AlienSyndrome
Well-known member
We are really not the owners of these games anymore...
I've been in the hobby about 10 years and have done about 40 plus full up restorations. And the games in my collection I consider to be mine of course. But then I had a thought, I'm really just the steward or caretaker of these machines at this point. As you all are aware we have a few different facets to our craft here. Some have on location machines, some create retro arcades, and others have barcades.
But the segment of our population that I am referring to are the ones that totally take the machine back to the point of it coming off the factory floor. The ones that do the complete frame up restorations. The reason this group is unique is that it's a very good possibility that these machines will be the ones that survive into the next millennium. Is it possible when the barcades and arcades have closed after their second moment in the sun that some of those machines will be restored, absolutely.
My point is that when a game is completely made brand new, it usually enters into the private home arcade arena. Nobody is spending $300 plus on new art to have beer and wine spilled on it at a night club. These completely mint machines are the ones that are sought after by private collectors. And the prices they command back that up. Original unrestored mint condition go for even more. Because of the money that is spent, these will be taken care of just like a fine rare automobile.
I believe it's totally possible that 100 years from now, my games will be in someone's home arcade along with many of your games as well. When I sell a game, it's not going to someone who's gonna put it on location but instead is purchased by a fellow collector. With all the new parts that are being made and all the replacement parts available, I see no reason why that could not happen. If we really need or want a part made, usually someone finds a way to do it. Anything is possible.
This may be far fetched, but I wouldn't be too shocked if I heard somebody is working with a company in China to make 6100 tubes again. We already make new 6100 replacement pcb's. New Quantum pcb's, Major Havoc and on and on and on. Since I think that my machines will still be around long since I have gone, I've decided to attach inside every machine a heavy duty envelope. Inside the envelope will be a form that will include as much information I can remember and provide.
Previous history of the game if any, when I obtain the game, what I did to it as far as restoration and so on. Which parts are original and which are repro's. I have some HUO machines in my collection, one of which was from an Atari employee so info like that will be included as well.
Attached to the original form will be additional forms for future owners to add maintenance records or any other information. So that someday 100 plus years from now someone buys an arcade from a classic game auction. Goes home and opens it and finds the envelope that tells him "oh this game originally was at Aladdins Castle arcade. Had then been converted twice and then restored by such and such. Last time monitor has been recapped was 2/13/2079.
That information will be like gold for that collector. Like it or not, when you restore a game you are creating a time capsule that most likely is gonna outlive you. What happened in our country and others during the Golden Age of arcades, wasn't just unique to our century, but unique to out millennium. It was a rare phenomenon that swepted our country and for that reason, these games will be sought after many many decades from now.
They literally were everywhere, Kmarts, 7-11's , bowling alleys, movie theaters, laundromats, offices, malls, grocery stores. You would have been hard pressed to find a public place that didn't have one in it. Anyway I've rambled on long enough, that's what I'm gonna do. Hopefully someday a collector will appreciate the effort.
I've been in the hobby about 10 years and have done about 40 plus full up restorations. And the games in my collection I consider to be mine of course. But then I had a thought, I'm really just the steward or caretaker of these machines at this point. As you all are aware we have a few different facets to our craft here. Some have on location machines, some create retro arcades, and others have barcades.
But the segment of our population that I am referring to are the ones that totally take the machine back to the point of it coming off the factory floor. The ones that do the complete frame up restorations. The reason this group is unique is that it's a very good possibility that these machines will be the ones that survive into the next millennium. Is it possible when the barcades and arcades have closed after their second moment in the sun that some of those machines will be restored, absolutely.
My point is that when a game is completely made brand new, it usually enters into the private home arcade arena. Nobody is spending $300 plus on new art to have beer and wine spilled on it at a night club. These completely mint machines are the ones that are sought after by private collectors. And the prices they command back that up. Original unrestored mint condition go for even more. Because of the money that is spent, these will be taken care of just like a fine rare automobile.
I believe it's totally possible that 100 years from now, my games will be in someone's home arcade along with many of your games as well. When I sell a game, it's not going to someone who's gonna put it on location but instead is purchased by a fellow collector. With all the new parts that are being made and all the replacement parts available, I see no reason why that could not happen. If we really need or want a part made, usually someone finds a way to do it. Anything is possible.
This may be far fetched, but I wouldn't be too shocked if I heard somebody is working with a company in China to make 6100 tubes again. We already make new 6100 replacement pcb's. New Quantum pcb's, Major Havoc and on and on and on. Since I think that my machines will still be around long since I have gone, I've decided to attach inside every machine a heavy duty envelope. Inside the envelope will be a form that will include as much information I can remember and provide.
Previous history of the game if any, when I obtain the game, what I did to it as far as restoration and so on. Which parts are original and which are repro's. I have some HUO machines in my collection, one of which was from an Atari employee so info like that will be included as well.
Attached to the original form will be additional forms for future owners to add maintenance records or any other information. So that someday 100 plus years from now someone buys an arcade from a classic game auction. Goes home and opens it and finds the envelope that tells him "oh this game originally was at Aladdins Castle arcade. Had then been converted twice and then restored by such and such. Last time monitor has been recapped was 2/13/2079.
That information will be like gold for that collector. Like it or not, when you restore a game you are creating a time capsule that most likely is gonna outlive you. What happened in our country and others during the Golden Age of arcades, wasn't just unique to our century, but unique to out millennium. It was a rare phenomenon that swepted our country and for that reason, these games will be sought after many many decades from now.
They literally were everywhere, Kmarts, 7-11's , bowling alleys, movie theaters, laundromats, offices, malls, grocery stores. You would have been hard pressed to find a public place that didn't have one in it. Anyway I've rambled on long enough, that's what I'm gonna do. Hopefully someday a collector will appreciate the effort.
Last edited:
