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"This Old Pinball" (TOP) repair & restoration
DVD videos cover pinball and other coin operated arcade games.
Mechanical, electronic, and aesthetic restoration is covered. The videos
are hosted by the infamous "Shaggy" and "Norm" (of This Old House TV fame?)
Who is "Shaggy", you ask? Well he's a nutbar (is that his *real* hair?
yea sure, duh) originally from
Rochester, NY who likes restoring coin operated games. Norm,
the never-seen camera man, is Shaggy's creative sidekick
with a Bostonian accent and a knack for woodworking.
Their pinball repair videos have been reviewed in
several magazines, including Gameroom Magazine and the
Pingame Journal. "If you like your serious pinball repair laced with
madcap humor, then this and the other TOP videos are for you"
(Pingame Journal, issue #85/86).
The majority of the money from the TOP video sales goes to Tim Arnold's non-profit "Las Vegas Pinball Collector's Club". Also known as the "Pinball Hall of Fame" (PHoF). They have been saving to buy or lease a building in Las Vegas where approximately 200 working vintage pinball machines from the 1930s to the 1990s will be displayed & operated. And the dream has come true - as of January 2006 th PHoF is now open in Las Vegas! A building and lease has been established, and the money saved invested (the interest earned on the investments should pay a good chunk of the building rent each money). The proceeds after rent, electricity, etc will be donated to the Las Vegas Salvation Army (also some of the TOP video sales currently goes to the LV Salvation Army).
Video Pricing.
* Paypal is available for TOP video purchases, using c@marvin3m.com for the Paypal payment email address. Cost of videos via Paypal is $0.50 additional per video (Paypal charges us for their service). Or send cash or check (personal checks are fine!) payable to 'Pinball Hall of Fame':
2620 S. Maryland #241 PMB Las Vegas, NV 89109
All DVD videos are NTSC format with no region code, two hours.
These videos are all in fun and contain TONS of information
on game restoration and repair, and the money goes to a good pinball cause.
Any questions or comments, email:
Question: Why do you guys take so long to release a new video?
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TOP#7 Info and On-line Trailer Video.
The TOP video, "Banzai Wars", has a streaming two minute teaser sample video available for view in your browser. Shaggy and Norm worked on this video for two years, and it's available for your eyes! The popularity of 1980s and 1990s pin games has really skyrocketed, so Norm and the Shagster felt it was time to do a video about restoring these great games. Covered is repair and restoraton of Williams System 11 (1985 to 1990) and DataEast (1987 to 1995) pinball games. Though much of this information could certainly be applied to other brands and eras of pin games. Note TOP7 has some language and suggestive content that is not intented for kids. The two minute teaser below is a Windows video, so a Windows-based computer with Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player should view these. If you have a non-Windows machine, there is also a MPG version available that should work on any computer (much larger in size, but higher quality too).
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(by Shaggy & Norm)
These videos are repair/restoration oriented, and are $8 each including shipping.
TOP #1 - "EM Pinball Repair & Restoration" 1964 Gottlieb World Fair. Updated/Improved plus new material.
TOP #2 - "Hardball in Detroit" EM pinball/baseball repair & restoration, 1960 Official Baseball.
TOP #3 - "Lost in the 'Zone" Restoring 1993 Bally Twilight Zone. Updated & Improved, New Material.
TOP #4 - "Pinball Ain't Dead, It Just Smells Funny" 1990s Williams WPC repair.
TOP #5.1 - "The Black House/Haunted Hole" Fixing Gottlieb System80 games - PART ONE, Haunted House.
TOP #5.2 - "The Black House/Haunted Hole" PART TWO: Continuation of above, Black Hole, Coin-op Auctions.
TOP #6 - "White Guys Can't Jump" Manikin arcade games (Genco 2 Player Basketball, Ten Strike, etc).
TOP #7 - "Banzai Wars" 1985-1990 Williams System 11 and DataEast repair/restoration.*
TOP #8 - "Turkeys, Shots & Blows" EM ball bowler & shuffle alley repair/restoration.
* TOP7 also available in a less suggestive kid-friendly "PG" version.
Coming In the Future! (not currently available)
"Norm's First KISS!" Fixing a 1979 Bally KISS pinball. Includes the TOP rock video, 'KISS my Arse'.
"Norm Gets Wood" Woodrail pinball restoration and tour!
"1970s EM Multi-players" Fixing 1970s multi-player EM pinballs.
"Black Power" Fixing a Williams 1980 Black Knight & Firepower (Norm & Shaggy get down with it).
Purchase Suggestions (or "Which Should I Buy?"):
If repairing/restoring newer 1990s pinball games, both TOP#3, TOP#4 and TOP#7 are good
choices (the material covers most 1990s pinball games). If repairing/restoring older EM
(Electro-Mechanical) games from the 1950s to 1970s, TOP#1, TOP#2, TOP#6 and TOP#8
are best (note TOP#2, TOP#6 and TOP#8 are basically general EM game repair and
restoration). For 1980s solidstate pingeeks, TOP#5.1 & TOP#5.2 is your best bet.
Of course at $8 each, buy them all, as it is hard to go wrong!
"This Old Pinball is at it AGAIN!", and in the May 2002 Gameroom magazine:
"You get more than you deserve for the pittance they charge for BOTH videos."
The TOP#4 video was reviewed in the Summer 2001 Pingame Journal #85/86:
"After watching this dynamic duo work their way through the process ... one
may think, 'If these two can do it without having parts left over, so can
I!'"
The TOP#3 video was reviewed in the July 2001 Gameroom Magazine:
"I URGE YOU to get a copy of this video NOW... This thing ought to have a $50 price
tag. And it would still be cheap."
The TOP#2 video was reviewed in the September 2001 Gameroom Magazine:
"I think they're absolutely friggin' crazy for selling their videos at six dollar
each including shipping... Get the video. You must own it."
The TOP#1 video was reviewed in the May 2001 Gameroom Magazine:
"In truth these are a couple of serious guys who hobbiests would be wise to observe as
they offer sound restoration advice and practices... and all through their deliberate
wisecracks and dim witted observations, the viewer will come away
with a mile high pile of restoration techniques and expertice that is rarely available
under one roof. From polishing and buffing, to playfield strip down, to pop bumper
assembly rebuilding, to cabinet repainting, to parts tumbling - it is an absolute
goldmine."
The Pingame Journal also reviewed the new & improved TOP#1 in the June 2002 issue:
"TOP #1 never looked so good!"