Tips when finding old games in storage?

Nevus

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I was speaking to a relative yesterday that has an arcade related business. I inquired if anyone in the area leased or repaired classic arcades. He responded that he had several storage rooms of "those old games like galaga". According to him, they are not in good condition and are in outdoor storage shed type containers. The humidity here really takes a toll on items like this. I was thinking of going over there with a camera and posting some pics here. I'm realistic and not expecting to find anything working or in good shape but was wondering about parts. Okay I guess I'm a little hopeful.

Can any of these components survive enclosed but no weatherproof storage?
Are any of the parts salvageable?
Do some parts fair better than others?
 
Many parts will usually survive. Really depends on the environment. I would expect most plexi parts like marquees and bezels to be ok. Joysticks and control panels would probably be salvageable as well as coin doors. With regards to the electronics I would expect the power supplies to be dead but fixable. If there is no rust on the pcb's I would guess there was a pretty good chance they may work or at least be fixable. Monitor tubes would likely be fine. Once again if the pcb is not rusted there is a reasonable chance the monitor would at least be fixable if not possibly work. Glass bezels and marquees may or may not survive as with enough heat and moisture they will delaminate. Most games will do ok in heat, it's the moisture that seems to be truly damaging. Oh and if mice and what not didn't get to the wiring, that's probably good. You'd be surprised how these games can hold up. I've seen people pull games out of barns many times. You can definitely get good parts and sometimes the game is still in good enough condition that all that's needed is some electronic repair.
 
Uh... probably most of them are in great shape, go grab 'em. Almost all of the games that have been in storage with high humidity, sometimes it's hit or miss but I'll bet a ton of that stuff is still great.
 
First rule of arcade collecting. If someone with games in storage offers to show them to you, bring a vehicle to haul and cash. You may never get another chance.
 
If there are any williams duramolds in the bunch they most likely survived water damage. Those can be worth something keeping.
 
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I was speaking to a relative yesterday that has an arcade related business. I inquired if anyone in the area leased or repaired classic arcades. He responded that he had several storage rooms of "those old games like galaga". According to him, they are not in good condition and are in outdoor storage shed type containers. The humidity here really takes a toll on items like this. I was thinking of going over there with a camera and posting some pics here. I'm realistic and not expecting to find anything working or in good shape but was wondering about parts. Okay I guess I'm a little hopeful.

Can any of these components survive enclosed but no weatherproof storage?
Are any of the parts salvageable?
Do some parts fair better than others?


hey im in thibodaux, whats up fellow louisiana person. If you need any help or cash to help with that let me know
 
As long as they weren't sitting in standing water, the cabinets can probably be salvaged. Boards and things depend on how they were stored. If the operator just left the batteries in them, they will probably need a lot of work.

Go ahead and post the pictures. There are several of us here in Houston thet might be willing to go to Shreveport for the right mix of games.

ken
 
Man I'd love to have a chance at a barn, warehouse, etc with some games. My only warehouse experience was 6 years ago and it rocked!
 
Bring truck. Bring tools. Bring hand cart. Bring money.

Most plywood games survive pretty well, even in high humidity. If there was a Q-bert anywhere in there, it will probably have collapsed into a pile of mushy sawdust with a monitor in it.

Monitors survive outside just fine. You can always hose them down and let them dry. The caps on monitors outside don't fare well, but you're going to be replacing those anyway, so it hardly matters. As long as stuff hasn't corroded too badly, a lot of electronics will be perfectly salvageable after a good cleaning.

Warehouse/barn raids always have potential. A couple of years back a KLOVer found two Computer Spaces in a barn. They're fiberglass and hold up well.

-Ian
 
Whatever you do, dont plug the games up on site and try to test them until you have given the whole game a good examination and clean up.
 
The whole "hosing them down" makes me so anxious! :eek:

Well, not while it's plugged in... And let it dry before plugging it back in :)

Just so long as the water and the electricity don't inhabit the same place at the same time, you're fine.

I've even run monitor chassis through the dishwasher. Dry in the oven at 175 degrees for a half hour or so.

-Ian
 
Well, not while it's plugged in... And let it dry before plugging it back in :)

Just so long as the water and the electricity don't inhabit the same place at the same time, you're fine.

I've even run monitor chassis through the dishwasher. Dry in the oven at 175 degrees for a half hour or so.

-Ian

I get that part, but what about corrosion and rust from the water?
 
I get that part, but what about corrosion and rust from the water?

That's why you dry it.

The board isn't going to corrode if you just get it wet, it needs to sit wet for a while to do that. Washing it then drying it won't corrode it. Even if it sits outside for a while, the monitors seem to hold up very well. I've got monitors that were either outside or in cabs that were - the metal frames are rusted completely, but the chassis was just filthy - no corrosion.

-Ian
 
That's why you dry it.

The board isn't going to corrode if you just get it wet, it needs to sit wet for a while to do that. Washing it then drying it won't corrode it. Even if it sits outside for a while, the monitors seem to hold up very well. I've got monitors that were either outside or in cabs that were - the metal frames are rusted completely, but the chassis was just filthy - no corrosion.

-Ian

I concern was that there would be a little pocket where the water would hide and corrode the components. Do you use an air compressor to blow out the water?
 
I concern was that there would be a little pocket where the water would hide and corrode the components. Do you use an air compressor to blow out the water?

I have sometimes. But usually I leave it out in direct sunlight. Or, put the chassis in the oven at 175 for a half hour or so.

-Ian
 
Man I'd love to have a chance at a barn, warehouse, etc with some games. My only warehouse experience was 6 years ago and it rocked!


My sister just called me and said "remember that friend of mine I told you about in the arcade business? He said he has a warehouse filled with hundred's of games. He said let him know what you are looking for"

:eek::eek::eek:
 
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