Thread: Tell me about what you collect!

Originally Posted by Oneironaught

. . .

I actually "invented" a trick called "The Invisible String".

Sounds like you were serious about performing. I never was - got really swept up by simple slight of hand, (coin manipulation,) as a way to exercise my hands when away from an instrument. A cousin who was a pro passed away, and the family knew my "interest" in magic, so I inherited all of it. Then I started grabbing more and more and more.

I have 7 Pachinko machines, most of which I've completely dismantled and resurrected from the dead.

I LOVE the simple mechanical pachinkos!

I have a rather elaborate electronic one here - it's been dropped and damaged. (Kids. *sigh*.) Do you have any use for it? I was going to toss it out on Craig's List to see if anybody wanted it for parts or anything. I'll give it to you for the cost of shipping, GH.

Originally Posted by pj

Sounds like you were serious about performing.

I actually was pretty serious at the time. I did both stage and close-up shows. Mind you, I was a kid so I wasn't exactly God's gift to magic but I wasn't too bad for my age. Being a member of a pro magic club and having a great support group allowed me to accell much faster than I would have otherwise. It also allowed me to get "in the circuit", if you will. Meaning I had a moderately easy time of finding jobs.

My first real magic job was performing at an RV trade show for a dealer whom I actually ended up getting a part-time, after school job with, but that's another story.

I LOVE the simple mechanical pachinkos!

I have a rather elaborate electronic one here - it's been dropped and damaged. (Kids. *sigh*.) Do you have any use for it? I was going to toss it out on Craig's List to see if anybody wanted it for parts or anything. I'll give it to you for the cost of shipping, GH.

Pachinkos are one of those strangely-interesting things. Most [American] people have no idea what a Pachinko machine even is. It's something that tends to suck new-comers in at first. Either that or they give you this strange look and say "Ok, that's pretty lame." But they really are a mechanical piece of work.

Truth be known, I actually started building a Pachinko machine myself: from scratch. When I say from scratch I mean it. I even molded plastic parts myself. I've hand-made ery bit of it so far (well, I did modify some every day objects to make a few components). Shaping acrylic, manufacturing metal components, etc... But then, during the project, I got sucked into working a second full-time job as a drummer for a blues/R&B band for over a year. That and moving to a home where I don't have such easy access to workshop space has put that project on indefinite hold. Maybe some day I'll get back on it.

You know the scoring holes with the two arms that open when a ball goes through then closes with the next ball? I even have both of those mechanisms built and fully functional. I made those from complete raw materials. I've got most of the playfield done and a bunch of the rear mechanical components constructed.

I don't think I've even heard of a Pachinko having electronics. I know they all have lighting circuits but, not electronics. That's interesting indeed, especially since I'm an electronics technician (of 17 years) by trade.

I just may take you up on that offer. Can you give me some idea of shipping cost? I know they generally weigh somewhere in the 40 pound range, minus the balls.

That's another thing, all those 7/16" steel/chrome bearings. Gotta love those balls, especially the originals having the Japanese characters on them. I love to reach into my box 'o' balls and dig around. That feels so cool on the hands

Mostly RCA and Edison memorabilia.

I've got an old Amerola 30 cylindar player
A large assorgment of wax and Amerol cylindars
about 12 assorted Nipper figurines, some antique, some reproduction, all sizes

Originally Posted by Seeker

Mostly RCA and Edison memorabilia.

I've got an old Amerola 30 cylindar player
A large assorgment of wax and Amerol cylindars
about 12 assorted Nipper figurines, some antique, some reproduction, all sizes

Ah... another collection disbursed - Edison DiamonDiscs. I gave my machine, extra heads and all my disks to a cousin up in the Copper Country. He's getting a lot more enjoyment out of them than I.

PM me with a zip, Oneironaught... need a zip code to take a guess at shipping.

The balls aren't really 7/16 - they're metric and slightly smaller. Found out the hard way that 7/16 balls don't work in many machines. (I paid more for the balls than the machine and had planned on keeping those in hopes of maybe finding another machine some day!)

- horse statues, pictues and posters
- dragaon statues, pictures and posters
- shot glasses
- Pirates of the Caribbean posters
- swords
- books and Greek and Roman history

Vinyl - mostly rare original issue hip-hop, funk & soul records

some stuff of note:

Eminem - Infinite (only 400 ever pressed)
The Divine Styler - Word Power
Hijack - Horns of Jericho
American Werewolf in London soundtrack (for some reason this is quite rare, don't really know why)
Some test pressings of early Moby songs before he became famous

Swords, knives and various other pointy objects.

Originally Posted by pj

PM me with a zip, Oneironaught... need a zip code to take a guess at shipping.

Try 33810

The balls aren't really 7/16 - they're metric and slightly smaller. Found out the hard way that 7/16 balls don't work in many machines. (I paid more for the balls than the machine and had planned on keeping those in hopes of maybe finding another machine some day!)

Huh, I bought 3,000 7/16" (I'm pretty sure that's the size I bought) bearings and they've worked fine in all of my machines. Though, you're right. The originals are a tad bit smaller. But I've got only a few hundred originals.

Originally Posted by Oneironaught

Try 33810


Huh, I bought 3,000 7/16" (I'm pretty sure that's the size I bought) bearings and they've worked fine in all of my machines. Though, you're right. The originals are a tad bit smaller. But I've got only a few hundred originals.

I'll run it tomorrow and see what the total is.

Well, the 7/16 balls won't work in this machine. That I know for sure.

pj. You know how hard it is to find a nice pocket watch?
I have been on a search for one, and I am worn out. frustrated.

Jason... what's your budget? You looking for fine quality new or a nice antique?

I focused primarily on pre-1900 Elgins. The problem with pocket watches, like so many other things, is fakes and forgeries. I chose to concentrate on one manufacturer and really learn them inside-out to protect myself. I do have a few others that aren't Elgin though - and a few that are into the 20th Century.

I have a cousin who deals in fine pocket watches, among other things. He says demand has really gone up and now would be a good time to sell off my collection, but I'm not in any hurry to get rid of that one. It's small and fits in a safe quite nicely.

I may have something you would be interested in... and if not, I'll hook you up with my cuz. He's a guy who wholesales to jewelers... and he'll sell to family for the same prices.

You're family, of course.

Originally Posted by pj

Jason... what's your budget? You looking for fine quality new or a nice antique?

You're family, of course.

<<<<
More so a likely a fine quality new one. Mostly due to the fact I would like to use it.
What's my budget? - ha ha. You know how it is with things you want. Justification.
The more I like something the higher my budget.
Actually, although I admire collectible watches, it would be more applicable for me to buy something I can utilize.

I just never did like wrist watches and I have not found a lot out there in the way of pocket watches.
What do you suggest?

Thanks