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A Surprising New Passion for Gottlieb

  • Thread starter Thread starter pintableuser
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pintableuser

Most times in this hobby it is nigh on impossible to acquire a specific game when and where you want it .
The finding is like a treasure hunt, The jewels are best found in the most unlikely places, usually buried under piles of discarded goods in high-rise flats, cellars, sheds, garages, store-rooms and spare bedrooms..., un-played, sleeping, forgotten and neglected...... too awkward n heavy to move.
I have been fortunate to uncover a few diamonds in the rough, the most recent being a 1991 Gottlieb Class of 1812.
This is my first Gotti which was on a short list started years ago. .
Initial impressions are excellent.... this is a very clever durable, inivative quality item. All components are rugged, over-engineered, most parts readily accessible making maintenance and repair a joy. In my opinion the Gottlieb design group have ticked more boxes than the Bally/Williams crew.
Class of 1812 is by no means a complicated game to play but gives the player more smiles and the ability for a high-score per game than most of the complex games which frustrate the more casual player. The addictive game play, sounds, music and light show all compliment each other to give the complete deal .... this is a revelation to me... and I wonder why it has taken me so long to discover the Magical World of Gottlieb.
Is it really all Magical ?


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Gottlieb's seem to be the must have at the moment.

I can appreciate a few good reasons why that maybe....... Not many B/W and D.E original SS pins for sale.?..... you can get a wall of them for the price of a Stern.?.. Talented design teams, durable , with good original themes and sounds?. I would now seriously consider other Gottliebs.
A wedge head may be my next pin mainly to experience the mechanical whirrings and wonders of all the moving parts... there's certainly plenty to choose from ....always the optimist. :)
 
Some decent Gott games out there, I really like Op Thunder and Surf N Safari. My main stumbling block with this era is the (to me) goddawful ugly looking design of the backbox :eek: Its like it fell out of the design ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
 
Some decent Gott games out there, I really like Op Thunder and Surf N Safari. My main stumbling block with this era is the (to me) goddawful ugly looking design of the backbox :eek: Its like it fell out of the design ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

So true it's the replacement parts issue that always puts me off gots
 
Being reliable was Gottliebs biggest stumbling block back in the day.
Op's tended to shy away from the Gotts and went for the more reliable B/W machines, that's why there is a shortage of the late 80's early 90's machines in this country, most went to Europe.
Shame as there were some cracking machines in the mix, there were some duds as well but that's life, someone somewhere will always love a bad machine.
 
So true it's the replacement parts issue that always puts me off gots

I had the same belief, but it's not a big problem unless you want to use NOS parts. Plastics can be scanned and cut. And most other bits could be fettled or by using donor eurobits. As a French guy told me "We have no problems... Only solutions"
 
Like every other pin, ensure your chosen project is a suitable subject for TLC.
 
I like my 1812 too, but not sure if a long term keeper. Takes the space likely to get swapped out occasionally. Actually quite like the design of the machine too, bit like Black Rose with a tall backbox, plus Radical and Elvira that I'd like to get on the Bally side.

The Gottlieb 80B machines stand out for me, mainly due to the sound. You played/heard a TX Sector? Fantastic sound on that. The Arena I got is similar, subject to getting my sound board fixed.

Other Gott's I'd love to own (like many others):

Robowars
Excalibur
TX (of course).

As a later machine, also enjoyed Stargate at the Slam, better than I was expecting tbh.
 
Stargate is a great machine. Excellent theme in fact one of the best.
The one thing needed with Stargate is it has to be set up right and have strong everything to make the shots.
I have played a lot on site and at shows and none were set up as they should have been making the game near impossible to play.
Shame as it's a great game when everything is as it should be. Didn't play the one at the Slam so can't comment on that one.
 
I like my 1812 too, but not sure if a long term keeper. Takes the space likely to get swapped out occasionally. Actually quite like the design of the machine too, bit like Black Rose with a tall backbox, plus Radical and Elvira that I'd like to get on the Bally side.

The Gottlieb 80B machines stand out for me, mainly due to the sound. You played/heard a TX Sector? Fantastic sound on that. The Arena I got is similar, subject to getting my sound board fixed.

Other Gott's I'd love to own (like many others):

Robowars
Excalibur
TX (of course).

As a later machine, also enjoyed Stargate at the Slam, better than I was expecting tbh.


I'm influenced by the 1990's and follow where fate takes me. I had been searching for an 1812 but it was always well down on my want list and usually something more appealing came along and absorbed the cash. On this occasion, it was my time to buy. I had no prior experience with Gottliebs if given a line of machines my money always went into a B/W. But now, I would not hesitate to buy another Gott., they certainly offer great game play and super value and I would definitely repeat the experience when and if a similar opportunity should present itself...... I also find the overall original game idea refreshing and very clever.
 
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