Show Your Skillcrane and the Loot Inside 'em

Empire

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I recently swapped the working guts (electro & mechanical) from an older SMS mfg Gobbler skill crane into a much nicer non-working Drew's Tiger Paw cab.
I'm curious what Skillcrane models others have in their collection and what prizes you stock yours with.
Mine is loaded with the typical random small size plush but I've also thrown in a few HotWheels packs for some added challenge.

I got a good laugh while looking at some of the redemption supply sites that offer random prize packages including an adult package with cheap dildos, vibrators, XXX DVDs and condoms.

It made me think of cruel ideas like putting a skillcrane filled with Kotex inside a woman's bathroom. Or maybe a skillcrane inside an Emergency Room lobby with amongst the bubblegum band-aids you'll find golden "You Are Next" vouchers or 10% off co-pay coupons. Possibly the marque will say "CLAW Your Way to the Top"


Anyway, here are my pics:



skillcrane1.jpg


skillcrane2.jpg


skillcrane3.jpg


skillcrane4.jpg


skillcrane5.jpg
 
Dude, love the ET in the crowd. Reminds me of a scene in the movie where he's trying to blend in with the other toys.
 
Yeah my 3 year old gets so pissed that the claw can't reach the E.T.
 
Great thread! Will post my updated pics tomorrow but here is what my crane machine used to look like. I'm 90% done with a steampunking project since I hate the circus theme. Where does everyone get their supplies for them? I'd love to get some better stuff than the stupid eggs full of crap. Yours looks great, Empire.
 

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My claw game is living over at Game_Girls arcade. I traded them a large one I got for a smaller one. I took the big one over, but I still need to pick up the small one.. Maybe this Saturday. I sure miss it.
 
Love the My Pet Monster in there, used to have one (complete with Orange handcuffs!) some 20 years ago.

This one is the reissue they had out a few years ago. I figure he's safer inside the crane anyway.


I really like the shape of More Cowbell's machine. You don't normally see that smaller footprint on a pedestal design.

As far as prizes, mine were just collected over the years. Dollar Stores and Goodwills are a good source for beanie size toys. Army men size toys I figure would make an easy to grab target also. Most of my prizes, except for the HotWheels, are basically catch and release. When the kids leave the room I grab all the plush and throw them back in.
 
Heres my crane getting a workout this halloween... we put some of those plastic ball-pit balls in there and if you snagged one of those you got any toy you could see (including the ones on top of the games)... Kids had a blast... We had more than 1 offer to help stock the crane next year :)
100_0419.JPG


:cheers:
/Tim
 
Here's the updated picture of my crane with the steampunk effect 90% done. I still need to replace the joystick and I'm going to be painting the crane apparatus brass. Also plan on adding "portholes" to the sides so you can look through them to see the prizes instead of the big windows. I don't know why I got the bug to do this, just hated the circus theme and wanted to try something new. I like it although I'm sure plenty of others here will hate it. Meh, to each his own.
 

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Here's the updated picture of my crane with the steampunk effect 90% done. I still need to replace the joystick and I'm going to be painting the crane apparatus brass. Also plan on adding "portholes" to the sides so you can look through them to see the prizes instead of the big windows. I don't know why I got the bug to do this, just hated the circus theme and wanted to try something new. I like it although I'm sure plenty of others here will hate it. Meh, to each his own.

I don't really like it and at the same time I can reconize the amount of work you put into it and say that you did a good job. It would stick out like a sore thumb in my house which is why I don't like it, but as long as it works for you what does it matter? The quality of the work itself is quite good, makes me think of Bioshock.
 
I agree. I detest that look for gaming. Not sure how it could be more cold and "un-fun" looking. But I also agree the workmanship is nice.

Like Kirk tried to explain to Spock when talking about Khan, "We can dislike him and admire him all at the same time..."
 
Understand completely. I was trying to make something interesting out of something I considered to be ordinary. Fortunately, the crane is off by itself and isn't wedged in between my classic arcades and pins so it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb. It's more of a "wow, this is different" type of a game.
 
I like both the original and the steampunked version. The circus/novelty theme usually fits in really well in nearly any type of arcade setting but I think this one can also. I'd put a blue wattery type film over the glass from the inside and maybe even install some blue lighting or something with a shimmering lighting effect. Fill it with aquarium sand/gravel and cheap rubber sharks, octopi, squid etc. Maybe even an open treasure chest with play money. Go for a complete 20,000 Leagues theme. Portholes a must. If it can blow steam when a prize drops then even better. Maybe a bubbly flushing sound. :)
 
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