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Pinballs in houses that really weren't built with them in mind

ChrisH

ChrisH

Registered
1 10 Years
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
722
Location
Stroud
So I've been enjoying the pinball scene for a few years and met a whole load of great people, mostly in the London/SE/Surrey lot of players but I've probably met more people than I realise on here at the UKPP and the Slam - a really great bunch of people in this hobby!

However actually owning a game was never possible in my 3rd floor 1 bed flat in London, now having decided to leave London and move back west to the countryside. I figured a pin was actually going to be a possibility...

But, I've actually moved into a cottage, in the middle of the Cotswolds and they back in the 1700's when this was built, they didn't exactly have pinballs in mind.... (or central heating for that matter)

I have room for a machine (maybe even 2 at a push) in 'my' room, but that room is the attic, and the attic is up 2 flights of stairs and each does a 90 degree turn..... So this isn't going to be easy, and also the game is going to have to have some longevity!

I do have a MAME cab (but it was built in the room) and a VPin - 1/2 size which went up no problem.

So how much room do you need to get a game into a room, how apart do they come? I assume the head could be removed and the two bits moved separately? But only if you knew exactly what you were doing.....
Is this even possible?
 
If you're going up stairs then take the head off and the playfield out and move it in 3 pieces. The cabinet is the thing you need the space to manoeuvre and it's a lot easier the lighter it is :thumbs:
 
I've moved a Banzai Run up two flights of stairs into the attic of an old back to back house. Banzai Run is one of the heaviest pinballs ever made. Anything is possible.
My advice is get somebody who knows what they are doing to help you (beer is a good incentive). Remove the backbox and take the playfield out. It's not as daunting as it sounds.

Good luck.
 
Build a games room in the garden if you have the space, or another option is convert a garage if you have one.

Or build a garage that's just too small for a car saying it's being build for the car then turn it into a games room. Then fill it with pins!!!:rofl:

Joking aside good luck with what ever you end up doing, if they do go upstairs just make sure that you get keepers.
 
I moved a game down two flights of stairs a couple of weeks ago and it almost killed me and the bloke selling it to me. We made the mistake of hoping the head could stay on but at the first 180 degree mini landing thingy we became almost impossibly stuck. Ended up removing the head from upside down at a funny angle, and couldn't get everything needed detached so had to cut across a mini loom of about 10 wires :(

It was a lot easier in two bits and woulda been easier still in three. Still incredibly heavy though and we were going down not up (he said when they went up he had a friend and they took several hours). Never again in one piece. Definitely get another pinhead round to help, lured with beer and bacon butties, and do it in pieces. But definitely do it, don't let common sense put you off. There's nothing like having your own pin at home. Being sensible is for wusses.
 
No outbuildings or garages :(
Yeah - figured that my games will be (see how I've now decided it has to happen, didn't take much encouragement eh!) keepers more than the buy it, play it, sell it cycle that some people are able to do!

So I'll be looking out for games I always enjoy playing I like in my budget, HS2, Fish Tales or Indy500 all spring to mind.
I thought that taking it to bits might be the answer, but know better than to try it myself on my first game! - Not sure how many pinheads we have in the Cotswolds, but if there are any I have bacon butties, beer, pizza, bbq all waiting.....
 
Mine is upstairs.

As mentioned before it's massively easier if you split it into three parts.

My only problem is lack of space. I've been told when we move that I'll have my own space for my 'crap' which I presume means the pinball. Of course my aim is to find somewhere with lots of room for 'crap' so i can get at least another 2 or 3 machines. ;-)
 
Slightly off topic... Sorry.
Always wondered about head removal on a modern machine.
Is it similar to my 1860's Gottlieb where there is some kind of Jones socket, or is it a cut and join jobby?
 
You have to unplug the many connectors in the back box to separate the loom from
The head.
Then undo the 2 bolts inside the cabinet which the hinges are attached too. And voila!!

Once you've done that it's simple to lift the playfield out too.
 
ChrisH said:
No outbuildings or garages :(
Yeah - figured that my games will be (see how I've now decided it has to happen, didn't take much encouragement eh!) keepers more than the buy it, play it, sell it cycle that some people are able to do!

So I'll be looking out for games I always enjoy playing I like in my budget, HS2, Fish Tales or Indy500 all spring to mind.
I thought that taking it to bits might be the answer, but know better than to try it myself on my first game! - Not sure how many pinheads we have in the Cotswolds, but if there are any I have bacon butties, beer, pizza, bbq all waiting.....
Click to expand...
I think @TeaPea is selling a very nice Fish tales on here :rolleyes:
 
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