Coin Slot Magazine - #073 - 1981 - March [International Arcade Museum]
When I tell most people I collect pinball machines, they
seem quite surprised, primarily, I suppose, that anyone
Examples of a few specific collectors and their collec
tion will further illustrate, John Fetterman and Steve
would collect something that large! It shouldn't seem that
Young, of Catawiss, Pennsylvania, and Lagrangeville, New
surprising, however, when you realize that automobiles
as three or four machines can be considered a "collec
York, respectively, share a common collection of well over
100 pins. Their specialty is flipper games of the 1950's and
60's. They are particularly concerned with the play appeal
and playing characteristics of flipper games and are ac
complished players who really enjoy all aspects of pinball
machines. Both have also written numerous articles for
collector publications on pinball characteristics and
tion"), or, if you have the funds, build or rent the space you
restoration.
need.
Daine Smallwood, of Seattle, Washington, specializes in
"bingo pinballs", although he has other types in his collec
are "collectibles" and one could cram quite a few pinball
machines into an antique car!
Granted physical space to house a collection is a major
obstacle to pinball collecting, but the problem can be
solved by either limiting the size of your collection (as few
When I first started collecting pinballs, it really didn't oc
cur to me that anyone else would have the same idea. The
tion of over 50 machines. He is an expert on restoring
more I got involved with my hobby, the more contacts I
bingoes and extremely knowledgeable about the various
bingo machines features.
Sam Harvey, of Pomona, California, specializes in flip-
started making and I began to discover I wasn't alone in
my enthusiasm.
I recently sat down and listed all the
■■■■■■■■■1
people I knew of who could be con-
sidered serious collectors. I came up
ARE THERE
with over 35 names, which is probably
only a fraction of the total number of
REALLY
PINBALL
pinball collectors. Ten names on my
list have what I consider "large" col
lections (over 20 machines), with ten
having "small" collections (less than
six machines). What is amazing to me
■■■■■■■■■■
============
■
COLLECTORS?
per games of the 1960's. His present
collection of 14 machines is
highlighted by Gottlieb's 1963 Slick
Chick, indeed one of the most chal
lenging games of that period. Sam
takes justifiable pride in the condition
of the machines in his collection.
Marc Fellman and Wade Wright,
co-owners of GIZMO'S arcades in
Omaha, Nebraska, also have vintage
is that all these individuals apparently
pinballs. In fact, they have about over
got the idea of collecting pinballs on
400 machines in their collection with a
their own since there has not been the
specialty in pre 1970 flippers. Local
By
publicity, organizations, publications,
and
RUSS JENSEN
etc. concerned with pinbali collecting
as there are with other hobbies and
collectibles.
Collector Vs. Hoarder
A
distinction
should
be
Collecting is generally accumulating a
have
some kind of "historical significance."
are
stations
terviewed them about modern pinball
someday display their collection in an
made
group of similar items which
collections
television
as well. Marc and Wade are hoping to
between "collectors" and "hoarders."
Also,
midwestern
have featured their collection and in
usually
dis
played. Hoarding, on the other hand,
is accumulating all articles of a certain
type and storing them away in the
hope that they will increase in value
and can be later sold at a substantial
We are very happy to have another
article from Russ Jensen on pinballs.
It will be a regular feature in The Coin
Slot.
"appropriate museum situation."
Speculation Low
As previously mentioned, there are
at
present
publications
no
organizations
devoted
or
exclusively to
pinbail collecting. Pinball collectors,
This article, in somewhat different
form, originally appeared in AMUSE
for the most part, are "on their own"
MENT
REVIEW Magazine,
1853
Ashby Ave., Berkeley, CA 94703.
sifieds in the "slot machine collector"
^^^^^^^^^
profit. A good example of the ■■■■■■■■■
hoarding of pinballs is a certain West coast arcade owner
who has stored in his basement practically every pinball
^^^^^^^^^
using newspaper want ads or clas
magazines such as The Coin Slot as a
way of locating and selling games.
■■■■■■■■■ The benefit to the collector of this low
profile is the current lack of interest in "speculation" in pin
balls, such as has happened to some extent with slot
that he's ever operated since the 1940's. When asked
machines and jukeboxes. Pinballs, for the most part, can
about selling any of his treasures he replies, "Yes, but it
dividual will most likely keep these machines until he pas
still be purchased at "reasonable" prices and this will
probably remain the case for some time to come. The
large size of a pinball will limit the number of collectors
ses on, at which time they will probably be discarded by
and the resulting limited market will continue to reduce the
one of his heirs who has no idea of their value to collectors.
potential benefit to speculators.
Finally, a word or two on my personal experience in
will take big money," a term he refuses to define. This in
com
.
m
:
tions, eager to show them off
or just
eu
us collectors
from to fellow
m
d
anybody who happens e
to
come along.
And they enjoy talk
-
de with anybody who will
ing about their n
hobby
load at . great
rca length
a
w
o
w most likely have a "specialty," —
listen! A D
collector
will
w also
w
/
/
:
a specific sub-class
of
the item collected in which he is
p
htt
particularly interested. For example, my specialty in pin
Collectors, on the other hand, take pride in their collec
dealing with other collectors in the past several years. I
have found an almost overwhelming
friendliness and
spirit of cooperating among these people. The exchanging
of information and parts and the loaning of schematics for
copying seems to be "the rule, not the exception."
operated pinballs," although I have a few machines out
The prevailing thought seems to be "If I can be of help to
a fellow collector today, I may very well need the favor
returned tomorrow." Let's hope this spirit continues and
that pinball collecting will always remain the fascinating
side that category as well.
hobby that it is today.
ball collecting could be said to be "wood rail, electrically
1981 Arcade Museum
© MARCH
The International
THE COIN SLOT — 21
http://www.arcade-museum.com/