Bobby Orr – SQM Pick

A Nostalgic Pastime of Mine

September 16, 2020David Lipton Comment

As mentioned in a recent post of mine, many years ago, in my younger days, like many teenagers, I often went to arcades to play either pinball or video games.

When I was in my 20’s, I was over at a friend’s apartment, and much to my surprise he had bought a full-sized video game, known as Space Invaders. Since this was the first video game I ever played, I was feeling a touch of nostalgia, so he directed me to the company, where I too bought one. After being bit by the bug, a couple of years later I added to my big boy toys, when I purchased my favourite pinball machine. Bobby Orr Powerplay.

At the time when I made the initial purchase, I was introduced to a woman by the name of Dallas, who was the owner of a company known as Toronto Coin Machine Exchange, also known as The Original Pinball Exchange Club. Dallas and her husband run the company that sells, services, and repairs various pinball and video machines. The company is based in Hamilton, but they work all over both the GTA as well as Ontario.

Over the years, I’ve kept in touch with Dallas, and every so often, I think about buying another machine (presently I have my eyes on adding a Dome Hockey game to my collection. In the meantime, I enjoy my two machines, and they are near and dear to my heart.

In more recent times, one of the machines was damaged during a move, but Dallas and Toronto Coin came to the rescue. Not only did they help repair the machine, but they performed maintenance that was long overdue. The machine is now back up and running, and I’m having as much fun with it now as I did when I first bought it 20 years ago.

When I mention to others that I own these machines, I’ve been surprised to find out that many others also have games in their basements, and enjoy playing them for hours on end. Some parents feel that they not only keep the kids occupied, but they enjoy both knowing that their kids and their friends are having fun, but also that they know where they are and close by. In addition, given that a lot of people are cooped up, inside, and looking for some different activities. you just may want to consider adding these toys to your household. They aren’t overly expensive and you’ll be surprised at all the fun you and the family can have.

If you’re ever looking for a video game, pinball machine, jukebox or in need of repairs to one that you already own. don’t hesitate to reach out to Toronto Coin.

Toronto Coin Machine Exchange
http://www.pinballexchange.com/
416-789-1806

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A Blast from the Past

August 12, 2020David Lipton Comment

This post will be something a little different, but I’m always trying to give a shout-out to businesses that offer great service.

Not everyone knows, but many years ago, maybe due to nostalgia or trying to hold onto some of my youth, I bought a full-sized Space Invaders video game and a full-sized Bobby Orr pinball machine. At the time I purchased the machines I was still living at home, so my business partner put up with my nonsense and allowed me to keep them in the boardroom.

Just to take things to the next level, I reached out to Bobby Orr, himself, and asked if he could possibly come by my office to autograph the pinball machine. Much to my delight, he said the next time he was coming to Toronto, he would stop by my office. A couple months later, all of a sudden, my receptionist comes into my office saying that there was a Bobby Orr here to see me (as an aside, the receptionist was much younger, and had no idea who Bobby Orr was). I immediately came out of my office, greeted him, and took him into the board room where he signed both the playing surface and side of the pinball machine.

A few years later, when we ended up moving offices, I needed to come up with a place for the two machines to go and took up a family member’s offer to store them in an area of their building that was unused.

Fast-forward to the present day, and I was told by my relatives that I had to move the machines as they were going to be renting out the space. When I came by to move the machines, my heart sank. Even though I had left them well protected, unbeknownst to me someone else moved them to a different room and the glass artwork (the main front panel is known as the back glass) of the Bobby Orr pinball machine had been broken into about 15 different pieces. This machine was about 40 years old and I was at a loss as to how I could possibly fix it.

I started doing some research and learned a heck of a lot more than I ever knew about pinball machines (look forward to another blog about this). After searching all over North America. I was directed to a place in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia called Classic Playfield Reproductions. Upon doing some more digging, I discovered they have the licensing rights to reproduce the various parts of a pinball machine (including the backglass artwork). Talk about a niche market!.

I reached out to them by email, got a very quick reply, and seeing how I was in Canada, they did me a favour and reduced the cost which was originally in US dollars. I placed my order online and not three to four days later, a UPS package arrived and very tightly, carefully, and safely packaged inside, was the back glass for my pinball machine.

I did a side-by-side comparison and the artwork looked bang-on! Even the part of the artwork that had a mirror backing matched (there was another supplier who indicated their mirror looks more like a grey / silver paint). It was so closely matched that you couldn’t tell it was a reproduction.

Now I know not everyone has a pinball machine and requires the services of this company, but it’s cool to see the niche workings of a business like this…and from a Canadian town….the home of Sidney Crosby, no less. In fact, maybe they’re on to something, as it seems that what’s old is new again, and I am hearing of more and more people who are buying pinball machines for their homes and offices (you can get some for as low as $500.00)

To the folks at Classic Playfield Reproductions who helped me out when I was stressed about finding a critical part to my machine, and for taking such good care of me, thanks for everything!

Classic Playfield Reproductions
https://classicplayfields.com/

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