connect
Performance Pinball
  • Gallery
    • Medieval Madness
    • Monster Bash
    • Cactus Canyon
    • Attack from Mars
    • HUO Black Hole
  • Playfield Jacks
  • Resto Tips
    • Polishing metal guides
    • Trimming coil sleeves
    • Flame Polishing Ramps
    • Rebuilding Flippers
    • Rebuilding Pop Bumpers
  • Pinball Links
    • Pinball Machine Sales
    • Pinball Discussion groups
    • Pinball Podcasts
    • New tech / Pinball mods
    • Parts Suppliers
    • Pinball Resources
    • Game Repairs / Restoration
    • Pinball Events
    • Pinball Tournaments
    • Where to play
    • Pinball Media / Info
    • Pinball Organizations
    • Virtual Pinball
  • News
  • About
  • Special

Pinball museum in Seattle marks renewed interest

1/3/2014

0 Comments

 
SEATTLE — For $13, you can play pinball until your arms fall off in Seattle's working pinball museum.

The two-story storefront in Seattle's International District is filled with games from every era from the 1960s to today.

The museum, which houses about 50 machines, started in 2010 as one couple's obsession and grew to be something they wanted to share with others or, as Cindy Martin puts it, a good solution when they ran out of space in their garage.

“Any serious collector will tell you collecting these machines is an incurable disease,” said Charlie Martin, her husband and business partner.

They keep the equipment fixed up — with some help from other collectors — offer brief historical information and “fun” ratings on small cards above the games and sell snacks, beer and soda to visitors from around the world.

The museum is one of a handful across the country celebrating a pastime that seems to be in the midst of revival.

In addition to the look back at pinball through the ages, the 1,900-square-foot space features a glimpse of the future. In December, four one-of-a-kind artist-made machines were on display.

The Martins own dozens more pinball machines and constantly move machines in and out. The oldest machine in the building was made in 1963, but they have a few from the 1930s they keep at home.

The Martins continue to buy the newest pinball machines on the commercial market and just installed a state-of-the-art “Star Trek” game. Many of their machines are limited-edition models, but games enthusiasts are likely to find a favorite machine from their youth.

The museum, which is not a nonprofit, averages about 15,000 visitors a year. It isn't a profitable operation, although Charlie Martin said they're “holding steady.” Both Charlie and Cindy Martin also continue to work full-time jobs.

It's smaller and less well-known than the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas or the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda, Calif., but Charlie Martin said they're happy with staying small.

“We're very comfortable with where we're at right now,” he said. “We don't want a mob scene.”

Read more: http://triblive.com/usworld/nation/5350558-74/pinball-museum-machines#ixzz2pO33b7wu 
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Quick fix links
    Feeling lonely? Need some pinball friends to talk to? Pinside forum

    Can't wait? Need to get your game fixed now? Here's the guide.
    PinWiki 
    Now go fix it!
    Join our mailing list and be "on the ball" with news about the latest special features and news.

      Contact us

    Submit

    Archives

    December 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    Categories

    All
    Arcade
    Bally
    Cars
    Commercials
    Corvette
    Custom Pinball
    Destinations
    Dutch Pinball
    Gameroom
    Gottlied
    Historical
    Huracan
    IFPA
    Jjp
    Medieval Madness
    Metallica
    Mods
    Music
    Mustang
    New Pinball
    News
    Parts
    Podcast
    Shows
    Spooky Pinball
    Star Trek
    Stern
    Supercar
    Tbl
    Tech Tips
    The Hobbit
    Tournaments
    Update
    Video
    Virtual Pinball
    Williams
    Woz
    Youtube

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.