Stepping into Howard Vangool害羞草研究所檚 basement, one is greeted by a multitude of flickering lights accompanied a disjointed chorus of swooshes, clicks, gunfire and the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger害羞草研究所檚 T-800 proclaiming, 害羞草研究所淚 am the future.害羞草研究所�

The lights and sounds emanate from Vangool害羞草研究所檚 collection of pinball machines. There are currently 10 machines, along with a vintage 害羞草研究所渃ocktail table害羞草研究所� arcade machine, a converted upright cabinet arcade machine, a Japanese three-reel slot machine and a pachinko machine.

While the Terminator 2 pinball machine may have been the future in 1991 when it was released, all of the machines in Vangool害羞草研究所檚 collection are both retro yet trendy, as pinball is seeing a resurgence, both competitively and as sought-after collectibles.

害羞草研究所淔ive years ago, pinball was basically unknown. Now, there are pinball stores running full time害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 actually amazing, we害羞草研究所檙e almost at a renaissance, a new age of pinball machines,害羞草研究所� said Vangool. 害羞草研究所淔or pinball people, there are some machines that are coming out that are just incredible. Lord of the Rings started it off probably six or seven years ago.害羞草研究所�

Five years ago, the Shuswap photographer picked up his first pinball machine, Data East害羞草研究所檚 Time Machine, a game that allows players to travel back in time from the 1980害羞草研究所檚, to the 害羞草研究所�70s, 害羞草研究所�60s and the 1950s when the machine simulates an older, pre-digital pinball complete with bell chimes.

Vangool got into playing Time Machine and soon after found himself responding to an ad for a used Lethal Weapon pinball machine. And so the collection began.

害羞草研究所淚 have an electronics background, so people were phoning me and saying, 害羞草研究所榟ey, I害羞草研究所檝e got one of these in my basement but it doesn害羞草研究所檛 work. Can you come and fix it?害羞草研究所� said Vangool. 害羞草研究所淪o I害羞草研究所檇 go over there and take a look. Each one of these machines has its own story, basically.害羞草研究所�

One of Vangool害羞草研究所檚 more memorable pinball purchases took him to Rossland in the West Kootenays. It was for Comet, a Williams Electronic Games Inc. machine from 1985.

害羞草研究所淚t was the first one (digital pinball) to have the million point shot on it害羞草研究所� It was a big deal when it came out,害羞草研究所� said Vangool. 害羞草研究所淪o the guy said, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檝e had this machine for 14 years and I害羞草研究所檝e only made the million shot three times or four times in my life.害羞草研究所� So I get it home and start playing it and that night I got the million point shot three times.害羞草研究所�

With their popularity increasing, Vangool said decent old pinball machines have become harder to find. When he gets them, Vangool has no problem lifting the playing field and doing the repairs needed to get them back in tip-top condition 害羞草研究所� provided the parts are available.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 always looking for machines,害羞草研究所� stresses Vangool. 害羞草研究所淚f anybody has got a machine sitting in their basement or whatever, I always offer the fairest price I can. If it害羞草研究所檚 not working, I can害羞草研究所檛 offer a ton of money because 害羞草研究所� usually it害羞草研究所檚 a board gone or something like that, boards can cost $300, and then I have to put in $200 worth of LEDs.害羞草研究所�

Vangool has had up to 15 pinball machines and sells them from time to time. There are a few, however, that will remain staples to his collection.

害羞草研究所淚 probably would never sell GoldenEye or Lethal Weapon and probably not Terminator 害羞草研究所� Each one of these is worth $3,000 and probably more,害羞草研究所� said Vangool.

Asked if there害羞草研究所檚 a particular machine he害羞草研究所檇 like to add, Vangool says there害羞草研究所檚 a few, but the 1997 Williams害羞草研究所� classic, Medieval Madness, tops the list.

害羞草研究所淢edieval Madness is actually being remade because it was named as the number one, most wanted pinball machine害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Vangool. 害羞草研究所淭hat one for sure. To find one in somebody害羞草研究所檚 basement or something would be awesome.害羞草研究所�

lachlan@saobserver.net
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