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Earlier this year I saw a Genco skee ball and decided that I should buy it.  It was close to my buddy Leonards house so I asked him if he could pick it up for me and store it for a short while.  Well that was a few months ago.  Originally, I was going to ship it until I discovered they wanted $900.00 (the alley is one single nine foot piece).  So I had to wait for my son to finish his school and off we went to visit Leonard.  I just thought I'd show a few pictures of how we had to get this thing in my minivan.  It was rather comical.  We had to dismantle the front seat while trying not to deploy the airbag.  We managed to get it in and then we cooled off and bs'd for a short time before the ride back.  We had great traffic there and back and it only took a little over eleven hours to complete.

Thanks again Leonard (aka Ltransam) for picking it up, storing it, and helping me get that beast in the van.  My wife thanks you too for picking up all the Barqs red crème soda (they don't sell that in Chicago).

More pics.  I brought an extra seat and we drove back as if we were in a bus.  The driver up front and the passenger in back.  Another great surprise for me was when my son had to use the washroom, the gas station had sugar Dr. Peppers in bottles.  I bought his last eighteen, but at gas station prices.  That's O.K., it beats a road trip to West Jefferson North Carolina.  :biggrin:

Cool story.

Please tell me at some point the person in the back slid a bottle to the driver using the alley.

Great job. I love the extremes we go to for our hobby.

Can't wait to see it all togeather.

It would be better if it were slid though the ball return.

Larry - do you have a pic of it assembled? What year does it date to?
I want a bowler someday! Nine foot long is a good size.

Actually, there was a bottle in the car.  :biggrin:  I just didn't open it for the ride.  I used the hole for the balls as a cup holder and the side rails made a good arm rest in the front and in the back backseat.  

It was nice that my son drove the first 200 miles back.  I had him take that shot of me driving because when I was in the backseat looking forward, I was like damn that thing is big.

I believe it is from the mid to late fifties.  I brought the backglass in the house today and after it gets to room temperature I'm going to seal it with some Krylon triple thick.  I have a full can that is probably four years old.  I assume it should be fine......

I'll take some pictures once it is all together and in place downstairs.

Love the pics! And a great story for your son to tell on you for years to come... Congrats on the new addition! :happydrinkers:

You got a nice machine Larry. I got to check it out over Easter weekend when I was down to see Leonard. As usual I'm a day late since I went to see Leonard yesterday and pop a compressor in his neighbors cooler. I missed Bonovox by a day the last time I was down.

Haha great !! It's amazing what many uses a mini van can serve ! Cool game too !

great story love road trips with my sons to pick up machines.always have a great time

Larry,

It was MY pleasure to assist !!  And it was great to see You &Kyle again .And Thank Kim & you again for the Beef one PK down  :tounge:
It was funny that we had to take your van apart . But it All worked out Great !! The main thing is You & Kyle made it safely home .
Can wait to play it using the correct Balls .

Willing to help anytime Buddy !!!!!!

That's a great machine Larry!  One you and Kyle will enjoy for years to come! Congrats!

Great story and road trip pics!!
I haven't had an issue with old rattle cans. Do shake them 15 min. and heat in water at 78 degrees though.
Looking forward to the after pics!
Creighton
 

Must be Larry's standard "Thank You" gift! It is really good!! He sent us a couple of packs when I assisted him. Do you get a discount Larry?

Now I'm getting hungry!

Yes, nothing says thank you more than Italian beef.  I pick it up at the distributer about 35 miles from me.  I like it because the beef if vacuumed sealed and when you buy 3 or 5 pounds of beef, it is sold with the juice separate.  A lot of places sell it added together.  Then you end up with half juice/beef by weight.  It's excellent for party's.  I'm picking up some for my sons graduation party next week.  Whatever unopened packages I don't use, I freeze and use it for a quick meal.

I sealed the backglass and had a friend help me get it into my basement.  Nine foot long, one piece, that was an interesting move.  I used rollers to move it under the porch.  

I still don't have any room.  I am in the middle of rearranging all my stuff.  I just have to be finished by next week.  Pictures to come when it's all together.  

Here's the game in it's new location.  The Popperette, cigar, cigarette, and Stoner candy machines use to live here.

The machine uses 2.5" balls.  Not your typical Skee Ball size.  I had a wood work shop in Texas make me some red oak balls.  The weight is close.  The size is perfect.  I put two coats of Varathane on them.  The one on the left is an original.

I was able to finish rearranging the basement and threw a party for my son last week when he graduated high school.  Twenty teenagers, fifty adults, no major issues.  A few coin mech jams.  Skee ball worked flawlessly.  It was the party favorite.

The other machine is another shuffle.  It uses bouncing balls to make three, four, or five in a row.  A very hard game.  Not a party favorite.  People love simple games.