Minnesota: Looking for Empty Classic Cabinets for 60 in 1 build

n1kki6

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Minnesota: Looking for Empty Classic Cabinets for 60 in 1 build

Hi All,

First post, been lurking for quite some time. Love the site.

I recently just finished a 60in1 cocktail build out of an old asteroids dexuxe cabinet that I had and would like to do another. I would be looking for another cocktail or standups, preferebly classic midways or atari, pacman, centipede, etc..

I am located in Minnesota Twin Cities metro, if you are in the area and have anything let me know.

Thanks,

Mike
 
Welcome to the group.

That said, a word of warning: you won't get much love here by asking to make multi's out of classic cabs. There's a reason this forum is tied to VAPS - the Vintage Arcade Preservation Society.

Also, the 60-in-1 market in the Twin Cities is pretty tight. Not to say you can't jump in feet first, but there are a few guys already out here that are building and selling those cabs already. You've got some competition.

If you just want a single cab to do for yourself, I have some peeps I can put you in touch with to maybe get a beat up cab to start a project with. But no one here is going to let you take a minty classic cabinet and dress it up with a multi board for profit. At least they won't admit to letting you do it, anyway.

Your best bet to find cabs for this is to network, network, network. Get to know the guys in the hobby, make friends, be nice. Eventually things will make their way to you.

I WOULD tell you that the local auctions are a good way to find suitable cabs for this, but the last few years have not been good for that. Lots of sit down drivers, thrice converted JAMMA's, and redemption games lately. The flow of classics has turned into a slow dribble that's worse than Chris25810's prostate problems.
 
Smalltownguy2,

Thank you for the warm welcome and candid response.

I think you may be making some assumptions about my intentions with these cabinets, and how it relates to VAPS.

First, as it relates to VAPS. I am all for the preservation of classic arcade machines, I am not looking for cabinets in prestine conditions, mostly cabinets that would otherwise head to the dump. I apologize for not being as specific as I should have been but I was looking for empty cabinets, not those with electronics and the potential to be restored to an original state. I think that is they key to preserving classic machines. I say this because I can cut my own cabinets, but it's much easier to take a damaged cabinet off of someones hands and bring it back to life rather than see it sit and rot.

Second. I do not build these for profit, some stay in my basement and some I sell, but in no way do I sell them for more than my time is worth. Again, taking a dedicated cabinet with the potential to restore to original is one thing, turning a damaged cabinet, otherwise headed to the dump, into a 60 in 1 is another.

Three. I understand their are people in the Twin Cities Metro building these already. With a senior position in marketing and communications I understand jumping into a crowded market can be daunting, but with that; I understand that in niche markets understanding your demographic is key. I haven't had a problem moving any thus far, and have had glowing comments about the quility of my builds. What also should be understood is I am not in this for the money, rather my passion for taking someones else garbage and making it great. If that presents a problem for those doing this for a living I apologize, but I am not concerned.

I would like to touch on the VAPS point one more time. This could be argued, but I feel the least valuable part of the classic arcade machine is the cabinet, since it can be recreated.

Still looking.
 
I agree w/N1kki6, the hollowed out cabs I like to make multis out of are just plain garbage (literally headed for the dump) - too much respect to part anything out. The enjoyment I personally get out of them is making them look new again cosmetically, even if it is redone into a 60. The more hopeless the cab is, the more rewarding the end result is. If anything, it should be in line w/VAPS since some dork decided to part it out in the first place - all you'd be doing by trying to restore it into a dedicated (we're talking hollowed out cabs here) is encouraging someone else to part out their classic - nothing you can do about that, just the best you can in paying respect by reviving a doomed cab.
 
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In addition, if I find a damage cabinet, I can turn it into a prestine 60 in 1, themed to any classis arcade game.

If you were to tell me I needed to spend the time finding boards to restore it to a dedicated state I would pass.

If this is what VAPS is pushing I feel that it may be a bit counter productive. Taking a damaged cab and converting it to a 60-1 is getting classic gaming back into the hands that cherrish the nostalgia but don't have the money to purchase 5 dedicated machines, let alone 60. This brings a garbage cabinet back to life.

By all means if I have the opportunity to buy a non working classic with boards I will restore it as such, but this post was about empty cabs that make great donors for those not so connected to the classic scene.
 
Plus it's way easier to fix up any old cab, throw an $80 pcb in it and make a quick $500+ profit than to restore it... do you know how much that costs?!? :)
 
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It is way easier to fix an old cab. On this forum we all know this. Again, I wasn't trying to start a firestorm of responses. Plus profit is technically income beyond what you would charge for your time, in turn creating a surplus for your next project. We can spin it anyway we want. I just want to again say, that I am in no way trying to discourage restoration of original machines but it's not my fault if someone parted the cab out before selling it.
 
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Like I basically said earlier, what good is it to try and restore a junked shell into a dedicated? You're just encouraging some idiot to part his machine to make a few extra bucks (pcbs at least). Don't get me wrong, I have quite a few dedicated games that I've completely brought back to life from basically ground up, but there's nothing wrong with turning something that's headed to the scrap pile into a 60 - if some dude decides to overpay you for your product than more power to ya! Get you some cash to fund your own arcade!

That being said, I'm also looking for junked out atari or old midway empty cabinets for the same reason in Atl - PM me if you have one.
 
I'm your worst nightmare

I saw that Asteroids Deluxe abomination and wondered who was responsible for it.

Mostly I wondered where the vector monitor went (difficult to locate and impossible to recreate), and of course what became of the game board, power supply, and the rest of it's soul. Maybe you bought it completely empty and never saw that stuff, or maybe it didn't work and an uneducated mind simply tossed them into a dumpster. Maybe you.

Regardless, if you can make your own cabinets to shove crappy emulation boards into - PLEASE DO!

Not only are these types of things frowned upon here, but in all honesty, the 60-1 builders you will be competing with in MN are not moving alot of product (I live there). They sit for months on end. The public is wising up to the scam (yes, it's a "scam" to slap some stickers and paint on a cab and toss $100 worth of Chinese hardware into it and charge 5-10x that) and the last few idiots that thought a multiboard was cool are drying up fast. Hence the reason these boards are plummeting in price every day (and probably why you thought it was a good idea).

If you were to tell me I needed to spend the time finding boards to restore it to a dedicated state I would pass.

And THAT is called "Arcade Collecting," and it's what we do here. If that's not for you, then this isn't the place for you (BYOAC forums is the place for MAME builders). Multiboards are MAME, and MAME is for you to play on your computer on your LCD screen - NOT for raping original machines and removing them from the collecting community.

Finally, 60-1 boards are ILLEGAL to buy, sell, or operate (that's why they come from China, and are frequently confiscated by customs). So when you advertise your new 60-1 monstrosities, remember that you are breaking the law and are subject to prosecution under it.
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I don't even know where to start with your response, but everything you just posted is so far is off base and again you are making assumptions about me without any background to who I am or what I do. <deleted by mod>. You have no idea on restorations I have completed, or the state of any cabinet I have come across, <deletec by mod>.

I have 2 qberts prestine in my house. Just started a time killers for fun, and am tracking down vindicators from scratch because it was my first handheld. If you though I was going to track down original asteroids deluxe boards on a $50 cab you are wrong.

It wasn't stickers either, as for the monitor if I had it I would have turned it into a dedicated as I have with the qberts, what do you think that cost? You're a moron. Judge me by one project. Such a pretentious place.
 
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You want to put your name on your projects, I am mike alan, whats your name, your in the area, I will talk out your problems with me anywhere, how does buffalo wild wings crystal work? Maybe the tavern on france in edina? or if your low brow we could hit choice in minneapolis? If you want to be an internet tough guy fine, if you want to learn more about me I am more than willing.
 
Can an admin delete my account, I see no value to being a member, specifically if this is the treatment 8 posts in.
 
I don't even know where to start with your response, but everything you just posted is so far is off base and again you are making assumptions about me without any background to who I am or what I do. Quite honestly FUCK YOU. You have no idea on restorations I have completed, or the state of any cabinet I have come across, if you represent what is KLOV you can kiss my ass.

I have 2 qberts prestine in my house. Just started a time killers for fun, and am tracking down vindicators from scratch because it was my first handheld. If you though I was going to track down original asteroids deluxe boards on a $50 cab you are wrong.

It wasn't stickers either, as for the monitor if I had it I would have turned it into a dedicated as I have with the qberts, what do you think that cost? You're a moron. Judge me by one project. Such a pretentious place.

This type of response will yield you little help with what you are trying to do and won't gain you any friends.

Not a good way to start out in the community.
 
Not a good way to welcome someone either. I couldn't care less at this point if your any representation of the community.

I have learned what I need to know about klov.com. Good luck in your endeavors as well. Like I said, I don't do this for money, I do it for fun, sometimes its a legit restoration, sometimes its creative. Lets not forget video games came from creative minds yet you reprimanded me for one build in which I had a donor cab and wanted to have some fun.

Doesn't take much to find an old pacman cab look at a picture and restore the boards, but you can pat yourself an the back all you want.

Like I said an admin can delete my account.
 
This type of response will yield you little help with what you are trying to do and won't gain you any friends.

Not a good way to start out in the community.

Yet his response was a kosher welcome. I though I was pretty clear with what I was looking for out of a donor cabinet. I will continue to cut them myself.

As far as this forum goes, the welcome posts were counter productive as far as promoting the restoration of original arcade machines, do you think the responses thus far give me any faith in this community. I won't deny, I took an asteroids cabinet and turned it into a hybrid/creative build, I gave away the boards to someone who was restoring a dedicated, it was a win win. So much for fact building in this place. Again, for the thrid and final time, if pretentious criticism is what KLOV.com has to offer I do not want any party of it.
 
Come on now, boys, settle down. After all, this is a hobby where grown men (and women) play with video games. No need for animosity.

I'll keep my eyes open for you, so long as you promise to play nice in your noob status. Might want to lay low and contribute a little. In fact, if you want to do a little good will, there's a forum member here (Morbidboy) who has opened an arcade in Minneapolis, Rusty Quarters. He needs help, and I think you could help him.

They have a Q-Bert on site that potentially has board problems. He needs someone with a working Q-Bert board to stop by and test their board with his brand new power supply to verify that his board has problems. If you have 2 working Q-Berts in your collection, would you mind testing one of your boards with his setup? That way he would be sure that buying a new board will fix him up.

I think a gesture of good faith like that would go far towards building some credibility with the KLOV forum community.

Here's the thread on the Q-Bert in question:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=222500

Again, welcome to the forums, and good luck. Don't sweat ballytablewiz, Ryan's bark is worse than his bite, for sure :D
 
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N1kki6 - btw: welcome to the forum! Don't let one angry dude push your buttons, or give you a bad general impression about the folks on this forum. Most of us are helpful and friendly nerds and I for one would be happy to help you out in any way I can. Keep doing what you're doing, and don't let anyone on here discourage you from that - I personally can't think of a better use for a gutted cabinet headed for the scrap pile

Sending along a friend request!
 
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