LOTS OF LOTS

Story dated July 16, 2004

Today saw the first of two auctions of the pinball games and parts belonging to the late Bob Thomson.  Bob died a couple of months ago after a struggle with cancer and was well known in the amusement industry in the UK.

He owned and ran Paradise Amusements which many readers will know from its former name of Pinball Paradise.  His family decided to sell off his inventory of pinball games, video games and spares, so this auction disposed of around half the games - all pinball machines - along with many of the parts and spare playfields.

The auction was held at Bob's warehouse at Bordon, north Hampshire.  Upon entering it was clear what a daunting number of games were kept in the unit and in another of the same size opposite. 

There were over 300 pinball games in this auction and that only took care of the workshop and some of the ground floor of the storage unit.  There is still the rest of the store and the upper floor for the second auction on the 25th July.

The auction was to start at midday, but before that there were two hours for buyers to view the games.

As it turned out, for many people those two hours were used to rummage through all the parts available.

It impossible to describe the number of parts available, or their range, but despite the narrow walkways and high shelves, you could happily spend several days sorting through all this stuff and still pull out little nuggets of gold.

Finding exactly what you needed wasn't that easy unless you're familiar with parts numbers, but most rack units turned up something of interest and occasionally you'd hit the mother lode - like the boxes of pristine manuals, schematics and operator booklets squirreled away.

The trouble is, after two hours we had boxes of parts; coils, switches, ramps, boards, manuals, semiconductors, springs, you name it - it was there.  But then the auction started and we hadn't even looked at the games. 

Thankfully, the auction started late and there was time to do some quick investigative work.

None of the games were set up in any way.  They had no legs, they were all stood-up on their backs and many had their backboxes removed.  Most were also placed back to back and arranged in tight rows making it hard to see what you're bidding for.

So, you can't see the game and you can't see if it powers up.  You're largely bidding blind, so the prices reflected the huge degree of uncertainly involved.

Before the auction began there was one minute's silence in Bob's remembrance which was well respected.  In fact there was a very pleasant and respectful atmosphere with everyone mindful of the fact that the proceeds would go to Bob's wife and young child.

Despite the 400 lots, the whole auction took less than four hours including the time to relocate from the store to the workshop and back again for the different items.

There's no doubt that there were some excellent bargains to be picked up.  Around a dozen sold for the minimum £20 with the prize for highest price going to a Williams Defender at £850.

Along with the 300 games, there were also around 100 playfields auctioned off.  These ranged from near-bare wood to fully populated games.  Obviously the latter were great sources of coils, lamps, plastics and switches even if the actual playfield is of no use.  Once again, research was vital to avoid a surprise when you go to collect your goods.

Here is the full list of games and their selling prices.  Minimum game price was £20 and any games not reaching that level were held over to the next auction and not sold (£n/s).  Playfields were initially set at the same level but very quickly it emerged that a £5 minimum was more realistic so that was used instead.  Even then, many did not sell.

Blank lots were removed from this auction after the list of lots was drawn up. There was a 10% buyers premium but no tax was added.

For approximate conversion to US$, double the £ price.

Lot number Lot description Selling price

 Gottlieb Flying Carpet 1972

£20

 Bally Space Time 

£20

 Chicago Coin Super Flipper 

£50

 Williams Alpine Club 

£n/s

 

 Bally Six Million Dollar Man 1978

£100

 Bally Hoo 

£40

 Williams Casanova 1966

£80

 Williams Aztec 1966

£40

10 

 Playmatic Big Town 

£20

11 

 Gottlieb Genie 1979

£30

12 

 Bally Lost World 1978

£90

13 

 Chicago Coin Cinema 1976

£90

14 

 Williams Stardust 1972

£50

15 

 Williams Oxo 1973

£50

16 

 Williams Blackout 1980

£30

17 

 

18 

 Bally Speakeasy 1982

£80

19 

 Williams Barracora 1981

£90

20 

 

21 

 Williams Smart Set 

£20

22 

 

23 

 Bally Playboy 1978

£260

24 

 Zaccaria Magic Castle 

£70

25 

 Bally Six Sticks 1966

£100

26 

 Bally Evel Knievel 1977

£150

27 

 Bally Big Valley 

£40

28 

 Zaccaria Space Shuttle 

£40

29 

 Gottlieb High Hand 

£180

30 

 Williams Fantastic 

£20

31 

 Williams Aces High 

£30

32 

 Bally Dolly Parton 1979

£270

33 

 Bally Six Million Dollar Man 1978

£120

34 

 Williams Post Time 1969

£20

35 

 Gottlieb Surf Side 

£70

36 

 Williams Jive Time 1970

£n/s

37 

 Gottlieb Cowpoke 1965

£500

38 

 Recel Torpedo 1976

£20

39 

 Gottlieb Pinball Pool 1979

£60

40 

 

41 

 Williams Jolly Roger 

£n/s

42 

 Gottlieb Abracadabra 1975

£20

43 

 Gottlieb Liberty Bell 1962

£70

44 

 Williams Dealers Choice 1973

£20

45 

 Williams Barracora 1981

£110

46 

 Bally Goldball 1983

£50

47 

 Williams Jive Time 1970

£20

48 

 Gottlieb Joker Poker 1978

£20

49 

 Bally Strikes & Spares 1978

£80

50 

 Bally Cybernaut 1985

£120

51 

 Williams Kiss-O 

£20

52 

 

53 

 Stern Split Second 1981

£30

54 

 Gottlieb Wild Life 1972

£20

55 

 Bally Hoo 

£n/s

56 

 Gottlieb Jungle Princess 1977

£40

57 

 Williams Aces & Kings 

£20

58 

 Williams Black Knight 1980

£220

59 

 

60 

 Wico Af-Tor 

£30

61 

 Williams Gold Rush 

£n/s

62 

 Williams Magic City 1967

£140

63 

 Bally Zip-A-Doo 

£20

64 

 Gottlieb Sweet Heart 1963

£250

65 

 Bally Hi Lo Ace 

£40

66 

 Williams Student Prince 

£20

67 

 

68 

 Bally Harlem Globetrotters 1979

£100

69 

 Gottlieb Force II 1980

£20

70 

 

71 

 Williams Big Deal 1972

£20

72 

 Williams Fun Fest 1972

£n/s

73 

 Bally Strikes & Spares 1978

£100

74 

 Stern Freefall 

£20

75 

 Zaccaria Spooky 

£260

76 

 

77 

 Williams Lady Luck 

£20

78 

 Bally Freedom 

£60

79 

 Williams Jubilee 1972

£n/s

80 

 Stern Flight 2000 1980

£60

81 

 Recel Underwater 1961

£50

82 

 

83 

 Williams A-Go-Go 

£20

84 

 Williams Casanova 1966

£60

85 

 Stern Lightening 1981

£180

86 

 Bally Zip-A-Doo 

£20

87 

 Williams Cue-T 

£20

88 

 

89 

 Gottlieb Gigi 1963

£300

90 

 Williams Riverboat 

£30

91 

 Williams Jive Time 1970

£20

92 

 Williams Big Strike 1966

£70

93 

 Segasa Baby Doll 

£n/s

94 

 Williams Honey 1972

£60

95 

 Gottlieb 300 

£20

96 

 

97 

 Williams Post Time 1969

£30

98 

 Williams Post Time 1969

£20

99 

 Williams Cue-T 

£70

100 

 Williams Time Warp 1979

£20

101 

 

102 

 Williams Toledo 1975

£n/s

103 

 Gottlieb Bowling Queen 1964

£100

104 

 Williams TIme Warp 1979

£60

105 

 

106 

 

107 

 Williams Merry Widow 1963

£100

108 

 Bally Dixieland 

£50

109 

 

110 

 Bally Eight Ball 

£150

111 

 

112 

 Williams Travel Time 1973

£30

113 

 Gottlieb Strange World 

£40

114 

 Ten Stars 

£n/s

115 

 Gottlieb King Kool 

£n/s

116 

 Gottlieb Paul Bunyan 

£20

117 

 Gottlieb Funland 

£100

118 

 Bally Mad World 

£20

119 

 Williams Pat Hand 1975

£50

120 

 Stern Lectronamo 1978

£n/s

121 

 Gottlieb Play Mates 1968

£90

122 

 Bally Four Million BC 1971

£260

123 

 Williams El Toro 1963

£110

124 

 Williams Gorgar 1979

£140

125 

 Williams Jungle Lord 1981

£140

126 

 Gottlieb Bowling Queen 1964

£220

127 

 Williams Jungle Lord 1981

£80

128 

 Gottlieb Royal Gaurd 1968

£110

129 

 Bally Six Million Dollar Man 1978

£50

130 

 Gottlieb Totem Pole 1979

£n/s

131 

 Williams Barracora 1981

£110

132 

 Bally 50/50 

Withdrawn

133 

 Williams Warlock 1982

£60

134 

 Williams Heat Wave 1964

Withdrawn

135 

 Williams Jumpin Jacks 

£20

136 

 Williams Jungle £20

137 

 

138 

 Bally Harvest 1964

£60

139 

 Williams Flash 1979

£60

140 

 Gottlieb Soccer 1975

£40

141 

 Stern Split Second £160

142 

 Williams Jackpot 

£20

143 

 Gottlieb Flipper Clown 

£170

144 

 Williams Blackout 1980

£100

145 

 Gottlieb Golden Arrow 

£20

146 

 Williams Cue-T 

£60

147 

 Bally Fireball 1972

£640

148 

 

149 

 Williams Jungle Lord 1981

£60

150 

 Gottlieb Buck Rogers 1975

£80

151 

 Gottlieb Devils Dare 1982

£110

152 

 Bally Electra £70

153 

 Bally Champ 

£80

154 

 Bally Wizard 1975

£270

155 

 Gottlieb Counterforce 1980

£80

156 

 Bally Rolling Stones 1980

£160

157 

 Bally Centaur II 

£110

158 

 Bally Kiss (cabinet only) £60

159 

 Bally Harlem Globetrotters 1979

£160

160 

 Bally Hootenany 

£50

161 

 Bally Nip-It 1972

£140

162 

 Bally Wizard 1975

£420

163 

 

164 

 Bally Capt. Fantastic 1975

£500

165 

 Bally Vector 1981

£180

166 

 Bally Little Joe 1972

£50

167 

 

168 

 Gottlieb Roller Coaster 1971

£50

169 

 Bally Kiss £300

170 

 Williams Oxo 1973

£20

171 

 Zaccaria Robot 

£40

172 

 Bell Games Saturn 2 

£30

173 

 Zaccaria Soccer Kings 

£25

174 

 Bell Games Saturn 2 

£40

175 

 

176 

 Williams Flash 1979

£100

177 

 Gottlieb Roller Disco 1980

£80

178 

 Bally Eight Ball £100

179 

 Recel Criterium 75 

£20

180 

 Stern Magic 1979

£90

181 

 Gottlieb Dancing Lady 

£220

182 

 Gottlieb Black Hole 

£60

183 

 

184 

 

185 

 

186 

 Bally Mad World

£320

187 

 Bally Centaur

£400

188 

 Bally Honey

£n/s

189 

 Gottlieb Tropical Isle

£320

190 

 Gottlieb Spin A Card

£260

191 

 Williams Hyperball

£40

192 

 Williams Beat The Clock

£200

193 

 Gottlieb Big Top

£140

194 

 Williams Stop N Go

£300

195 

 Bally Vampire

£220

196 

 Williams Apollo

£120

197 

 Gottlieb Jet Spin

£80

198 

 Williams Friendship 7

£200

199 

 Gottlieb Show Boat

£320

200 

 Gottlieb Central Park

£300

201 

 Gottlieb Paul Bunyan

£20

202 

 Gottlieb Casanova

£80

203 

 Williams Oxo

£50

204 

 Bally Spectrum

£70

205 

 Gottlieb Playmates

£140

206 

 Williams Grand Tour

£40

207 

 Williams Ding Dong

£50

208 

 Gottlieb Centigrade

£120

209 

 Williams Soccer

£140

210 

 Williams Heatwave

£n/s

211 

 Gottlieb Gigi

£460

212 

 Gottlieb Zig Zag

£20

213 

 Gottlieb Hurdy Gurdy

£400

214 

 Williams Mayfair

£180

215 

 Gottlieb Hot Line

£30

216 

 Williams A Go Go

£20

217 

 Gottlieb Snow Derby

£20

218 

 Bally Mad World

£20

219 

 Williams San Francisco

£90

220 

 Williams Big Daddy

£20

221 

 Gottlieb Hi Score

£20

222 

 Williams Touchdown

£40

223 

 Gottlieb Dancing Lady

£340

224 

 Williams Post Time

£20

225 

 Stern Star Gazer

£40

226 

 Williams Lady Luck

£20

227 

 Gottlieb Flipper Fair

£100

228 

 Bally Dixie Land

£50

229 

 Bally Sky Divers

£50

230 

 Gottlieb Hi Score

£120

231 

 Williams Valiant

£20

232 

 Williams Heat Wave

£70

233 

 Bally Delta Queen

£280

234 

 Bally Vector

£180

235 

 Stern Galaxy

£40

236 

 Bally Beat The Clock

£140

237 

 Bally Fathom

£820

238 

 Bally Beat The Clock

£60

239 

 Bally Centaur

£50

240 

 Gottlieb Spirit

£120

241 

 Williams Strato Flight

£90

242 

 Bally On Beam

£n/s

243 

 Bally Capt. Fantastic

£440

244 

 Stern Nine Ball

£20

245 

 Bally Twin Win

£20

246 

 Bally Odds And Evens

£20

247 

 Williams Black Knight

£150

248 

 Williams Road Kings

£160

249 

 Williams Teachers Pet

£50

250 

 Williams Teachers Pet

£20

251 

 Bally Voltan

£300

252 

 Williams Magic City

£140

253 

 Williams Defender

£850

254 

 Williams Fire Power

£20

255 

 Bally Grand Slam

£20

256 

 Bally Rapid Fire

£180

257 

 Williams San Francisco

£80

258 

 Bally Flash Gordon

£300

259 

 Bally Xenon (+ new playfield)

£480

260 

 Bally Xenon

£160

261 

 Williams Jolly Roger

£60

262 

 Bally Bazar

£100

263 

 Bally On Beam

£40

264 

 Williams Jungle Lord

£100

265 

 Zaccaria Moon Flight

£40

266 

 Bally Evel Knievel

£260

267 

 Bally King Tut

£220

268 

 Bally Old Chicago

£20

269 

 Gottlieb Torch

£n/s

270 

 Bally Fireball

£400

271 

 Bally Aladdin's Castle

£20

272 

 Williams Aces & Kings

£30

273 

 Stern Dracula

£30

274 

 Playmatic UFO-X

£n/s

275 

 Nordamatic Champion

£n/s

276 

 Williams Pharoh

£160

277 

 Bally Mata Hari

£20

278 

 Bally Spectrum

£120

279 

 Bally Bull Fight

£90

280 

 Zaccaria Combat

£20

281 

 Williams Whirlwind

£220

282 

 Bally Escape From The Lost World

£180

283 

 Gottlieb Hit The Deck

£300

284 

 Bally Magic Circle

£140

285 

 Data East Star Trek

£200

286 

 Bally Rapid Fire

£50

287 

 Williams Earthshaker

£20

288 

 Williams Big Guns

£50

289 

 Data East Royal Rumble

£160

290 

 Zaccaria Farfalla

£160

291 

 Williams High Speed

£280

292 

 Williams Soccer

£20

293 

 Data East Last Action Hero

£140

294 

 Gottlieb Super Mario Bros

£160

295 

 Data East Playboy

£360

296 

 Data East Frankenstein

£300

297 

 Bally Flash Gordon

£70

298 

 Williams Fun House

£180

299 

 Bally Corvette

£500

300 

 Sega Starship Troppers

£520

301 

 Williams Taxi

£260

302 

 Gottlieb Street Fighter

£150

303 

 Bally Doctor Who

£220

304 

 Williams Hurricane

£90

305 

 Gottlieb Super Mario Bros

£90

306 

 Gottlieb Cue Ball Wizard

£50

307 

 Data East Last Action Hero

£160

308 

 Bally Twilight Zone

£560

309 

 Williams Fire

£520

310 

 Bally Eight Ball Champ

£50

311 

 Data East Torpedo

£100

312 

 Bally World Cup USA '94

£380

313 

 Bally Creature From The Black Lagoon

£500

314 

 Bally Doctor Who

£340

315 

 Williams Demolition Man

£400

316 

 Zaccaria Space Shuttle

£40

317 

 Gottlieb Spring Break

£120

318 

 Bally Judge Dredd

£370

319 

 Williams Hurricane

£80

320 

 Williams Demolition Man

£340

321 

 Data East Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

£200

322 

 Williams Bram Stokers Dracula

£450

323 

 Bally Touchdown Bingo 

£70

324 

 Bally Blue Chip Bingo 

£n/s

325 

 Bally Karate Playfield

£20

326 

 Williams? Playfield Playfield

£n/s

327 

 Williams Alien Poker Playfield

£n/s

328 

 Bally Grand Tour Playfield

£n/s

329 

 Gottlieb Slick Chick Playfield

£n/s

330 

 Williams Lightening Playfield

£n/s

331 

 Williams Jungle Lord Playfield

£10

332 

 Gottlieb Meteor Playfield

£n/s

333 

 Bally Odds & Evens Playfield

£n/s

334 

 Stern? Playfield Playfield

£n/s

335 

 Bank-A-Ball & Flying Carpet Playfields

£n/s

336 

 Hook & Party Zone Playfields

£5

337 

 Star Trek (2 of) Playfields

£30

338 

 Checkpoint & Spin Out Playfields

£15

339 

 Six Sticks & Op-Pop-Pop Playfields

£5

340 

 Sweathearts & Star Trek Playfields

£5

341 

 Superstar & Hurricane Playfields

£5

342 

 Roto Pool & Sinbad Playfields

£5

343 

 Steeplechase & Mad World Playfields

£5

344 

 No Fear & The Getaway Playfields

£25

345 

 Scuba & King Pin Playfields

£5

346 

 Dragon & Beat The Clock Playfields

£5

347 

 Williams Doctor Who Playfield

£65

348 

 Williams Corvette Playfield

£15

349 

 Williams Hurricane Playfield

£40

350 

 Zaccaria Magic Castle Playfield

£5

351 

 Williams Popeye Playfield

£5

352 

 Williams Popeye Playfield

£35

353 

 Williams Popeye Playfield

£30

354 

 Williams Popeye Playfield

£30

355 

 Williams The Getaway Playfield

£20

356 

 Williams Terminator 2 Playfield

£15

357 

 Williams Magic City Playfield

£n/s

358 

 Williams Whitewater Playfield

£20

359 

 Zaccaria Alpine Club Playfield

£5

360 

 Bally Camelot Playfield

£n/s

361 

 Bally Dolly Parton Playfield

£20

362 

 Bally Mini Zag Playfield

£n/s

363 

 Williams Time Warp Playfield

£n/s

364 

 Williams Tri Zone Playfield

£n/s

365 

 Gottlieb Sinbad Playfield

£n/s

366 

 Bally Beat The Clock Playfield

£n/s

367 

 Data East Checkpoint Playfield

£15

368 

 Williams High Speed Playfield

£10

369 

 Williams Warlock Playfield

£15

370 

 Bally Transporter Playfield

£5

371 

 Data East Star Wars Playfield

£20

372 

 Bally Power Play Playfield

£n/s

373 

 Bally Escape From The Lost World Playfield

£n/s

374 

 Bally Gilligans Island Playfield

£20

375 

 Zaccaria Pool Teme Playfield

£5

376 

 Gottlieb Spin To Win Playfield

£n/s

377 

 Zaccaria Pinball Champ Playfield

£5

378 

 Williams Alien Poker Playfield

£5

379 

 Bally Dragon Theme Playfield

£5

380 

 Bally Pac-Man Playfield

£5

381 

 Bally Star Trek Playfield

£30

382 

 Bally Freedom Playfield

£n/s

383 

 Bally Dolly Parton Playfield

£5

384 

 Williams Firepower Playfield

£15

385 

 Bally Pac-man Playfield

£n/s

386 

 Bally Freedom Playfield

£n/s

387 

 Bally Kiss Playfield

£15

388 

 Williams Space Mission Playfield

£5

389 

 Williams The Getaway Playfield

£5

390 

 Williams The Getaway Playfield

£10

391 

 Williams The Getaway Playfield

£15

392 

 Bally Playboy Playfield

£5

393 

 Williams Fun-Fest Playfield

£n/s

394 

 Bally Nightrider Playfield

£n/s

395 

 Gottlieb Quicksilver Playfield

£n/s

396 

 Bally Bingo Playfield

£5

397 

 Bally Bingo Playfield

£5

398 

 Bally America Bingo Playfield

£5

399 

 Bally Bowling Bingo Playfield

£5

400 

 Bally Palm Beach Bingo Playfield

£5

 

Overall the auction went very smoothly. The 400 lots were dealt with quickly and efficiently with the only delays occurring at the payment and collection point in the workshop. The advice to pay for your goods as early as possible was heeded by some but it's not always possible (if you're cataloguing all the prices for instance. :-)

The second auction takes place at the same location on the 25th of July. Full details of the items for sale will appear at the auction organiser's web site which is also the site of Antique Amusement Machines magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

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