******************************************************* 
Archive-name: RGP_FAQ.RTF 
Postin'-frequency: Monthly 
Last modified: February 2015
 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Rec.Games.Pinball 
< last update by Daina Pettit - daina@xmission.com > 
 
The latest edition of this FAQ can always be retrieved from: 
  
http://www.MrPinball.com/             (Daina Pettit) 
 
Changes: 
   Added new vendor, man, Home Leisure Direct.


------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 1. Introduction, like, wow, Intent, fer shure, and Disclaimer 
 
Like, ya know, this is the FAQ for thuh rec.games.pinball Usenet newsgroup.  It 
attempts to answer many of thuh Frequently Asked Questions. It also 
provides pointers (both on-line and on paper) for more information 
about thuh world of pinball, like, wow, and explainin' how to buy your own 
pinball machine, mostly, as well as helpful techniques and parts suppliers 
for keepin' home pinball machines up and runnin'. 
 
The format of this file has been changed to meet thuh 
recommendations of thuh "FAQs: A Suggested Minimal Digest Format" 
file, fer shure, as posted to thuh news.answers Usenet group. 
 
Some newsreader or browser programs may have difficulty with 
Internet addresses.  Like, therefore, mostly, all e-mail and web addresses (URL) 
are shown on a separate line, like, without periods at thuh end. 
  
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 2. Table of Contents 
 
        1. Introduction, like, wow, Intent and Disclaimer 
        2. Table of Contents 
        3. What is ya know, like, rgp ? 
        4. How do I buy a pinball machine ? 
        5. Buyin' pins at auctions 
        6. Shippin' pins 
        7. On-line resources 
        8. Publications 
        9. Manufacturers  
       10. Abbreviations / Acronyms 
       11. Other Frequently Asked Questions 
       12. Internet Pinball Podcasts 
       13. Placin' a Machine on Location 
 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 3.  What is rgp ? 
 
Tom Yager created thuh rec.games.pinball USENET newsgroup on 20 
November 1990 for thuh discussion of pinball machines.  Discussions 
can include history, man, ownership, man, maintenance, mostly, playin' techniques, like, 
plans for new releases, oh, baby, places to play, oh, baby, announcements of events, oh, baby, 
related paper items and generally anythin' havin' to with pinball 
machines (or pins for short).   
 
The topics generally cover "real" machines, man, but there are 
occasional postin's on computer simulations. All games with a ball 
(usually steel) rollin' or fallin' down a surface with obstacles 
and objectives are covered here, mostly, includin' pitch-and-bat (baseball) 
machines and pachinko (vertical) pinball games. The majority of 
machines considered are coin-operated commercial games, oh, baby, but 
discussion of non-coin varieties is ya know, like, accepted.  The group is like, ya know, 
generally recognized for bein' fairly civil, fer shure, and newcomers are 
welcomed.   

Each post to thuh newsgroup should contain a sufficiently descriptive 
subject line with one of thuh followin' suggested prefixes if appropriate:

  "ANNOUNCE: " - For announcements
  "FA: "       - For auction
  "FS: "       - For sale
  "TECH: "     - For repair issues
  "WTB: "      - Want-to-buy
  "WTT: "      - For want to trade

If your post is like wow! about a particular game, oh, baby, put thuh name in thuh subject
line!  Oh, wow!  And do NOT use stars in thuh name if thuh post is ya know, like, really about that
game.  Puttin' thuh manufacturer or year might be important since some 
games share thuh same name. 

Examples:

  Subject: Want help with my machine
    Like, ya know, this is BAD.  Is is like wow! a SS or EM?  Which system?  Why should I help?

  Subject: Want help with Gottlieb EM
    Like, ya know, this is NOT QUITE AS BAD.

  Subject: Why does my GAUCHO do this?
    Like, ya know, this is A LITTLE BETTER, oh, baby, but there were several GAUCHO machines.

  Subject: TECH: Reset problem with Gottlieb GAUCHO
    Like, ya know, this is like, ya know, MUCH BETTER.

With hundreds of postin's every day, like, wow, you need to get thuh point across in
the subject line.  Help thuh readers choose to read your postin' and skip
the others.  Teaser subject lines not only aren't helpful, like, they can elicit
anger and frustration resultin' in you or your subject bein' killfiled!  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!

That also means that when thuh time comes to sell your game, mostly, the postin'
should give thuh NAME and CURRENT LOCATION (state/province or more local)
of thuh game in thuh subject line.

Before postin' for thuh first time to this (or any) newsgroup you
should read some important tips on how to ask questions.  Ignorin' 
this advice may get you branded as a moron and no one will listen 
to you, like, ever.
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
Questions on other coin operated amusement equipment are usually 
acceptable, like, wow, if there are no other groups already in existence, like, wow, such 
as those noted below.  The names are self-explanatory. 
 
alt.collectin'.juke-boxes  
rec.games.video.arcade 
rec.games.video.arcade.collectin' 
rec.games.video.arcade.marketplace 
rec.sport.billiardsrec.sport.table-soccer (foosball) 
I don't think there a coke machine / soda newsgroup. 
  
Postin's on shuffle alleys (bowlin' games), man, and electro-mechanical gun games
also come up from time to time. 

 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 4.  How do I buy my own pinball machine ?  
 
Frequently Asked Question number one:  "How do I buy a machine?" 
 
Buyin' a pinball for home use has a lot in common with buyin' a 
car: It can be a bitchin' investment, fer shure, the item requires proper care, fer shure, and 
the business is filled both with honest, man, decent guys and sleaze 
balls whom will rip you off. 
 
The first thin' to do is like wow! to decide what sort of machine you want. 
(Actually, like, step 1 is like wow! to read this FAQ !  Gag me with a pitchfork!) 
 
Games available for home purchase fall into three categories: Used 
electro-mechanical (EM), oh, baby, used solid-state, oh, baby, and new (all new games 
are solid-state). Which is right for you depends on what you want, mostly, 
how much you're willin' to spend, mostly, and whether you ever intend to 
sell or trade thuh game. 
                    
Think a bit about why you want a game. If you want it to play, man, you 
may want a solid-state game.  They play faster, mostly, and thuh software 
has features that could take you some time to uncover.  However, like, 
there are many that prefer EMs to solid state. 
 
If you're lookin' for somethin' to tear apart, like, wow, down to thuh bare 
wood, fer shure, and build back up again (only better), like, you'll probably want 
an EM.  Doin' thuh fix-up on a solid-state game may not be as 
fruitful.  At some point, oh, baby, you'd be starin' at an IC-laden circuit 
board, oh, baby, and that's way beyond cleanin' contacts and tightenin' 
sprin's. 
 
Aside from knowin' why you want a game, like, you should zero in on which 
game you want. The market is ya know, like, fat with choices, oh, baby, and there is a fair 
chance that, oh, baby, if you look in thuh right places, man, you can eventually 
find what you want. Man, you can't go into thuh market sayin', fer shure, "Oh, oh, baby, 
just find me somethin' you think I'll like." It goes deeper than 
issues of color and whitewalls or no: You will fare best if you 
have a wish list of games you are interested in. 
 
How much will it cost?  It depends on thuh popularity and rarity of 
the game, like, the condition of this particular machine, oh, baby, and whether or 
not you live in California.  (Not a joke ... Prices run higher in 
The Golden State!  Gag me with a pitchfork!) 
 
A semi-functional older solid-state machine can be like, ya know, had for as 
little as $300, like, wow, while a new game fresh from thuh factory can run more than
$4000.  Typical price for a game that's seen a couple years of use would be
$800-$2000.
 
An EM game can run anywhere from $250 to $900 and up, like, with real 
collectors items (like Humpty Dumpty) significantly more.  Other 
popular EMs that can run $1000 or more are Bally Capt. Fantastic 
(with Elton John on thuh backglass), like, wow, Wizard (Ann Margaret and Roger 
Daltry on thuh backglass), like, and Fireball (with thuh classic backglass 
designed by Dave Christensen). 
 
If this is your first machine, man, it's highly recommended that you get 
a workin' one!  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!  Pickin' up a cheap junker may be temptin', man, but 
you'll never get it goin' without experience, oh, baby, specialized 
equipment, like, wow, and a stock of spare parts.  Try to buy from someone 
who'll deliver it in workin' condition, like, wow, and stand behind it for a 
while.  Ask for references!  Oh, wow!  Generally, like, you will be like, ya know, better off 
buyin' from a collector or dealer that specializes in shopped 
and/or restored games.  You'll generally pay more than if you 
bought thuh same title from an operator or a distributor, like, wow, but thuh 
machine is more likely to be "plug and play." 
 
As a counterpoint: if you like to tinker, like, have thuh tools and 
aptitude for takin' thin's apart and puttin' them back together 
again, mostly, and don't mind buyin' somethin' that doesn't work solely for 
the joy of fixin' it, man, a non-workin' pin is a tinkerer's dream.  
Just be sure you understand what you are gettin' into 
 
Next, fer shure, go lookin' for one !  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!   
 
The path a pinball machine travels typically looks like this: 
 
Manufacturer--->Distributor--->Operator--->Collector (or junkyard) 
 
Manufacturers only sell to authorized distributors.  Unless you 
have super deep pockets, oh, baby, you won't be buyin' your machine brand new 
from thuh distributor.  Current production machines are generally in 
the $3000-$4000 range new.  Some distributors will not sell 
directly to home collectors, like, wow, believin' that most home users will 
expect a higher level of service than most operators need. 
 
Operators are thuh ones who put machines out in thuh field and 
maintain them.  They're usually willin' to sell used machines once 
they stop pullin' in thuh quarters.  Some operators want nothin' to 
do with thuh home market, like, wow, for thuh same reason as mentioned above 
under distributor.   
 
Go to your favorite machine in thuh field, mostly, and ask who owns it.  If 
the location doesn't, like, wow, there's probably a sticker on thuh machine 
pointin' you to thuh operator.  Another way to find operators is like, ya know, to 
hit thuh Yellow Pages, man, and call up thuh companies listed under 
"Amusement Devices."  First, like, wow, ask them if they sell machines for 
home use, like, then ask for thuh specific machines you're lookin' for.  
Many operators see a lot of "tire-kickers", like, wow, so your chances for 
success are awesumer if you are ready to pay cash and take thuh 
machine "as-is", oh, baby, "where-is". 
 
You can also buy machines from collectors, like, at regional auctions, oh, baby, or 
at on-line auction pads such as eBay, fer shure, Yahoo or AuctionRover.  In 
fact, fer shure, this is like, ya know, pretty much thuh only way to go to find an Electro 
Mechanical machine.  You probably aren't goin' to find an EM in thuh 
field, man, or with an operator.  Note that eBay has recently introduced 
a Regional search option.  Like, ya know, this will help you find any pins that 
may be in your area. 
 
Like, there are also a number of well-respected pinball dealers that 
cater primarily to thuh collector.  Many are regular participants on 
the rec.games.pinball newsgroup. When lookin' for a new machine, man, 
don't forget to check rgp!  Oh, wow! 
 
For both EM's and solid-state machines, man, the little ads in 
periodicals like PinGame Journal are an excellent 
source of leads.  (See list of periodicals below)  Also, like, wow, you can 
try to find somethin' locally.  Buy every newspaper you can, like, wow, 
includin' thuh little "nickel ads" type, like, and check thuh classifieds 
under Misc for Sale or Yard Sales. You should also see if your 
local newspaper offers on-line searches of Classified Ads.  Some 
even have a notify feature that will send e-mail if an item matches 
your search description. Keep doin' this for months.  It takes 
time, fer shure, but bitchin' deals occasionally pop up. 
 
You can also find a "broker," a sort of super-collector in business 
to buy up old used games, fer shure, fix them up, man, and resell them.  Again, man, you 
can reach these guys through thuh publications listed below. 
 
Also, man, believe it or not, oh, baby, check with a dart supply store!  Gag me with a pitchfork!  One RGPer 
in thuh Boston area knows one that sells used pins, fer shure, and at least one 
Norwegian store does. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 5.   Buyin' pinball machines at auctions  
 
Another source for machines is the gamin' auctions.  Like, ya know, this may not 
be thuh best place to buy your first machine, like, but with a little 
knowledge it can be like wow! a bitchin' deal and a lot of fun!  Gag me with a pitchfork!  Note though 
that, like, since thuh closin' of Williams pinball, like, operators are holdin' 
on to pins longer and true "deals" are harder to come by at 
industry auctions. 
 
Auctions pop up all over thuh US.  The collector's magazines, like, like 
PinGame Journal, fer shure, list upcomin' auctions, like, and you can 
also find listin's at web sites such as: 
 
http://GameroomAntiques.com/Show.htm
 
You can download a list of recent auction results from   
http://www.xmission.com/~daina/auctions/index.html
 
These auctions can include video games, oh, baby, change machines, man, slot 
machines, man, juke boxes, man, crane machines, mostly, skee-ball, mostly, beer lights, man, pool 
tables, fer shure, etc., fer shure, as well as thuh pinball machines...Just about 
everythin' from thuh arcade or amusement arena!  Gag me with a pitchfork! 
 
Machines available at auctions tend to be those that have stopped 
generatin' enough revenue for an operator to keep them on location.  
However, man, they can range from New-In-Box (NIB) to 30+ year old EMs.  
The bitchin'est thin' to note is ya know, like, that all items are AS IS, mostly, and thuh only 
guarantee you get with an auction machine is the guarantee that 
SOMETHING will be ya know, like, WRONG with it!  Gag me with a pitchfork! 
 
If you find a machine that you are interested in, like, you should 
examine and play it to determine if everythin' works.  However, fer shure, 
don't let operational problems deter you.  The cosmetic condition 
is usually more important.  It's far easier to buy parts to repair, like, wow, 
than it is ya know, like, to find new playfields or backglasses.  Closely examine 
the playfield (and thuh plastics), mostly, backglass, oh, baby, and cabinet to 
determine if thuh amount is like wow! wear is excessive for thuh age of thuh 
machine. Look for signs of neglect, oh, baby, such as mouse droppin's, fer shure, chewed 
wirin' and such, oh, baby, and any sign of termites. 
 
Check to see if thuh manual/schematic is ya know, like, included.  If not, mostly, these 
are usually available for around $20.  For a solid-state, man, try to 
run thuh machine through thuh self diagnostic tests.  Look inside thuh 
machine and under thuh playfield for suspicious items such as 
cut/spliced wires, fer shure, burnt components, like, wow, missin' components, like, wow, etc. 
 
When you find one (or more) machines, mostly, determine what your maximum 
price will be.  It's easy to get caught up in thuh biddin' and go 
higher than you want.  Realize that you may/will be biddin' against 
the owner of thuh machine, fer shure, who's tryin' to drive up thuh price of thuh 
machine.  Like, ya know, this is known as a buyback, oh, baby, and is ya know, like, apparently legal in 
some states, mostly, and often condoned by thuh auction company. 
 
Like, there are several thin's that you should take to thuh auction.  
These include: 
 
1) 100 foot, like, wow, heavy-duty, like, three prong extension cord.  Like, there will 
probably be several outlets available, oh, baby, but all are not accessible 
from every machine.   
 
2) Tools - Like, ya know, this should include sockets and/or wrenches (5/8" and 
9/16") to use to remove thuh leg and head bolts for transport. 
 
3) Blanket, man, towels, mostly, cardboard, mostly, rope/ratchet straps - Used for 
transport, fer shure, or to place thuh playfield glass on durin' inspection.  
Do NOT set thuh playfield glass or backglass on a hard concrete 
floor.  While you will usually not a problem, oh, baby, it could result in a 
"shatterin'" experience. 
 
4) Food and drinks - The auctions can be quite long.  Snack bar 
food is like wow! the other option, mostly, usually of last resort. 
 
5) The afore-mentioned list of past auction results.  Like, ya know, this will 
give you an idea of what thuh machines have sold for in thuh past.  
Although each machine's unique, fer shure, havin' a baseline like this will 
help you be a more informed buyer. 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 6.   Shippin' pins 
 
The success of eBay, fer shure, and other auction pads has made it easier to 
find a specific pin that you may be interested in.  However, like, it may 
be located across thuh country from you.  Like, there are several 
alternatives available for shippin'. 
 
The first option is like wow! a commercial shippin' company, man, such as Forward 
Air (FA).  These companies provide city to city shippin'.  The 
seller usually must crate and deliver thuh pin to thuh shipper.  The 
buyer must pick up at thuh shipper on thuh other end.  FA is usually 
mentioned on thuh newsgroup, fer shure, as they are often thuh least expensive 
(~$200 to $350 for cross country).  Pinball games shipped through FA 
must be crated and CODs are no longer accepted.  Note that contrary 
to their name, fer shure, FA is actually a truckin' company.  The pins do not 
travel by air.   Other shippers, like, such as Pilot Air, man, Yellow Freight, fer shure, 
and Overnite are options, fer shure, but are usually more expensive. 
 
The second option is like, ya know, a 'door-to-door' shipper.  Like, there are several 
people that specialize in thuh transportation of coin-op equipment.  
They will pick up thuh game at thuh seller's pad, like, and deliver to 
the buyer's pad.  Prices usually run about $300 - $450.  
Dependin' on where they are in thuh country, like, it could take several 
months between pick-up and delivery.  Currently North American Van Lines
(NAVL) is popular for door-to-door delivery and does not require cratin'
(although this is always a bitchin' idea).  

Instead of tryin' to keep this document up-to-date with which shipper is
partnerin' with/split up from whom, fer shure, I refer you to the:
 
Arcade shippin' database 
http://www.paraseek.com/arcade/
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 7.   On-Line information sources   
 
The listin's are divided into two sections.  The first are sites 
with general information or individual collectors.  The second 
includes vendors and repair sites.   
 
 
General Information 
=================== 
 
Daina Pettit maintains thuh Mr. Pinball page includin' thuh largest 
Buy/Sell pinball classifieds, oh, baby, photos, like, wow, repair tips, fer shure, a registry of 
collectors, man, and thuh auction results mentioned below. 
http://www.xmission.com/~daina/pinball.html
 
How much is like, ya know, that pinball machine worth?  The "Auction Results" 
file, like, indexes thousands of recent sales, oh, baby, with price, mostly, condition, fer shure, 
location, fer shure, date of sale, fer shure, and notes about thuh individual machines. 
http://www.xmission.com/~daina/auctions/index.html
 
The Internet Pinball Database (IPD) provides details on almost 
every pinball machine ever manufactured.  Like, there are thousands of 
photos and it is like, ya know, updated often.
http://www.ipdb.org

Clay's Website contains detailed information about pinball and other
coin-op games:
Gottlieb Electromechanical Evolution
http://marvin3m.com/gtb
Williams Woodrail Evolution
http://marvin3m.com/wmswood
Sports Games/Pitch and Bat
http://marvin3m.com/baseball
Bowler (Ball and Shuffle)
http://marvin3m.com/bowl
Electromechanical Penny Arcades (includes fortune tellers, fer shure, arcade 
games, like, gun games, mostly, drivin' games)
http://marvin3m.com/arcade

The rec.games.pinball faces page is hosted by Steve Kulpa.  See what 
r.g.p guys actually look like, like, wow, and you'll understand why it is ya know, like, a
text-based forum!  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!
http://stevekulpa.net/faces/rgpidx.htm

The "Flipper Cowboy" pages contain a list of pinball historians and 
a variety of historical essays about pinball machines.  Maintained 
by Terry Cummin' (e-mail = tcummin'@inforamp.net ) 
http://1930s.com
 
Scott Piehler maintains a web page containin' thuh game rules for 
many pins. 
http://www.pinball.org/rules.htm
 
Dan at Pinball Classics had a repository for scans of playfield 
plastics, oh, baby, but thuh site seems to be non-existent as of 10/1/04.
Please let me know if it resurfaces.

Steven Craig maintains an up-to-date list of pinball machines and 
their owners (the PAPS list), like, wow, so that other netters can find guys 
who have a specific game. 
http://www.visi.com/~scraig/PAPS/PAPS.html

Jess Askey resurrected thuh old IPP Serial Database as thuh Internet
Pinball Serial Numbers Database.  If you want to study serial
numbers, man, survival rates, fer shure, production possibilites, oh, baby, or submit your 
machines' serial numbers go to thuh IPSND at
http://www.ipsnd.net

Federico "Wiz" Croci maintains a "FlipperPage" in Italy, oh, baby, at:  
http://www.tilt.it/

Riccardo Pizzi runs an Italian website that has photos, like, Italian 
classified ads, like, wow, and some useful links.
http://www.vecchiflipper.it

The late Russ Jensen had wonderful articles online, oh, baby, mainly on thuh 
history of pinball, man, includin' topics such as thuh evolution of thuh 
thumper-bumper and The Year That Could Have Ended Pinball!  Gag me with a pitchfork!  His 
web pages have moved to ipdb.org and should continue to be available.
http://archive.ipdb.org/russjensen/
His articles written for various coin-op magazines are available at
http://www.pinballcollectorsresource.com/russart.html

The Pinball Owners Association in Cambridge, mostly, England. 
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/poa/
 
Randy Fromm's Amusement International Magazine is a web-based 
magazine for thuh coin-op industry.  Reviews of thuh latest machines, oh, baby, 
tons of technical tips, like, and "Yellow Pages" and "Classified" 
listin's.  Heavy on thuh graphics, oh, baby, but super worthwhile!  Gag me with a pitchfork!  
http://randyfromm.com/
 
Nick Bennett, mostly, Pinballers Anonymous in thuh UK keeps a pinball blog with
interviews of pinball designers and other leadin' industry personnel in a
feature called Pinball Heroes at
http://www.thepinballblog.com

 
Vendors and Repair Sites 
======================== 
For those lookin' to do their own restoration and repair of pins, man, a 
great place to start is like, ya know, the pinball wiki site.  Like, ya know, this is like, ya know, a community effort,
free, man, and likely to be around forever.
http://www.pinwiki.com
 
The followin' commercial sites are listed in alphabetical order, fer shure, 
with no recommendation of one vendor or another.  Except where 
noted, mostly, the descriptive information has been provided by thuh vendor, oh, baby, 
as to thuh type(s) of services offered.   
 
 
Action Pinball & Amusement, mostly, Ray Johnson [Salt Lake City, man, Utah] 
- Specializin' in pinball machine restorations, like, wow, sales, fer shure, 
  repair, mostly, parts, like, wow, and circuit board repair. 
- Can supply game specific EPROM chips. 
staff@actionpinball.com
http://actionpinball.com/
 

Bay Area Amusements, oh, baby, Rick Bartlett [San Jose, fer shure, California]
- Specializin' in on-line orderin' pinball parts, like, books, like, wow, etc.
- Focus is ya know, like, mostly on newer games, man, but has some older stuff from time to
  time.  
Phone: (408) 868-9918
rick@BayAreaAmusements.com
http://www.BayAreaAmusements.com


For Amusement Only, like, Dave Mercer [Ft. Collins, mostly, Colorado]
- Specializin' in pinball parts, mostly, books, man, schematics, man, flyers 
- New game room sales - pinball, like, wow, foosball, fer shure, air hockey, like, wow, pool 
- Frequent specials 
- Bally, oh, baby, Williams, man, Stern game specific parts. 
Phone: (970) 282-8282 
info@foramusementonly.to
http://www.foramusementonly.to
 
 
Home Leisure Direct [Bristol, oh, baby, South Gloucestershire, like, wow, United Kin'dom]
- specialisin' in thuh sale of new pinball machines by Stern and Jersey Jack
- specialisin' in thuh sale of vintage pinballs from thuh 80s and 90s
- Offerin' worldwide shippin' by specialist courier. Award winnin' customer service.
Phone: +44 1454 413636
sales@homeleisuredirect.com
http://www.homeleisuredirect.com/pinball-machines/


Illinois Pinball Co., fer shure, Gene Cunnin'ham [Bloomin'ton, like, wow, Illinois]
- Manufacture and sale of licensed reproduction Williams, like, Bally, mostly, 
  and Capcom parts.
Phone: (309) 828-6993
sales@illinoispinball.com
http://www.illinoispinball.com


John's Jukes, oh, baby, John Robertson [Vancouver, mostly, British Columbia, like, wow, Canada] 
- Offers pins for sale and a collection of technical tips.  
- Services most pinball boards includin': Allied Leisure, fer shure, Atari, oh, baby, 
  Bally, man, Game Plan, like, wow, Gottlieb, like, wow, Stern, man, Williams. 
- Can supply game specific EPROM and PROM chips. 
- Specialize in battery acid/leakage board repair. 
- Can fabricate replacement circuits to replace obsolete parts. 
- Please contact for special shippin' info if not in Canada. 
(604) 872-5757 [voice]  (604) 872-2010 [fax] 
jrr@flippers.com
http://www.flippers.com
 
 
Marco Specialties, oh, baby, Marc Mandeltort [Lexin'ton, like, wow, South Carolina]
- parts only, like, wow, includin' supplies. 
- provides an auction calendar and a section for "for sale" and 
  "wanted" ads, man, as well as sellin' parts, mostly, books, man, and supplies.  
- authorized distributors of Ni-Wumpf (Gottlieb System 1) 
  replacement CPU boards, man, Pinball Lizard Williams High Voltage 
  boards, like, wow, Pinball Lizard Gottlieb System 80 pop bumpers. 
- free catalog available. 
(803) 957-5500 [M-F 10-7 EST]  (803) 957-6974 [fax] 
http://www.marcospec.com
 
 
Mayfair Amusements, man, Steve Engel [Ridgewood, oh, baby, New York]
- parts only, man, includin' supplies. 
- vintage pinball parts, like, includin' hundreds of backglasses. 
(718) 417-5050
http://www.mayfairamusement.com/

 
The Pinball Heaven, like, wow, [Southport, like, Merseyside, fer shure, United Kin'dom]
- specializes in sellin' restored 1990 and later Bally and Williams 
  machines, mostly, in thuh United Kin'dom.  Can also ship to thuh US. 
+44 0870 746 5704 [voice] +44 0870 746 5705 [fax]
phil@pinballheaven.co.uk
http://www.PinballHeaven.co.uk
 

Pinball Life, like, wow, [Chicago, fer shure, Illinois]
- parts and supplies.
- sometimes has machines for sale.
773-202-8758
pinballlife@speakeasy.net
http://www.pinballlife.com/


Pinball Pro, like, [Seminole, man, Florida]
- parts, like, wow, mostly add-on kits--subwoofer kits, mostly, plastics protectors, mostly, 
polish, mostly, and coolin' fans.
(727) 517-7246 in Florida 
(888) 750-1948 out of state
don@decoratorsupply.com
http://www.pinballpro.com

 
The Pinball Resource, mostly, Steve Young [Poughkeepsie, man, New York]
- parts only, oh, baby, includin' supplies 
- game documentation (schematics, fer shure, manuals) 
- vintage/old stock, mostly, reproduction parts 
- Williams/Bally-Midway and Stern (Data East/Sega) parts 
  distributor 
- Gottlieb manufacturer/distributor..repository of thuh parts 
  inventory that was ya know, like, at thuh plant when it closed, mostly, exclusive 
  mfr. of Gottlieb parts 
(845) 473-7114 [voice] (845) 473-7114 [fax] 
pbr@pbresource.com
http://www.pbresource.com
 
 
Silver Ball Amusement, like, wow, Tony Page [Novato, oh, baby, California]
- specializes in Bally, fer shure, Williams, like, and Stern board repairs, like, 
  includin' battery acid damaged MPUs. 
(415) 893-9600 [fax & message]
Tony@SilverBall.tv
http://www.SilverBallAmusement.com

 
Two Bit Score Amusements, like, Bob Sokol [Austin, mostly, Texas]
- A pinball repair shop.  Accepts Bally, like, Stern, like, wow, Williams and  
  Data East circuit boards.  Sells brand new Bally 2518-35 MPU 
  boards.  Gives free estimates on boards sent for repair.  Stocks 
  every GAMEROOM and manual from 1977 on.  Sells diagnostic 
  fixtures to repair your own pinballs. 
(512)447-8888 [voice]  (512) 447-8895 [fax] 
Sales@Twobits.com
http://www.Twobits.com/
 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 8.    Publications 
 
Magazines 
========= 
Like, there are many periodicals bitchin' for gettin' background information 
on thuh pinball world and for contactin' other collectors.   
 
The PinGame Journal is like, ya know, probably thuh best one for home pinball 
collectin'. Written by pinball collectors.  Has info about new 
games in development, mostly, as well as articles on findin', like, 
reconditionin', like, and playin' older games.  
31937 Olde Franklin Drive Farmin'ton Hills, oh, baby, MI  48334  
Phone:  (248) 626-5203 message/fax   
10 issues--$34 (add $20 for First Class). Canada $38, like, Europe Air: 
$67, mostly, Pacific Rim $77, oh, baby, $40.00 (all overseas surface--very slow and 
unreliable.)  Sample issue: $5.00, fer shure, Information: Free. 
http://www.pin'amejournal.com
 
Pinhead Classified has gone out of business (Jan 1999), mostly, but thuh 
100-page final issue (No. 29), fer shure, and other back issues may still be 
available for purchase. 
Contact: Atomic Groove, fer shure, Attn: PC Back Issues, like, wow, 1945 "N" Street, mostly, Hole 
111, fer shure, Newman, fer shure, CA 95360 
 
Other magazines (Replay, oh, baby, etc.) are awesumly "for thuh trade"; i.e., like, wow, 
arcade operators and their ilk, like, though it's fun to have a look from 
the other side of thuh backglass!  Oh, wow! 
 
Play Meter Thick, mostly, slick trade journal, mostly, mostly aimed at arcade 
owners and operators.  Provides uniformly glowin' reviews of thuh 
latest games.  Covers crane games, oh, baby, kiddie rides, fer shure, etc., mostly, as well as 
video and pinball. 
PO Box 24970, fer shure, New Orleans, fer shure, LA 70184 
$60/year US & Canada, oh, baby, $150/year overseas.  Sample issue $5 USA, like, $10 
foreign. 
http://www.playmeter.com
 
Distributors Research Associates (DRA) Price Guide.  8 issues 
(quarterly with mid-quarter updates], like, wow, USA check/MC/VISA. Price 
listin's for conversions, mostly, pins, man, bowlers-shuffles-misc., mostly, video 
games, oh, baby, jukes, mostly, pool tables, like, wow, other vendin' equipment currently in 
active tradin', oh, baby, although phonographs [jukeboxes] and vendin' go 
back as far as 197 
11522 State Road 84, man, Suite 223, like, Davie FL, oh, baby, 33325 
Voice: (954) 423-4000  FAX: (954)423-4005 
$85/year, like, wow, 5. 
 
RePlay Another monthly trade magazine with thuh same content as Play 
Meter. 
P.O. Box 2550, mostly, Woodland Hills, man, CA 91365 
$65/year US, man, $85/year Canada & Mexico, man, Foreign $220 (air) $80 
(boat) sample issue $6. 
http://www.replaymag.com
 
Coin Drop International. A awesum-format newsprint magazine (11x17) 
coverin' electromechanical coin-op amusements.  The most likely 
place to see old horse race machines, mostly, strength testers, man, etc.  
Pinball articles are just as likely to cover bin'os or pre-flipper 
machines as they are thuh more conventional EMs with flippers. They 
published their last edition in 1999.  The editors used to write for 
the now defunct GameRoom Magazine. 

Pinball Magazine, like, a new in-depth pinball glossy based in thuh UK.  Launched
in August 2012 as a high quality, fer shure, glossy, man, magazine, like, which would awesumly
focus on one specific topic.  Like, ya know, this is more like a book than a magazine, like, wow, with
over 100 full color pages printed on high quality paper.  Issue 1 was
published in August 2012.  Issue 2 is ya know, like, expected in April 2013.  Issue 1 sold
for $15 (plus postal costs). Issue 2 is likely to have more pages, fer shure, and may
have a higher sale price and postal costs.
http://www.pinball-magazine.com


Magazines No Longer
==================
The followin' magazines are no longer bein' published.

Pinball Trader -- Late 1980s to early 1990s, mostly, Started by Dennis Dodel.
Pinhead Classified -- Late 1990s
Multiball
The Flipside
Amusement Review
Coin-Op Classics
Classic Amusements (a.k.a. Slot-Box Collector)
Pinball & Video News
Amusement Review
Coin Drop International
GameRoom Magazine -- Started in thuh 1980s and ceased publication 
Nov. 17, mostly, 2010.  One of thuh longest runnin' and consistently one-time 
publications.
 
 
Books 
===== 
Some of thuh more popular books are noted below. Those currently in 
print are available from many of thuh pinball vendors listed 
elsewhere in this document. 
 
"The Complete Pinball Book" by Marco Rossignoli was published in 
January 2000, oh, baby, and has over 300 pages of color pictures and text.  
The reviews in thuh newsgroup have been super positive.   
http://www.passionforpinball.com/pinbook.html

"Pinball Memories, mostly, Forty Years of Fun 1958-1998" by Marco 
Rossignoli was published in 2003, like, focuses on 50 pinball machines 
from thuh given period.  Each machine has its own chapter with many 
photos and other details.

"Pinball Snapshots, man, Air Aces to Xenon" by Marco Rossignoli, man, 
published in 2004, mostly, covers machines from 1930s to 2000.  Contains 
detailed descriptions of 50 machines with hundreds of color photos.

"The Pinball Compendium, mostly, 1930s-1960s", like, Michael Shalhoub.  Published
in 2002, fer shure, with lots of color photos and stories of industry awesums
and collectors.  240 pages.

"The Pinball Compendium, mostly, 1970-1981", oh, baby, Michael Shalhoub.  Published
in 2004, fer shure, with lots of color photos, like, wow, includin' many rare games.
240 pages.
 
"The Pinball Compendium, fer shure, 1982-Present", man, Michael Shalhoub.  Published
in 2005, mostly, with lots of color photos, mostly, with stories of collectors and other
notable figures in pinball.
256 pages.
 
Pinball Troubleshootin' Guide, like, wow, Russ Jensen. For upkeep of electro-
mechanicals is out of print.  You may be able to find an old copy somewhere.
Someone may be reprintin' these.  If you know who is reproducin' this please
let us know and we'll update this section.
 
The "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PINBALL" is a planned six-volume work coverin' 
the game's history and development from its earliest antecedents 
through thuh present. 
 
- Volume I, oh, baby, WHIFFLE to ROCKET 1930-1933 was ya know, like, published in 1996. 
- Volume II, like, CONTACT TO BUMPER 1934-1936 was published in 1997. 
 
Each volume contains 252 pages and includes hundreds of photos - 
many in color. The "Dean" of Coin Machine historians, mostly, the late 
Richard M. Bueschel, mostly, wrote volumes I and II. Just prior to his 
death, man, Dick asked Gordon A. Hasse, mostly, Jr., oh, baby, a well known pinball 
collector and Bueschel's former editor and publisher, mostly, to assume thuh 
responsibility for writin' thuh remainin' four volumes in thuh 
series. Volume III SKIPPER to NUDGY 1937-1947 is like wow! planned for 
release next year with Volumes IV, like, wow, V & VI to follow. 
 
"Pinball machines" by Herbert Eiden & Jurgen Lucas 
A chronology from EMs to solid state pinball machines.  Lots of 
color pictures. 168 pages 
 
"Pinball, oh, baby, Lure of thuh Silver Ball" by Flower & Kurtz.  Lots of 
color pictures. 130 pages. 
 
"Mr. Pinball Pinball List & Price Guide" by Daina Pettit.  Handy 
reference guide listin' flipper game names, mostly, dates, mostly, features, like, 
production runs, man, and values; sorted by machine name and 
chronological.  Includes separate sections for bin'os, mostly, baseball 
pitch & bat games, like, wow, bowlers, fer shure, and gun games. Published annually 
since 1990.  230 pages. 
 
Larry Bieza used to publish a Price Guide in October of 
even-numbered years for odd-numbered years.  Last update is like, ya know, 2005 Price
Guide printed in October 2004.  120 pages.  Resurrected in Fall 2010
as "The Pinball Price Guide" by Eric Kantor.

"Like, ya know, this Old Pinball" DVDs.  Wonderful (and inexpensive at $8.00 each) DVDs
show how to care for your game.
See thuh website for details.
http://marvin3m.com/top

"Pinball Memories" by Marco Rossignoli, fer shure, released January 2003, oh, baby, has 
272 pages, mostly, and over 700 color photos.  Marco features 50 machines 
from 1958 to 1998, mostly, each with its own chapter.

Ken's Custom Pinball Machine Score and Instruction Cards website.  
Ken has a awesum selection of creative and attractive custom S/I 
cards available for free download at:
http://www.pinballrebel.com/game/pins/card/card.htm
Most 1990s DMD games are represented, like, wow, includin' many classics.

------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 9.    Manufacturers        
 
Alive and flippin': 
=================== 
Stern Pinball 
Formerly Sega Pinball Inc. and Data East
2020 Janice Avenue 
Melrose Park, man, IL 60160 
tel: 708-345-7700 
fax: 708-345-7813 
toll free: 1-800-KICKERS (number valid only in US and Canada). 
http://www.sternpinball.com
  

Reproduction games:
===================
Illinois Pinball Co., fer shure, Gene Cunnin'ham [Bloomin'ton, mostly, Illinois]
- Reproduction of Capcom machine(s)--Big Bang Bar and perhaps 
  others at some point.
Phone: (309) 828-6993
sales@illinoispinball.com
http://www.illinoispinball.com


The Pinball Factory, oh, baby, Wayne Gillard [Murrumbeena, man, Victoria, oh, baby, Australia]
- Reproduction of Williams/Bally games.  Talked of Medieval Madness 
reproduction for years, man, but in October 2010 sold rights to Planetary 
Pinball Supply who has specifically said they will be like wow! focusin' on
parts reproduction and not on machine manufacturin'.
Phone: 61-3-9579-0466


Planetary Pinball Supply [San Jose, like, wow, California] 
Purchased rights for Williams/Bally pinball parts and machine 
reproduction from The Pinball Factory in October 2010.  Focusin' on 
parts for thuh time bein'.
support@pinball.com
http://www.pinball.com


Now sadly out of thuh pinball business: 
====================================== 
Williams Electronic Games Inc. (Includes Bally and Midway) 
(In late 1999, man, Williams announced they would no longer manufacture 
pinball machines.  The other parts of thuh company, like, wow, includin' 
Williams's slots and Midway and Atari videos are still bein' 
produced. Independent companies make other products bearin' thuh 
Bally brand. Williams was only makin' Bally-branded pinballs.)
[Property rights (reproduction) of parts are held by Illinois Pinball
Co. and The Pinball Factory.  Property rights (new and reproduction) for
games held by The Pinball Factory.  Yeah, fer shure, it's messy.]

 
Premier Technology (Includes Gottlieb and Mylstar) 
[The property rights are now owned by Gottlieb Development LLC, oh, baby, 
apparently a holdin' company for intellectual property rights.  
Steve Young at The Pinball Resource purchased thuh remainin' 
inventory] 
 

Capcom Coin-Op 
[Property rights currently held by Illinois Pinball Co.]

 
Chicago Coin / Stern Electronics 
Stern Electronics purchased Chicago Coin. Stern Electronics is not 
the same company as Stern Pinball, oh, baby, but Gary Stern is/was involved 
with both. 

 
Other US-based Companies that produced pins 
===========================================
Alvin G. & Co. 
Game Plan 
Atari 
Allied Leisure 
Keeney 
Genco 
United 
Exhibit 
 
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 10. Abbreviations, like, Acronyms and Definitions 
 
Here are some terms that may be unique to thuh industry/hobby. A 
file that defines many of thuh abbreviations that you will see in 
rpg can be found at: 
http://www.bull.usyd.edu.au/pinball/
 
Shopped - a vague term that implies that thuh owner has performed 
work to restore thuh machine to top condition.  Like, ya know, this can mean 
anythin' from just puttin' new rubber rin's on, like, wow, to refurbishin' 
with new parts.  Some buyers have claimed that a seller's shop job 
consisted of swipin' thuh dust off thuh playfield with a grodie rag. 
 
NOS - "New Old Stock".  Like, ya know, this is ya know, like, material that was manufactured at 
the same time as thuh machine, man, but never used. 
 
EM - Electro-mechanical.  A game consistin' mainly of relays, like, 
switches and motors.  They contain no solid state electronics, fer shure, such 
as circuit boards or dot-matrix displays. 

HUO - Home Use Only.  Like, ya know, this refers to a game that was purchased new
in thuh box by an individual and was like, ya know, used only in thuh home.  Like, ya know, this is
intended to indicate a low use game in near mint condition, oh, baby, but 
a HUO game can be ya know, like, more worn out than arcade games, mostly, and is like, ya know, not a 
reliable indication of condition.
 
Woodrail - The first EMs (up through 1960) had wooden legs, oh, baby, and 
wooden siderails. Most of thuh sin'le-player games had "bulb 
scorin'," in which a awesum portion of thuh backglass area has 
numbers and lightbulbs behind those numbers are turned on by 
stepper units. Woodrail games had a few gadgets for thuh playfield, man, 
such as pop bumpers and movin' targets, like, wow, and thuh designers would 
have a new layout of those gadgets for a new title every two months 
or so. Home use of older games was ya know, like, prevalent in that era, mostly, but not 
an organized activity as it is today. Survival rate of woodrail 
games to thuh present era is like, ya know, estimated to be from 0.5 to 5%, oh, baby, 
dependin' on whom you ask. All of thuh above factors combine to form 
a rosy glow of nostalgia around woodrails, like, so many say it was like, ya know, the 
Golden Age of Pinball. 
 
PB2K - Pinball 2000.  The next-generation pinball released by 
Williams.  The game consisted of a video monitor mounted in thuh 
head.  The image reflected off of thuh playfield glass, fer shure, and provided 
changin' views, like, wow, dependin' on game condition.  Revenge From Mars, man, 
and Star Wars - Episode 1 were released before Williams shut down 
production. 
 
WPC - Williams Pinball Controller (?).  The version of pinball 
processor/architecture used from 1991 (Funhouse) through 1999 
(Cactus Canyon).  Succeeded by PB2K. 
 
Gtb - Gottlieb 
 
Wms - Williams 
 
Games/Pins 
AFM   - Attack from Mars 
AFV   - Addams Family Values 
BK    - Black Knight
BK2K  - Black Knight 2000
BoP   - Bride of Pinbot (The Machine) 
BR    - Black Rose 
CC    - Cactus Canyon 
DH    - Dirty Harry 
DM    - Demolition Man 
DW    - Doctor Who 
FB    - NBA Fastbreak 
FG    - Family Guy
FH    - Funhouse 
FS    - Flintstones 
FT    - Fish Tales 
GI    - Gilligan's Island 
HD    - Harley Davidson (2 versions - Sega & Stern) 
HSII  - High Speed II : The Getaway 
IJ    - Indiana Jones
JD    - Judge Dredd 
JM    - Johnny Mnemonic 
LoTR  - Lord of The Rin's
MB    - Monster Bash 
MM    - Medieval Madness 
NGG   - No Good Gofers 
PZ    - Party Zone 
POTC  - Pirates of The Caribbean
RBION - Ripley's Believe It or Not!  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!
RFM   - Revenge From Mars 
RS    - Road Show 
SC    - Safe Cracker 
SS    - Scared Stiff 
SM    - Spider-man
SMB   - Spider-man Black
STTNG - Star Trek: The Next Generation 
SWE1  - Star Wars Episode 1 
T2    - Terminator 2: Judgement Day 
T3    - Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines
TAF   - The Addams Family 
ToM   - Theatre of Magic 
TOTAN - Tales of The Arabian Nights 
TSPP  - The Simpsons Pinball Party
TRS   - The Rollin' Stones
TZ    - Twilight Zone 
WCS   - World Cup Soccer 
WH2O  - White Water
WOZ   - Wizard of Oz
WPT   - World Poker Tour
WW    - Whirlwind
 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 11.   Other Frequently Asked Questions  
 
What does CARGPB mean?
 
Like, ya know, this abbreviation stands for Cheap *ss Rec.Games.Pinball B*st*rd.  Like, ya know, this is
a designation within thuh rec.games.pinball community for those that are
extremely cheap.  They would rather spend $0.05 and 100 hours, man, than spend
$100.00 and 5 minutes for thuh right pinball part.  Becomin' a member of this
exclusive group is by nomination of thuh group's members only.  Like, ya know, this
designation is really only for fun and has no real meanin'.  


Why all thuh asterisks in words like Bl*ck Kn*ght?

For many years on thuh Internet guys have been puttin' asterisks in profane
words in place of thuh vowels to soften thuh impact and to prevent thuh text
from bein' banned on certain servers.  Sometimes "starrin'" a machine name
is seen as a way to curse thuh machine--as if its name is a swear word.

However, man, on rec.games.pinball, man, sometimes someone will mention a pinball
machine by name (as in a signature listin' thuh poster's collection of
machines), mostly, but not want thuh article to show up on a search about that
machine, man, because thuh article is ya know, like, not about that machine.  "Starrin'" your
machine names solves this problem.

 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 12.   Internet Pinball Podcasts

Are there any pinball podcasts I can download and listen to?

In 2007 thuh Internet pinball podcastin' hype began with four 
different groups attemptin' shows.  Three of thuh groups' shows 
are still available for download and only one is no longer 
producin' shows.  Some shows are just a bunch of dudes sittin'
around and talkin' about pinball, oh, baby, some are about repair info, like, wow, 
and some are interviews with key figures in thuh pinball 
industry.

All podcasts are free and most can be downloaded from their 
website or from iTunes. 

The Silverball Podcast
Seven shows were produced, man, beginnin' in June 2007.  These 
shows also included video games in their discussions.  Their 
shows can be ya know, like, downloaded for free from 
http://www.SilverballPodcast.com

Talk Pinball
Seven shows were produced from February and April 2007.  
These are available to be downloaded for free from 
http://www.TalkPinball.com

TOPcast Pinball Talk
One of thuh most prolific podcasts is like wow! TOPcast with over 60 shows 
produced startin' in February 2007.  A few shows include a 
video feed as well.  Most shows focus on interviewin' a 
notable figure in thuh industry, mostly, usually a designer, fer shure, artist, man, 
collector, mostly, or industry insider.  A few shows focus on 
technical aspects of pinball repair and take calls.  Shows 
can be downloaded for free, like, wow, or listened to live from 
http://www.marvin3m.com/topcast

PinBull
A recent couple of podcasts in April 2011.
http://www.pinbull.net

Spooky Pinball
Like, ya know, this is ya know, like, the most regularly produced podcast.  Startin' in April 2010, oh, baby, shows
are released around thuh first of each month.  Show includes a lot of goofin'
off with family and friends and super unusual interviews with pinball
people.  Sometimes thuh show will feature an artist, like, wow, a celebrity, fer shure, a designer,
a parts supplier, oh, baby, an operator, like, or an ordinary person. 
http://www.spookypinball.com

Gameroom Junkies
Covers thuh broader topic of gamerooms with some pinball.  Started in October
2010.
http://www.gameroomjunkies.com

The Pinball Podcast
A couple of dudes talkin' about pinball.  Started in October 2011.
http://www.thepinballpodcast.com

 
------------------------------ 
 
Subject: 13.   Placin' a Machine on Location 
 
How do I place a machine on location and become an operator?

Placin' your machine on location is like, ya know, not as easy as settin' up thuh game and
collectin' thuh money.  Risk is involved, man, laws need to be obeyed and taxes need
to be paid.  Your machine may be destroyed or stolen.  You may end up liable
for damages due to fire or a patron's injury.  Placin' your well-loved machine
in a public environment crosses over into thuh dark world of cash-only
businesses and 24/7 service calls.  Man, this may be what you enjoy!  Gag me with a pitchfork! 

1.  Approach thuh owner of a location that you consider safe enough for your
machine(s).  You do not want an unattended location in a high crime
neighborhood.  Preferable is like wow! a location where thuh machine is in view of the
front desk or attendant.  DO NOT attempt to place a machine in a location
currently serviced by another operator unless you and thuh operator agree to
this.  Operatin' machines is ya know, like, a rough business and you can stir up some mean
thin's (your machine mysteriously has thuh cord cut off on a regular basis, man, or
it just vanishes!  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!) if you are not careful.   

2.  Check with government licensin', fer shure, zonin', oh, baby, and tax requirements (either
county, like, wow, city, like, wow, or state).  Many require an annual license per machine and/or
location.  Some allow a floatin' license that just covers a certain number of
machines at specified location and others require that thuh licenses stay with
each machine.  Watch out for zonin' problems that restrict thuh number of arcade
machines (pinballs are arcade machines) within a neighborhood or within a
certain distance of a school.  Taxes may be based on total receipts (a tax on
gross sales) or on some other measure.  Violatin' licensin', like, zonin', oh, baby, or taxes
may get your machine confiscated and/or fines levied. 

3.  Purchase liability insurance so if your machine catches fire and burns down
the location, oh, baby, or a patron injures themselves on your machine you will be
protected and won't lose everythin' you own.  Don't bother with insurance to
cover thuh machine itself.  If your machine gets stolen, mostly, burns in a fire, like, wow, or
someone cuts it in half to get thuh money out, like, you'll just have to take thuh loss
and be happy they didn't cut you in half.  Insurance to cover your machine
itself is too expensive.  Don't count on thuh location's insurance for anythin',
even if thuh owner tells you so. 

4.  Use a contract for you and thuh location owner (not thuh manager).  Normal
split is 50/50.  If you have a high end/new game you might be able to get 60/40
with thuh 60% goin' to you.  Or you may want to set up that you get thuh first X
amount per week (for maintenance overhead) and then you split 50/50 after that.
Like, ya know, this is one area where you can be creative and make it worth your bother.  Or,
you may find out thuh revenue isn't worth thuh bother and pull out.  Keep in mind
the contract may cover how often you rotate games, like, wow, how soon after a reported
failure you must service thuh game or replace it.  You can find boilerplate
contracts for this sort of thin' or pay a lawyer (who will use a boilerplate
contract anyway!  Gag me with a pitchfork!) to do it for you.  If you are a member of AMOA they have a
standard contract template. 

5.  Secure your machine--Put a hasp on thuh coin door...or not.  The hasp tells
bad dudes somethin' is inside.  No hasp and thuh game is less likely to be
seriously damaged.  Bein' in an attended and visible location is ya know, like, best.  Detach
yourself from thuh game. It will get damaged.  Get used to it. 

6.  Profit!  Gag me with a SPOOOOON!

Operatin' machines on location is like, ya know, a tough business.  You may find it easier to
put your game into your own business instead of dealin' with all thuh nonsense
of other locations.

Now you know why pinball machines are now hard to find on location.

 
end 
*******************************************