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 |
1 |
Gottlieb Flying Carpet 1972 |
£20 |
2 |
Bally Space Time |
£20 |
3 |
Chicago Coin Super Flipper |
£50 |
4 |
Williams Alpine Club |
£n/s |
5 |
|
|
6 |
Bally Six Million Dollar Man 1978 |
£100 |
7 |
Bally Hoo |
£40 |
8 |
Williams Casanova 1966 |
£80 |
9 |
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.