i am thinking of buying a pin from williams amusements but i would like some feedback,the pins are either twilight zone,creatures from lagoon,tales from the crypt,ac/dc pro,has anyone got any thoughts on these machines,thanks
Pinball info
Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
general
- Thread starter vr46
- Start date
Williams Amusements overcharges and doesn’t do any more maintenance/restoration than people on here (I know, I bought a Fish Tales off them). If you’re flexible about which pin you want, I’d suggest putting up a Wanted ad or - alternatively - skim through the ‘Machines for Sale/Trade’ section of the website. There are lots of pins for sale right now 
Bobbdobalina
Site Supporter
Why don’t you put a wanted ad out on here.
Damn sight cheaper!……
*disclaimer ‘probably’
Damn sight cheaper!……
*disclaimer ‘probably’
I'd suggest reading the 'Has the bubble burst....' thread and then bear in mind that the pins from them are at the absolute top end of pricing.
Trouble is you'll get a load of people trying to recoup their williams amusement losses on here, especially if you're new to the scene.
remember this advice... Buyer Beware Everywhere!
We're all a friendly bunch though, just ask if you're not sure. Your williams pricing you can cut in half for a reasonable ballpark figure.
Welcome btw!
Tim
remember this advice... Buyer Beware Everywhere!
We're all a friendly bunch though, just ask if you're not sure. Your williams pricing you can cut in half for a reasonable ballpark figure.
Welcome btw!
Tim
D
Deleted member 5505
My Family Guy came from Williams' and has been spot on for nearly 18 months, in comparison the Family Guy I returned to HLD was far more expensive and had an absolute clusterf*** of problems. I'd definitely use them again if they had a game I really wanted.
Yes, he seems a decent honest bloke. It’s just that, if you’re flexible about which pin you want, you should buy directly and cut out the middleman
Also, he’s primarily an arcade guy and I get the impression pins aren’t his speciality (happy to be corrected on that).
I have sold them quite a few very nice pins in the past so not all bad, but you will pay. John knows his pins I believe.
Problem with companies is they have over heads to cover and need to make a profit end of the day. But they are more in the public eye and have the marketing etc… and usually have some sort of warranty’s and a bit more trust with the general public (in most cases)
Always(usually lol) be cheaper buying direct from another collector but little bit more daunting if your new to the scene.
Always(usually lol) be cheaper buying direct from another collector but little bit more daunting if your new to the scene.
thanks for replies and i think i might go for a fully loaded tales from the crypt,any views on that pin,ta.
Col gave it a good write up when he listed his for sale. It's on my wish list, never actually played one though but from the videos and reviews I'm sure I'll like it.
Sold - TFTC super nice with some great extras.
OK I don't say this lightly but I will be sad to see this go and never thought it would leave but I have 2 incoming pins and being 3 over something has to give, so here’s the first to go my super nice TFTC. If this was released today it would be classed as a super loaded pin with Shaker Motor...
www.pinballinfo.com
The £7400 for tales from the crypt ? Thats alot for a data east pin.. yeah its a great game i have one myself but thats 
If I spent 7k on a TFTC that would be a tale from my crypt!!!!
There's a couple on Retro Arcade Specialists.
retroarcadespecialists.co.uk
-983e1ff.jpeg/:/rs=w:1200,h:1200)
retroarcadespecialists.co.uk
Tales From The Crypt Pinball
Tales From The Crypt PinballMade by Data East in 1993 Based on the Popular American TV show.Featuring sounds from the show and a star cover back glass this one is bound to be the centre piece for any games room.All our Pinballs come fully refurbished by our inhouse team using only quality parts...
retroarcadespecialists.co.uk
Tales From The Crypt
Tales From The Crypt Made by Data East in 1993 Based on the Popular American TV show. Featuring sounds from the show and a star cover back glass this one is bound to be the centre piece for any games room. Pre Fitted with -Colour DMD , Pinsound plus and speakers , Comet Led Kit will also...
retroarcadespecialists.co.uk
Highly likely mine will be for sale in a few weeks, sub 3k too.
This has quite literally just left with Martin this week.Col gave it a good write up when he listed his for sale. It's on my wish list, never actually played one though but from the videos and reviews I'm sure I'll like it.
Sold - TFTC super nice with some great extras.
OK I don't say this lightly but I will be sad to see this go and never thought it would leave but I have 2 incoming pins and being 3 over something has to give, so here’s the first to go my super nice TFTC. If this was released today it would be classed as a super loaded pin with Shaker Motor...
When Inlisted mine I knew it was strong money but TBH this is what it stood me as it took me a while to find a nice one and I had to buy a total of 3 pins to get it.
It worked out I paid 3k for it but it was a super nice one with very little fade and strong colours on the cabinet.
On top of this I fitted:
Genuine ColourDMD @ £500
This requires a separate PSU and some special brackets I knocked up in the laser to accommodate the weird and wonderful DE style speaker / display
Full set of my Protectors which are £100
Full set of new rubbers and LED throughout £100
I also gave a friend £250 to spend on blinging it up with paint job, sideblades and a mini shop.
So all in all this stood me £3950 which allowed me to make £50 which I’ve put down to pinflation
So a TFTC should cost you 3-4k IMO
Coly
That retailer price has got to be over double its actual value today and if prices go back to pre-covid bubble levels it'll be worth sub £2k. A TFTC is C-list at best in terms of desirability (desirability is totally subjective, so think of this comment in terms of its value and ease of selling on in a normal (non-covid) market, rather than gameplay or anything else).
Last edited:
Yes, genuinely, @vr46 you'd be paying over £7k for a Tales of the Crypt (https://www.williamsamusements.co.uk/product/tales-from-the-cyrpt/)!!!!!!
You could buy a modern new-in-box Rush Pro and get it delivered to your door in the next seven days (looks like they're in stock) for the same price: https://www.pinball.co.uk/pinball-machines-for-sale/rush-by-stern-pinball/ That's a modern pinball machine with an LCD screen. It has proper pop music playing throughout (albeit from a slightly niche band), modern LED lighting, and deep mode-based gameplay, and is by an extremely experienced pinball designer (John Borg) who was around during the golden age of pinball and rehired by Stern for the modern resurgence of arcades. I've played Rush a tonne of times at two different venues and can thoroughly recommend.
For 'just' over a thousand pounds more, you could get a new Godzilla Pro delivered to your door, new in a box. That's one of the best pinball machines of all time (according to Pinside) with an LCD screen, modern LEDs and complex mode-based gameplay with the layout designed by multiple-world-champion pinball player Keith Elwin: https://www.pinball.co.uk/pinball-machines-for-sale/godzilla-by-stern-pinball/
Genuinely, unless you have played Tales of the Crypt to death and have such epic nostalgia for it that no other pin would ever be suitable, I would strongly recommend NOT purchasing this one from Williams. You are being ripped off and you will take a financial bath if you ever want to sell. If this is your first pin and you have a budget >£7k, I would strongly urge you to consider a new Stern Pro. It will arrive from Pinball Heaven on a lorry with a two-year warranty, beautifully fresh and clean, and in mint condition because you are the first owner. Stern are on a roll currently with pins, and are responsible for some of the best pinball machines released since the 90s, so - unless you buy a Led Zeppelin Pro (or something) - you'll find it hard to go wrong.
Modern Sterns are designed with home buyers in mind and have code like video games, with modes, levels and story progression, which many players find keeps things interesting.
Last edited:
Just to add (because I'm REALLY keen you don't waste money on this pin), I'll echo what Col said here. All those 'fully loaded' things on that Williams ad do not add up to anywhere CLOSE to £7.4k.This has quite literally just left with Martin this week.
When Inlisted mine I knew it was strong money but TBH this is what it stood me as it took me a while to find a nice one and I had to buy a total of 3 pins to get it.
It worked out I paid 3k for it but it was a super nice one with very little fade and strong colours on the cabinet.
On top of this I fitted:
Genuine ColourDMD @ £500
This requires a separate PSU and some special brackets I knocked up in the laser to accommodate the weird and wonderful DE style speaker / display
Full set of my Protectors which are £100
Full set of new rubbers and LED throughout £100
I also gave a friend £250 to spend on blinging it up with paint job, sideblades and a mini shop.
So all in all this stood me £3950 which allowed me to make £50 which I’ve put down to pinflation
So a TFTC should cost you 3-4k IMO
Coly
I 'fully load' my pins. Approximate costs:
Super led topper ~£200
Colour dot matrix ~£200
Shaker motor £100
Pinsound with extra screams! £200
super quality LEDs throughout £100
all the mods as seen on pics (no idea, but no more than a couple of £100)
Powder coated armour/metal work, internal metal work powder colour coded £110 at an autoshop
Gorgeous art side blades £50-£100
So, that's a £3k pin with £1k of mods...
Seriously, you could buy a non-loaded Crypt and add the mods yourself. It's not hard to learn (really)
We've only been in this hobby two years, and my husband spent a couple of hours yesterday fitting a current splitter board and an auxiliary power source to one of our pins and fixing a blown chip on another. Adding cosmetic mods is much easier. Adding side art blades, for example, just requires you to disconnect the playfield (loads of videos on Youtube, but disconnecting a molex plug, peel off the sticky, and add the side art. Easy peasy!) And the community here will be happy to advise!
I think you have had a lot of good feedback and advice here already.
You have a great budget to come into the hobby, scrape a few pounds more together and go the Pinball Heaven new in box route:
Buy New & Used Pinball Machines - Pinball Heaven
New & used pinball machines from all major brands, including Jersey Jack, Chicago Gaming and Stern. Call the UK's Pinball Specialists on 01772 816677
www.pinball.co.uk
Seems your based on the Midlands so get yourself over to Tilt and see what you like.
PINBALL MACHINES — TILT
tiltbrum.com
I get pins in and out - and I am in brum as well.
hi phil,i am in bartley green,can you keep me updated with any machines you have or know of,i am looking for a nice one as it will be a keeper,thanks dean,(you have been to my house a few years ago)
From my experience there's no such thing as a keeper, unless you have unlimited space and money
.
What he said 