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1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 11:02 am
by ddstoys
Hello again,
I have the chance to buy a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball. What sort of value would you put on one of these?

Also how rare are they? In Australia they would be rare - how about the rest of the world?

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball??

Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 12:11 pm
by pennymachines
I don't think I ever saw one, so I guess they're pretty rare in the UK too. Rare doesn't necessarily mean 'worth a lot of cash' though. I see one sold for $105 in 2005: Genco's "400" Vintage Upright 5 Cent Pinball Machine With Girly Figures - Works.

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:00 am
by ddstoys
Thanks for the reply.

I purchased the machine anyway. Paid way too much, but I'm still super excited. Got it home, spent about half an hour and had it running 100%.

Here are a couple of photos:.

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 1:32 pm
by badpenny
Well done, not seen the likes of it before - it's very attractive.

I have to admit I'd have spent far too much of your money for it as well. :cool:

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 2:22 pm
by pennymachines
Well done - unusual item, looks pretty tidy and great that you got it working so easily. Now you need to upload a video so we can see the game play.

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 8:24 pm
by jimmy55
Lovely machine dd, great graphics. I'd love to know if they still were running the old mains rectifier that my pre war Genco has or how things changed in the 1950s. Did you take any internal shots? !THUMBS!

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 6:12 am
by ddstoys
No internal photos, I need to improve the lighting first. After Xmas, I'll see what I can do.
There is a thing with heaps of disks bolted over the transformer.
I took a quick video the other day - I'll see if I can upload it to youtube.


Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 10:33 am
by badpenny
Soopah Doopah young man.
Have you any control over the field?

BP

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 11:00 am
by ddstoys
The only control comes from the button on the lower left which mechanically moves the flipper (very slightly).
After your six balls you have the option of buying one to six extra balls, either using built up credits or holding the button and inserting an extra coin.

If anyone's interested, I'll make a video of the internals and how parts work.
I just hope no one gets the jackpot of 400 as its reset counts down one at a time and almost a second each digit. lol

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 1:30 pm
by badpenny
A video of the workings would be of great interest, but no hurry - anytime before 6pm is fine.

Re: Price check on a 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2013 10:27 am
by ddstoys
Here is a quick video of how the flipper and ball lifter work for those interested.


Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2013 11:57 am
by badpenny
That's really cool thanks, now the tricky one, can you make a video of how a woman works? 'Cos that really beats me.

Is there some kind of angle piece that attaches to the inside of the door and diverts the ball of the lift, or is it angled?

BP

Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:49 am
by ddstoys
Here are a couple of photos. The whole playfield is on a slight tilt and there is a rail along the bottom that feeds the balls to the lifter then at the top is a flexible flap that pushes the balls off the lifter down a ramp to the flipper. Hope this makes sense.

Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:56 am
by ddstoys
And some pics of the internals.

Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:24 am
by badpenny
Very nice, best keep that door firmly locked you don't want any gremlins getting in there.

Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:43 am
by ddstoys
I've managed to keep my gremlin away from harming my machine by keeping him on top of one of my pinball test benches. Works out well because whatever is coming in there already has issues.

Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:47 am
by ddstoys
Crappy ipad photo but you get the idea lol

Re: 1952 Genco 400 vertical pinball

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:55 pm
by moonriver
nice machine, I really like it !!THUMBSX2!!