Name: AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STAR-JET PINBALL MACHINE
Brand: BY BALLY, 1963
Availability: OutOfStock

AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL STAR-JET PINBALL MACHINE
BY BALLY, 1963
Designed by Ted Zale; artwork by George Molentin.
The reproduction back glass depicting futuristic figures in a spaceship. Two player multi ball game. Serial number JS1745. In full working order. A copy of the original schematics is included with the lot.
74 ½ in. (189 cm.) high; 29 ¼ in. (74 cm.) wide; 52 ½ in. (133 cm) deep approximately

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

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This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

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Lot Essay

This 1963 Star-Jet Pinball machine is an iconic piece of entertainment as well as an interior design statement. I remember as a 15-year-old boy crowding round the arcades with such excitement at what was a relatively modern piece of gaming equipment back then. These days their classic retro form has become an icon of the 1960s atomic age. What gives these pieces such charm is the closeness between the player and the raw mechanics of the machine – the sounds, the vibrations, the lights, the colours, the jolts – it’s that whole physical experience that makes them unbeatable.’ — Mark Wilkinson, Head of Interiors

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Condition report

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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

The game was imported from a private collector in Bordeaux in 2012.
It has been stripped of all its metal work which was individually chromed, plated or polished. The front door, legs, side rails etc are all parts which have been re-chromed or plated. The original back glass has been replaced as the original had suffered much flaking and cracking. The contacts, relays, motor contacts within the cabinet of the game have been cleaned and re-aligned where needed. Any burnt-out coils are replaced. The playfield was totally stripped for re-painting. The thumper bumpers have been re-built with new parts, sling shots and also had all the light shields replaced. The flippers were also overhauled. Lamps and certain lamp holders have been replaced, the scoring mechanisms have been overhauled and cleaned. The internals of the game have not been totally overhauled, meaning dismantled completely, but have been thoroughly serviced. New rubbers have been added and the rollover metal guides were also chromed. Three new balls were added. The lower apron has a vinyl replacement mylar on it scanned from the original. The instruction cards and coin cost cards are reproductions taken from originals. The repainted playfield took around 4 months to restore by Pinball Dreams in Saarbrucken Germany. This involved making stencils for all the colours, spraying with acrylic paints the block colours then hand-painting all the details, lips, eyes, flying saucers etc. The playfield has been clear-coated five times with Wurth lacquer. The cabinet was sympathetically repainted by its original owner, however a further clear coat of matt varnish has been added on top of this for durability. The game has a copy of the original schematics.

The condition of lots sold can vary widely due to factors such as age, previous damage, restoration, repair, and wear and tear. The nature of the lots sold means that they will rarely be in perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

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