T.K.O. - KNOCK OUT!
by Al Miller
This story starts in February of 2000 when we were
following a lead on an old pinball machine. The
owner described it as having "boxers" on the back
glass. Could it be the elusive Gottlieb "Knock Out"
from 1950? It was doubtful, but we didn't waste
any time getting there to find out. As we entered the
dimly lit basement I could hardly contain myself,
yes it was a Knock Out!
pany was coming at 8:00 the next morning to load
them up! If I had waited one more day to call we
might never have tracked the pinball down again.
We had to go pick it up yet that night, but I really
didn't mind. What luck!!
Less than a week later, August 8, 2001 to be exact,
Jeff Pope, a pinball collector friend of ours was fol-
lowing up a lead on an old pinball at an estate sale.
He didn't get there real early, in fact the sale had
been going for several hours before he meandered
in. When he walked into the basement he could
hardly believe his eyes ... another Knock Out! He
was amazed that it was still available for sale, espe-
cially when he saw the asking price of only $50
marked on it! He obviously didn't waste any time
getting it loaded up. What luck!!
The negotiations began. He wanted us to make an
offer, we wanted him to set a price. Eventually we
gave in and made an offer. Then we had to go
upstairs to see if the price was O.K. with his wife.
Evidently it wasn't, because after a long discussion
they decided they would keep the old pinball to give
to their grandson who wanted it. An incredible find,
but we had to leave it behind, for now at least.
The amazing part of these stories, besides the fact
that they happened within a week of each other, is
that these two machines were found within a few
city blocks of each other! Two examples of one of
the most collectible pinballs, within a few city
blocks, within one week! Don't even tell us there's
nothing left out there to find! That's what we call a
T.K.O.!!
A year and a half later the pinball still crossed my
mind occasionally. Finally, I dug out the owner's
name and phone number. The old slip of paper then
sat around on my endtable for about a month before
I finally picked up the phone to call him. It was
August 2, 2001, almost 9:00 at night. After reintro-
ducing myself to him, we begin talking about the
pinball. It hadn't moved since we had looked at it.
Once they realized it had some value they decided
not to give it to their grandson after all! After dis-
cussing a price range slightly higher than what was
discussed a year and a half earlier, it sounded like
they were ready to sell. Then the catch ... they were
in the process of moving. In fact, the moving com-
P.S. The serial numbers are exactly 590 numbers
apart. We're wondering where the others are ?
We're considering a door to door search of the
neighborhood!
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