Fish Tales pinball machine Time capsule! Dry and dark(ish) stored for 20 years

I picked this one up from a local arcade about 2000 to 2001 and played a couple of games on it but the "long cast" gate wasn't working which affects the game play so I turned it off and played my LW3 instead. The machine sat waiting for me to repair it and after a few years got covered in horded assorted junk never to see the light of day until this year. Luckily I learned about the dreaded battery leak problem and removed the batteries just in time, the boards are shiny! (see pics) Lockdown has given me the time to dig it out and clean it up and I have spent some time fixing it up. The long cast was just a sticky switch!

And I have replaced a few rubbers I could see were snapped, the fishing reel needed a new belt and I fitted a new top lock and backglass lift bar and flipper pawl. Although it played when I turned it on, one of the trough switches wasn't registering causing some strange ball action like only two ball multiball etc. I have always preferred games to play as they should rather than look pretty so I traced and fixed this and now it plays as it should.

As described above, the cabinet is very nice for it's age. Bear in mind however, the machine spent it's first 8 odd years in an arcade so has some knocks, scratches and dents.

I have not tried to touch anything up, my experience is more on the electronic side. The cabinet would benefit from some touch ups to make perfect. The translite is also very bright and near new condition. I would say perfect but for 1 small hairline scratch, I would.

You to even find it! Very good for it's age. The only places I can see are around the stringer fish and boat ramp entrance (see pics taken with the glass off). Bright and clear, no fade or ghosting, all dots work. Plays as it should, all switches working. The machine has the original topper in working condition these are getting like hens teeth for some reason, over the years they must have been removed to stick on walls like billy bass! In the States they are asking from 500 to 1000 dollars for'em! This machine is 28 years old and when I was ordering spares I only ordered what I could see to get it up and running. Once I had the glass off and started dismantling to fit the belts, I noticed more rubbers missing or broken.

Yes I should have ordered a complete kit, but hate dismantling anyway. Multimeter and soldering iron yes, spanner and screwdriver no! I notice a snapped rubber behind the extra ball stand up (see pic) and the top rollover posts are naked.

These do not affect play. If you are handy with a screwdriver, these should be easy to rectify. The slingshot plastics have the usual chips to the front edges (see pics). There are about 10 bulbs out on the playfield (out of 50 odd) and a few in the backbox. I haven't chased the bulbs because the new owner may well want to change to LED's.

So there we have it. If it were a car I would say it is very low mileage and I have put a MOT on it.

It will need some finishing off and cabinet touch ups to make it concourse! As is, in very nice players condition. I'll start it at 2K because although I think it worth more, I certainly won't take less.

I have tried to give an honest description but of course will answer any questions. As always judge condition by the pics or can be viewed in Cardiff. Cash (or bank transfer) on collection only. The item "Fish Tales pinball machine Time capsule! Dry and dark(ish) stored for 20 years" is in sale since Sunday, August 16, 2020.

This item is in the category "Video Games & Consoles\Coin-Operated Gaming\Pinball Machines". The seller is "pinheadsteve" and is located in cardiff. This item can't be shipped, the buyer must pick up the item.

Brand: Williams
Theme: Sports
Per Play: Can be set to free play
Type: Pinball Machines