Latest Toy - Pinball.

[davethebirdman]

Hi Guys

Thought I'd share a picture with you of my latest addition.

Its a Williams Hot Line Pinball Tabve from 1966. Far from perfect but (fingers crossed) fully working and giving lots of fun to both me and the kids.

An electrophobs nightmare. I lifted the top and frigthened the life out myself. I just hope it holds up til christmas.

Dave

[bubba]

Thats awesome Dave... I've been trying to find one myself, but I just can't pay what they are going for right now...  Good luck with it. I hope it holds out till Christmas for ya.. 

[collecture]

I have been wanting one for a while too. Not sure what game or model I want though.
Glad you got one - Enjoy!

[dr galaga]

Nice machine.  You may want to get your hands on this book.  It has helped me out a lot.  You may be able to find it on your side of the pond since I think that it is made in Denmark.

[davethebirdman]

Hi Brent

I have had a look at that book... My problem is I have no electrical background. I'd need a real beginners guide. Does the author assume stupidity or is he hitting at a slightly higher level.

Dave

Ps.. I think these things are almost as addictive as soda machines. I'm already eying up another one.
Is there no end to this madness.

[dr galaga]

The great thing about the EM machines is that they are basically a bunch of wires, switches and coils!  He does go in to the theory of how things work and I think if you understand the 3 things above you should be okay. 
Coils act like magnets when electricity is applied and they push a rod out of the coil (flippers, bumpers, bells, scoring reels, etc.)
Relays are just a bunch of switches that are attached to a magnet.  When no electricity is present, they are either NO (normally open-no electricity goes thorugh) or NC (normally closed-electricity does go through).  Once the relay is energized, the switches that were open end up closing and the one that are closed end up opening.
Okay...there is your crash course!

[bubba]

Brent.. is that book normally in stock, or is the 5 copies they have it... It sounds like an awesome book, but I don't really "need" it yet. I'm sure I will some day need it.. 

[dr galaga]

You may want to pick one up.  It's limited and they were out of them for awhile. 

[bubba]

Thanks.. I was looking through the other books they have.. is there any other books I should look into for the gaming hobby... either reference or other interest? I have a book called High Score that is pretty cool.. some history about games and the progression.... I also have Project Arcade...

[dr galaga]

Some books that I have enjoyed are The First Quarter (I think the current version of the book is now called The Ultimate History of Video Games).  Good history from before Pong to around 2001.
Ralph Baer recently wrote Videogames: In The Beginning.  Lots of pictures and info from the Father of Videogames.
Supercade is also a good book.  Coffeetable book with lots of great pictures and stories.  The book calls itself "A visual history of the videogame age 1971-1984."