AMCO Tank Buster identified

[badpenny]

Hi , did you get any more photos of this one or the good example machine he talks about? I would love to see the finished machine, regards Stuart.

Do I detect the faint whirrings of the Slotalot Incorporated Workshops firing up for a new project?

[coin-op]

he thinks they were originally made in the UK!

It could still be that they did in fact come out of the UK. They could have been a small production run by an arcade owner straying over into the manufacturing side. Even if they made say 30 or 40, that's still a small run and would make it a relatively obscure machine today (taking into account scrapped machines). We might as well claim it if no one else does...after all, that sort of fits in with our colonial history anyway

[slotalot]

Do I detect the faint whirrings of the Slotalot Incorporated Workshops firing up for a new project?

I always keep a keen edge on my twist drills and have a freshly ironed pair of bib and brace overalls ready for just such an occasion should it arise. Let us not forget the family motto taken from the Latin.

unus man's purgamentum est an alius man's thesaurus

[oldschool]

Hi there.....this is an early 60s N.Z. game called ''TANK BUSTER''.....named after the U.S. plane of the same name.....and there would have been a cardboard likeness of the plane attached to the second rail (yours is missing).

You press the left button to set the penny rolling.......and then the right to release the coin (from behind said plane cutout).... all the while trying to get the penny into the tank.... which would, in turn, set off the buzzer and light the bulb on the playfield......

If you look carefully on the inside top right hand corner there should be a number punched into the clear timber and another on the inside cabinet itself that should match.......... It should be below 25.........as this was the rumoured number of production...... This machine is highly sought after in N.Z...... It is based on the Korean war.....and the tank should have a yellow star on it to represent Korea.......Todd.

Factory: AMCO Machine Supplies, Roger Newman.
I still have one in my collection.......original glass has 'TANK BUSTER' at the top.

[oldschool]

After checking your photos again.....I noticed you are missing the outer cabinet...... The penny was inserted from the top of the cabinet (leftside) via an extended chrome slot.....and once it dropped in it would sit held by a pin on the 1st plastic track.....waiting for the player to release it by pushing the left button in....... Very popular game....well made.......rare.

Once I get the hang of posting pics....I will add a shot of my completed game...... I also owned NO#1 Tank Buster......which had the same material that's under your tank..... so I'm guessing yours may be early in production...... NO#1 sold for $3800 N.Z. to a Christchurch collector...........(Nigel Dowd).
Best of luck.

[gameswat]

Hey Todd, again thanks for the interesting information. I'd forgotten all about this machine. I never traded for it so, other than these photos, that's all I ever saw of it or any of the others. Was way too expensive to bother with. Cheers, gameswat.

[ddstoys]

I seem to be picking up a lot of your left overs Rory.

I received this game today, pieced it back together to see what's missing and only seems to be a piece of timber between the cashbox and the door, so I'm pretty happy.

Will be a very cool game once done.

[ddstoys]

Well rumours aren't always true - they must have made more than 25 as mine is number 28.

[oldschool]

This machine had a very short run (20-30max). It was supplied by Roger Newman, Mt Albert N.Z along with Flapball (1d) and Hi Ball Netball (1d). The Tank Buster has a production number impressed into the wood in two places; one on the inside (top right inside corner of the door) and one on the inside panel that gets screwed to the wall. It was called Tank Buster because there was a thick cardboard plane (known as a tank buster) fixed to the second rail, ie: one button to release the penny, then another button to push out the cardboard cut-out of the plane to try and bomb the tank, which in turn will set off the light and buzzer... and you get your coin back.

Hope this helps.

There are many N.Z penny operated machines.

[ddstoys]

Thanks for the info much appreciated I have flip ball also and now I'm thinking about it has a similar shaped front door is this the game? Also have a high ball basketball would this be the same? I restored a similar game but netball themed that had a steel case would that be the one?

Thanks daniel

[ddstoys]

Flipball

[greg]

DD...This does not have anything to do with Tank Buster but I thought you might like to meet some of your Basketball games American Cousins. I believe ABCO Novelty Company, Chicago, Illinois, USA was the manufacture. They made versions for anyone who would buy enough to justify the production changes. My machine is the "Victory Basketball" version distributed by Victor Vending Corporation also in Chicago, Illinois.
ABCO made ....

"Victory" --basketball game
"Hit-A-Homer" -- baseball game
"Play Ball" -- baseball game
"Champions" --basketball game

There may be more but so far these are the 4 versions I have found information on. Do you have any information on your "Hi-Ball" game?

I have pictures of all of these but for some reason I am extra stupid tonight and can't get them to load. If someone can send me the step by step "How to.." of picture loading I will add them...THANKS GREG

[pennymachines]

Hi Greg,
There are some instructions here, but as long as your files are not huge this image should suffice:

[greg]

Thanks for the help. It appears the pictures are there now. Next time teach me how to spin them so they are right side up.* Fixed - Site Admin.

[ddstoys]

Don't know a lot about my Hi Ball
Purchased from country Victoria (Australia) was operated in a small town called Sale.

Had been a million different colours before I got it. Came up pretty well.

Thanks for your info.

[ddstoys]

Well I spent the last week glueing clamping sanding painting and polishing. Need to order new glass and sort out the dodgy switch to turn on the light and buzzer but it's complete, presentable and, most importantly, playable.

[spanky]

Topic moved & merged - Site Admin.

aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=14975.0

[badpenny]

Try clicking THIS

[gameswat]

Dan, looks much better!

But from what I remember Tony telling me years ago he imported the 4 of these himself from NZ in the last 10 years. He's from there so makes sense he still has some family and contacts to deal with.

[ddstoys]

Yep, the pieces definitely fit the puzzle.