a friend is looking. ideally a kid friendly one, since he wants to play it with his 4 year old. Thanks!

I hope this helps, Ive always wanted a pachinko machine myself
http://www.shop.com/Genuine_Pachinko_Game_-4615341-6716638-p!.shtml

I've noticed they sell pretty cheaply on eBay...sometimes coming as cheap as $25, though you'll pay $100 to have it shipped.

Missy, Scott Horton (who comes to the Chiller shows) was selling some Gamera and Godzilla machines for a while, he may still have some: applausetoys@aol.com

There are tons of nice ones on Ebay.
They are really heavy so shipping should be expensive.
Might want to search if anyone is selling one localy.

There's some good online tutorials for restoration and repairs.

Make sure he bolts it to the wall, those things can fall over on a tot.


I got mine in the 70's from a wicker/import/ hippy party supply store called "The Akkron".

It was from a real Pachinko parlor in Japan, the ashtray has melt-marks.

Missy look at Pachitalk.com for some insight into Pachinko machines and sellers. Some Ebay sellers aren't so great, watch out for Texas.

Also cyclic American style pinball mods when done correctly really make play easier especially for children and adults, no payout but no constantly feeding balls in fever rounds which can be really tiresome.

The Sankyo Star Wars is incredible if you're friend is looking for sheer insanity and playability (make sure noone who plays has epilepsy).

Arbycoffee sells the cleanest machines with great mods but he's way pricey (maybe worth it). He can be found at Pachitalk.

Definitely shop around a bit, not all machines or sellers are created equal. Pachinko is way addictive and those things are big and heavy but its really fun too. Good fever round machines just hypnotize you for hours.

missy,

please warn your friend as well that these things are quite noisy! I grew up with one in our house and while it was kinda fun the first 100 times, after 18 years, the novelty wears off. I can still hear the crashing pachinko balls in my sleep.....

Volume control mods are nice; also most machines you can lower the volume even without a mod but finding the switch isn't always easy.

Make sure your seller will help you locate things; also look for machines that are warrantied since they're refurbished from actual pachinko parlors.

The folks at Pachitalk forums will usually help out if you have tech issues too.

Edit: Volume controls won't stop the noise of crashing balls but newer machines have small monitors with music and sound effects, those you can turn down.

Hey Krudler.

Have pics of your machines? I would love to see them!

Mine:

I haven't actually photographed them. These things would be best to photo in an actual Fever round during play.

I'm in the process of moving but I'd be glad to take some photos in play once I get everything set up again.

Yellow Cab Girls is my personal favorite. Harumi Nemoto is a Goddess; actually all the Yellow Cab Girls are staggeringly gorgeous but its not appropriate for kids. The ladies coo, tease, console, and encourage you during play its really strange.

Newer machines have bizarre video reels. Yellow Cab Girls is pure delicious cheesecake, one lady is a gunfighter another a martial artist, another KO's you in a boxing ring.

Star Wars is the most technically complex game I have, great fever rounds but nothing can compete with the Yellow Cab Girls. Spider-Man is cool for awhile but gets tedious.

I'm not particularly tech savvy though so hosting and downsizing could be an issue but maybe I could email them to someone who won't post them as massive shots or something.

Hopefully I can set things up soon.

Edits: Thats a cool looking vintage machine Paul, I'm wondering what the actions like on it, the windmill type wheel intrigues me. Vintage machines tend to be great to play too.

Greg Arbuckle (Arbycoffee) and the others at Pachitalk.com are usually super helpful and friendly with any questions, repair issues, pin bends to make play easier or harder, etc.

Greg's sort of a Western Pachinko wizard in that he can (seemingly) fix or suggest a fix with almost any tech issue or problem in vintage and modern machines. His mods are great too.

Wow, thanks for all the great info Krudler, and everyone!

I have a machine that needs a little repair, and I didn't realize there was so much info out there. Should make it alot easier once I move and have a little more space for it.

I believe he found one-Indiana Jones Trilogy. Fun! I can't wait to play!

I've not played that one but I've heard good things about it. Think thats an excellent choice.

My inoperative machine, featuring a shark and a demon duck (I think it's supposed to be a kappa):



My dad found it for me in an antique shop. When I was in Enoshima last year, I found an ancient pachinko parlor stocked with identical machines, right down to the little monsters.