EP 15 - Is Pinball Restoration a Rip-Off?
Video
Summary
Flippin' Out hosts defend high restoration pricing; discuss quality standards and labor costs in pinball restoration.
Ken Cromwell and Greg Bone discuss pinball machine restoration pricing, specifically addressing community backlash over a $19,000 fully restored The Addams Family by renowned restorer Brian Kelly. They defend high restoration costs by breaking down labor, parts, and quality standards, comparing restoration work to new game manufacturing and establishing terminology distinctions between 'cleaning,' 'shop job,' 'refurbished,' and 'restoration.'
Highlights
- Brian Kelly is a renowned pinball restorer whose work is comparable to or better than HEP (High End Pins) quality
- Restored pinball machines, when done to highest standards, take 40-80 labor hours compared to 15-25 hours for new factory machines
- A fully restored pinball machine at $19,000 is reasonable given parts costs, labor, and comparison to new games like Jersey Jack at $15,000
- Terminology in the used pinball market is not standardized (shop job, refurbished, restoration have different meanings to different sellers)
- A 'shop job' should minimally include a topside teardown with full cleaning and parts verification, but not necessarily replacement of all hardware
In this episode, Ken and Greg wade into the most dangerous waters in pinball: restoration prices. From “museum-quality” makeovers to “yeah, we wiped it down,” the guys break down why no…
Comments