Chicago Coin Gunsmoke machine (1968)

[Dinkysaurs]

I've come across a "barn find" of this machine, which the guy wants £150 for, BUT when I went to see it, it clearly had been stored somewhere damp as all the exterior metal work had surface rust.

He said he got it from someone else who wanted to “get rid” as part of a deal with a jukebox, but now he says he is stuck with it as he daren't even turn it on.

Inside the cash box area there was a bag of new rubbers, so someone had intended to do it up, and either lost heart or realised the job was a hopeless task.

And the reason for this post, is I think the guy would be glad to see the back of it, as it is taking up too much room in his shed, so I think I could take it off his hands for nothing.

The cabinet is good as is the back glass BUT is it even worth my taking it on, considering my knowledge on pinball machines if is VERY limited.

Any advice would be most welcome – thanking you

 

[HHH]

If you the have space for it then why not just go for it?

It is costing you the bare minimum and it will give you something to potter about with so you really have nothing to lose.

If push comes to shove then sell the backglass etc.
Even if the guy will let it go for free then I would still pay him something out of courtesy.

 

[AlanJ]

Rust is not an issue. Make sure the cabinet is not rotted or worse woodwormed. If the cab is ok then £150 is fair

 

[Moonraker]

It's worth what you're prepared to pay. £150 is reasonable but if you can get it for less then why not?

You can find EM guides on pinwiki.com and https://www.pinrepair.com/em/ not forgetting that you can always ask for help on here.

 

[Marvello]

Even if the guy will let it go for free then I would still pay him something out of courtesy.

Sounds like it would be doing him a favour taking it away for free.

 

[Dinkysaurs]

If you the have space for it then why not just go for it?

It is costing you the bare minimum and it will give you something to potter about with so you really have nothing to lose.

If push comes to shove then sell the backglass etc.
Even if the guy will let it go for free then I would still pay him something out of courtesy.

Thank you for that, and yes I did think about selling the back glass, also if it is a no go, the playfield, which I see people buy to display

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Rust is not an issue. Make sure the cabinet is not rotted or worse woodwormed. If the cab is ok then £150 is fair

Good points thank you, and I have to admit when I saw the rust, which he didn't mention on the phone so I got the impression when he said it was doable that it was working, but maybe not 100%, I was put off by the state of the metal work and only gave the cabinet etc. a cursory look. After what you have said, I think I may well go back and give it a more serious look at

 

[HHH]

It would be nice if the machine can be made working again, so please explore all avenues including offering it to EM enthusiasts on here before deciding to break it down for parts

 

[Dinkysaurs]

It's worth what you're prepared to pay. £150 is reasonable but if you can get it for less then why not?

You can find EM guides on pinwiki.com and https://www.pinrepair.com/em/ not forgetting that you can always ask for help on here.

Thank you so much for the advice and link to repair of these machines - I gave it a quick glance and did see tips and guides on Chicago Coin machines, so I think I may well go for it - after all, I'm retired now and have all the time in the world, BUT no knowledge as such about pinball machines, although I did do a basic service on my Chicago Coin Playtime machine back in the 1970s. Wish I'd never sold that, so if you do here of one for sale, please let me know!

 

[Dinkysaurs]

It would be nice if the machine can be made working again, so please explore all avenues including offering it to EM enthusiasts on here before deciding to break it down for parts

Thank you - I will go back and have another look at it, and will let you know how the whole thing is progressing (or not!)

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Sounds like it would be doing him a favour taking it away for free.

He has about three jukeboxes in his shed, which is his main "bag", and the pintable is taking up a lot of room, so I'll need to sound him out and see how desperate he is to get rid

 

[Doug]

If you do buy it/gift it, then I would suggest that you join Pinside because that has a great EM community there for advice and a tech section where you can ask any questions you like and you'll get a sensibke answer. You'll need a schematic for it and you will probably get one from Pinball Resource in the U.S.

As Alan has said, avoid it if it has wet rot or woodworm. That said, I have seen a few customers who have had new cabinets built so if the rest of the machine is good ,thats an option. |Almost any machine can be fixed nowadays so dont break it unless there is no other option.

Heres a few images of a current job on a 1964 Gottlieb World Fair for a customer. Its had its original relays removed and replaced with more modern ones and it didnt work so I will have to return it to stock. With a schematic, it can be done.

First picture in 'as found' state

Second is being stripped down

Third is after relays removed, and entire board and fittings, motor, etc. cleaned. I'll fit the replacement relays later today/tomorrow.

I hope that helps. Doug.

 

[Spandangler]

If anyone needs schematics printing, @myPinballs has a large printer which he can use to print them off.

 

[Dinkysaurs]

If you do buy it/gift it, then I would suggest that you join Pinside because that has a great EM community there for advice and a tech section where you can ask any questions you like and you'll get a sensibke answer. You'll need a schematic for it and you will probably get one from Pinball Resource in the U.S.

As Alan has said, avoid it if it has wet rot or woodworm. That said, I have seen a few customers who have had new cabinets built so if the rest of the machine is good ,thats an option. |Almost any machine can be fixed nowadays so dont break it unless there is no other option.

Heres a few images of a current job on a 1964 Gottlieb World Fair for a customer. Its had its original relays removed and replaced with more modern ones and it didnt work so I will have to return it to stock. With a schematic, it can be done.

First picture in 'as found' state

Second is being stripped down

Third is after relays removed, and entire board and fittings, motor, etc. cleaned. I'll fit the replacement relays later today/tomorrow.

I hope that helps. Doug.View attachment 278747View attachment 278746View attachment 278748

Thank you Doug, much appreciated.

Have now signed up with Pinside, one question – Do I donate?

Am going to see the Gunsmoke machine again tomorrow afternoon, when I hope to conclude the sale, so I’ll let you know and digest your post further then, as I ‘m up to my eyes in it at the moment!

In haste

John S aka Dinkysaurs

 

[Spandangler]

Thank you Doug, much appreciated.

Have now signed up with Pinside, one question – Do I donate?

Am going to see the Gunsmoke machine again tomorrow afternoon, when I hope to conclude the sale, so I’ll let you know and digest your post further then, as I ‘m up to my eyes in it at the moment!

In haste

John S aka Dinkysaurs

Hey John. Do you know your way around an EM?
I’ve just bought one and I’m from Ipswich. We could be new best friends

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Hey John. Do you know your way around an EM?
I’ve just bought one and I’m from Ipswich. We could be new best friends

Are you offering or looking for advice?

I used to do basic fettling on my CC Playtime machine back in the 1970s (which I severely regret selling in the 1990s), but apart from that I know very little, so would be of little help to you

However, if you’ve got machines I could have a look at some time, then yes, let’s meet……………….

 

[Spandangler]

Are you offering or looking for advice?

I used to do basic fettling on my CC Playtime machine back in the 1970s (which I severely regret selling in the 1990s), but apart from that I know very little, so would be of little help to you

However, if you’ve got machines I could have a look at some time, then yes, let’s meet……………….

Thanks mate. I can just about struggle round a solid state machine for repairing basic stuff but never owned an em and like a numpty bought a non working 4 player Bally for my first one. It’s in storage currently until I have space back but if you fancy a game sometime I’ve got 9 setup for play. Drop me a message if you want to head over.

 

[Doug]

Thank you Doug, much appreciated.

Have now signed up with Pinside, one question – Do I donate?

Am going to see the Gunsmoke machine again tomorrow afternoon, when I hope to conclude the sale, so I’ll let you know and digest your post further then, as I ‘m up to my eyes in it at the moment!

In haste

John S aka Dinkysaurs

You dont have to donate unless you want to. I think some features are greyed out unless you have though.

I do because I use the forum a lot and on the back of that have made quite a few useful contacts that have helped me retore previously basket case type machines.

All I would say is to be direct if asking a question as many Americans dont 'do' chat like we do here

 

[Doug]

In case you don't have this, here is a link for info on your machine. No schematic listed though but PBR wi0ll probably have one, or, ask on Pinside.

The Internet Pinball Machine Database

www.ipdb.org

And, dont give up on something that looks beyond repair. I completed the relay problem on the World Fair yesterday and just need to re-check everything before tying the loom again and test it. I just hope it works!

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Thanks mate. I can just about struggle round a solid state machine for repairing basic stuff but never owned an em and like a numpty bought a non working 4 player Bally for my first one. It’s in storage currently until I have space back but if you fancy a game sometime I’ve got 9 setup for play. Drop me a message if you want to head over.

Thank you! And I will certainly take up your offer at sometime, but presently, especially since this Gunsmoke table is almost mine, I'm seriously up to my eyes in it! So, how do I get in contact with you? Do they have a PM facility on this site?

 

[AlanJ]

Yes you can start a “direct message” from any of his posts. Click on the dropdown arrow

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Yes you can start a “direct message” from any of his posts. Click on the dropdown arrow

Thank you

 

[Dinkysaurs]

In case you don't have this, here is a link for info on your machine. No schematic listed though but PBR wi0ll probably have one, or, ask on Pinside.

The Internet Pinball Machine Database

www.ipdb.org

And, dont give up on something that looks beyond repair. I completed the relay problem on the World Fair yesterday and just need to re-check everything before tying the loom again and test it. I just hope it works!


View attachment 278877

Thank you, Doug, and GULP!

Well, the table is mine! We made a deal on Saturday, so we just need to arrange transport – speaking of which……………….

I’d had a quote of £100 from a “2 Men with a van” biz, which I thought was quite reasonable, as it would probably take them a couple of hours, at say £50 an hour.

ANYWAY, taking that on board, I noticed the guy had a Transit, so I said to him “OK, I’ll pay you your £150 for the machine, providing you deliver it, with my help”, and he said fine, and I could have the 1960s basic 3 reel fruit machine he had in the same shed for nothing.

So, the way I see it, I’ve gone from £250 for the machine inc. delivery to £150 all in, including a fruit machine FOC

I checked the Gunsmoke machine out, and it had a good solid clean cabinet all round (no woodworm or dry rot as AlanJ told me to be aware of), and the rust was nowhere near as bad as I first thought, with all of it being surface rust on the mild steel brackets etc., which is only to be expected with an unused machine – he said he’d had it for 20 years and never switched it on for fear of the “damp” shorting something out, but as far as I could see (I took a torch), and remembered how the cabinet and back box came apart (from my days of owning the CC Playtime machine, of which the Gunsmoke is nearly identical) the whole thing was solid, cleanish and ready to go!!

I will take some photos to post on here, when I’ve got it with me. It looked complete, the only thing missing was the tin cash box, which the Playtime machine had, and there were two tiny wires hanging inside the front door of the machine, which I think fed the bulbs that illuminated the little Coin/Play windows by the coin slot (?)

I’ll be in touch!

And thank you once again for the link! I’m getting all excited now!!

John S

 

[Paul]

and I could have the 1960s basic 3 reel fruit machine he had in the same shed for nothing.

Ooh go on - that intreagues me just as much as the Gunsmoke

Congrats on the purchase!

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Ooh go on - that intreagues me just as much as the Gunsmoke

Congrats on the purchase!

Thank you, and a photo of the fruit machine will be forthcoming But it's nothing special!

 

[Doug]

Bargain, well done.

I suggest that you read this before you switch it on: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#top

 

[Dinkysaurs]

Bargain, well done.

I suggest that you read this before you switch it on: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#top

Thank you Doug, I was going to connect both of them to my RCB extension lead and just switch on to see if anything lights up, but now you've highlighted that, I will check the internal fuses first.

FOR EXAMPLE! I had a friend in the 1970s, when I was in the photographic repair trade, who if he hadn't got a fuse, he would insert a short section cut from a 4" steel nail as a fuse replacement to make the circuit!!!

 

[HHH]

It used to be rolled up fag packet foil in our house in the 60's & 70's

 

[Dinkysaurs]

It used to be rolled up fag packet foil in our house in the 60's & 70's

LOL, those were the days H&S? Wassat?

 

[Paul]

isnt Kit Kat foil (as was) rated at 5A?