the plastic cone would have been but most would consider that an improvement. The game is missing the top sticker, the laminate over the control panel sticker is cracked in the upper left corner from the earlier "repair" attempt, and there is no battery door. The game functions perfectly, there are no VFD issues, the battery compartment is clean of any battery damage or corrosion, and the joystick is responsive with good switch cycles. No cracks or damage to the housing and of course the entire game has been cleaned both inside and out - no dirt, grime, or insects inside.
Although the game works fine, just to make sure we're on the same page, here are things that make it non-perfect:
No battery door.
Top sticker missing.
Control panel sticker laminate is cracked in upper left corner.
Control panel sticker is starting to peel slightly on bottom left corner.
Plastic speaker cone was torn out, replaced with cardstock speaker cone, slightly softer sound.
One screw is non-matching due to it coming that way from the earlier "repair" - no damage to plastic standoffs.
Video of this game running.
Frogger will be $45.00 shipped, or offer.
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Parker Bros. Q*bert VFD Tabletop
Q*bert here is a little different. This is one of three Q*bert tabletops that I acquired to do parts swaps back and forth. This one could be considered the "runt" of the three and received the recessive components although it functions fine. It is missing the top and side stickers. The bezel sticker is present but is pretty worn. The control panel sticker is worn as well but it's no more worn than what you usually find with Q*bert. The game has been completely disassembled and cleaned including a full soak and scrub of both halves of the game shell. As with Frogger, no dirt, grime or insect surprises inside. The battery door is not included and as is usual with Q*bert the battery compartment fit is extremely tight - I have no idea why Parker Bros made the battery compartments on these so small, it's almost as if they didn't know how big a C size battery was. Controls work great with the elastomer under the joystick in excellent shape. The battery compartment is clean with no battery damage or corrosion. In addition to the missing battery door and stickers, there is a small missing area of the upper PCB however it is in an unpopulated area and no components or traces are affected by it. The game also exhibits occasional graphics flicker in a section where an object is being illuminated. For instance Q*bert may enter an area and as he leaves, for just a split second, Coily may flash up in the same area. This doesn't affect gameplay or the game program, but I do see it from time to time. I inspected the PCB for bad solder joints or some VFD issue but couldn't find any. Perhaps the capacitors are starting to dry out, this is a 30 year old game after all. It still works fine and I played it for an hour without and gameplay issues, I just want to make sure that everything is explained. I do have a scan of the Q*bert labels that can be found online if you're looking to print them out on photo paper and replace them yourself.
Although the game works fine, just to make sure we're on the same page, here are things that make it non-perfect:
No battery door.
Top sticker, left sticker, and right missing.
Bezel sticker is worn.
Blue parts of game (bottom shell) are faded to teal. Doesn't look out of place but if you have it next to another Q*bert or look inside the battery compartment you can tell.
Cracked edge of PCB in an unpopulated area (no damage to traces or components).
Display has occasional graphic flicker when moving in / out of a populated plain - seems to be random, possibly failing caps.
Video of this game running.
Q*bert will be $40.00 shipped, or offer.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I'd be fine with $60.00 shipped for the pair.
Please PM me if interested, have an offer, or any additional questions. If you want them both I'm all for working out some kind of package deal. Thanks!
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