My $50 Ms Pac

Michael Roma

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Woodbridge, Virginia
Long story, short:

I got a working Ms Pac for $50. ***scroll to bottom for pictures***

Long and winded version:

My wife asked me for directions this AM to a flea market some people she knew organized and planned to go to today. Not feeling too comfortable that she was clear on my directions I decided to go with her. When I got there I saw a pickup with a trailer overflowing with furniture and thought to myself "wouldn't it be great to find a game here?".

As I turned back to my wife I saw a Ms Pac laying down in the bed of the pickup. I immediately ran over and asked the lady in charge how much it was. "Make an offer" she said. I countered with "Is it complete? Does it work?" to which she stated "I don't know, it was donated and delivered by a company called 'We Haul Junk'. We haven't even plugged it in". Then the guy unloading it (her husband who also knows the wife) says that he believes the boards are gone. I told them that I would need to check it out further when they finish unloading the furniture.

After about 45 minutes when the furniture was finally unloaded the lady asked if I was going to buy it. I said "Let's check it out" and went to look at it again. The wife knows her socially and she knows that I collect arcades so she asked what they go for. I proceeded to give her the lowdown... cabinet is peeling at the bottom and artwork and marquee is faded. I told her that if the boards, monitor and power supply are all there then it would be worth at least $50. At this point she says "Couldn't you just turn it into a fish tank?". I laughed at her and told her that would be an awful idea. She said that if it doesn't sell then it is going to the dump. I said "Let me check it out and if it is complete I will buy it".

We stand it up, take the back door off and it is complete. After some chit-chat with the guy about my collection he told me that he would even deliver it. Needless to say I buy it, the wife starts up. I told her that the money goes towards a good cause (something about 'the children') and she agrees and calms down (whew, quick thinking on that one).

I get it home, check the fuses and power it up. I hear Ms Pac gobbling and go to the front and it is stuck in some test menu. I open the coin door and see some wires are crossed. I power it down, separate the wires and plug it back in and the board boots right up and plays.

I knows its long and winded but definitely a surprise and a good start to the weekend.

- Mike

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I think so... This will be a summer project and I will probably just repaint the cab solid, Ms Pac blue. However, I was looking over Rotheblog's page where he went over a Ms Pac stenciling he did. It got me thinking... It's a lot of work but man does it look awesome.

Who knows what route I'll go, but it will be saved.

- Mike
 
I think so... This will be a summer project and I will probably just repaint the cab solid, Ms Pac blue. However, I was looking over Rotheblog's page where he went over a Ms Pac stenciling he did. It got me thinking... It's a lot of work but man does it look awesome.

Who knows what route I'll go, but it will be saved.

- Mike

That artworks looks pretty complete overall and the damaged areas look to me mostly in the solid blue areas. I'd try salvaging the original work before laying waste to it.
 
Dang, for $50 I'll bet you're already started fixing the bottom of that thing. Too bad the artwork is faded, though. Hey, still for $50, its a good pickup.
 
It had these big, silver bolts inplace of the the lockbar. I liked the look of them there and decided I'll put them back in afterwards since I am not going to stencil it.
 
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