Well, despite the uncertainty of if I'm going to have a job in a month or so, (the company I work for was just bought by a competitor, they announced it Wed night) I decided to go through with going to look at/purchase a ToM down in Detroit. (Theatre of Magic for you non-pinheads) It is a re-import machine from England and it looks like it spent some time in a damp place. Fair bit of rust on some of the metal components. But it is 100% complete and 100% working that I could see, so I paid the man his money and loaded it up to come home. So right now it has the honour of being the most expensive, junkiest looking machine in my collection. But it will clean up nice.

http://www.wolfelectronics.ca/browse/Pins/ToM%20is%20MINE!/
Cut and paste the link to make it work.

Some big pics, may take time to load.

Congats! ToM is a beauty.

I know how you feel. I had a similar experience getting my MM. It cleaned up nice but when I got it home and everything else I had was already shopped, I was scratching my head why I paid more for something that looked worse than many machines I paid less than half that price for.

Bet you wish you bought one of those $15 trunks now from Gene down in Allentown.

I paid $60 for my first one $15 for my second, once going to Allentown. I am sure Gene has many more since he literally had flats of them there.

Yeah, a new trunk is on the list of stuff I will need along with cab decals and a whole whack of new hardware. Oh well, no way to know at the time that I was going to end up with a ToM before the end of the summer.

I just have to keep reminding myself that it is going to cost less to make this one nice than it would have cost to buy a super nice one to start with. but it is the most expensive pin I have bought to date, bar none. But it is the pin at the *very* top of my list, so....I will deal with it.

Btw, a nice strategy on this game, in case you were wondering, is to SHOOT for the TRUNK !

Glad you got it.  Mine had some insert wear around the Metamorphisis as it has sunk a bit and a bit of the cabinet decal beat up.

Yay for James!!

Glad to hear it all worked out ok for you, and that you've finally added the #1 game on your wanted list.

Once you're ready to start working on it let me know, as we can double up on parts orders for my ToM as well.

D.

congrats on getting your holy grail, i knew you would.

i'm still waiting on my holy grail, bttf, btw, incase you didn't know hah!

Eric

Quoted from Mrhide

Btw, a nice strategy on this game, in case you were wondering, is to SHOOT for the TRUNK !

I see that all those really deep 80's games you have up for sale now Mrhide; had far superior playability.

Quoted from Mrhide

Btw, a nice strategy on this game, in case you were wondering, is to SHOOT for the TRUNK !

Phil why do you have to rain on someone's parade? Cann't you be happy for the guy?

BTW, there is alot more the ToM than just hitting the trunk. Ignore Phil -- he's totally into the old school games with simple rulesets...he probably cann't focus on the deeper rules of the newer pins

ToM is a great game. I had one, but had to sell it to get CV. Fortunately I sold it to a friend and still get to play it. Wonderful speech, incredible lights, great fast flowing game play, etc. Congrats on your purchase!

Duane

Quoted from TwilightZone

BTW, there is alot more the ToM than just hitting the trunk. Ignore Phil -- he's totally into the old school games with simple rulesets...he probably cann't focus on the keeper rules of the newer pins

I have heard it all before from Phil. TOTAN is hit the blue genie. AFM hit the saucer. MM, bash the castle. Whatever.
I guess some of the most desirable titles have that sort of play. Go figure.

If you are just trying to achieve the highest score then definitely the trunk is a big payoff for multiball jackpots. Many games have high payout items but I don't just play for score. There is much more to be enjoyed on this machine. It flows very well and is really a challenge to do well during each of the illusions. The lighting is awesome including where it goes entirely dark on the BG for certain events. The magnets are a nice feature as well. All in all a machine that is a joy to play and a very fine and unique looking game.

Guys,

If you don't know I'm picking on Necro, you need to chill

Yes I've had a totan, yes it's nice, yes it's mostly shoot the genie and I'm glad I sold it. Yes I had a AFM and yes it gets a tad repetitive. Also have no regrets letting it go. Yes TOM is a beauty and it's a great game... but the bottom line FOR ME is that these games ARE EASY and I can play a long time without trying so that's why I like those 80's game: they are HARD.

and btw, I just bought a STTNG. That game is hard too and will fit nicely between BSD and TZ.

CV is... you guessed it, shoot for the ringmaster !   Popadiuk should have kept his thing and make "shoot AT Jar Jar!!" and perhaps Williams wouldn't have closed his pinball doors.  

Congrats on your holy Grail Grauwolf, I hope your enjoy the game as much as you imagined it !  (and remember, if you have a doubt, just SHOOT FOR THE TRUNK! )

Quoted from Mrhide

but the bottom line FOR ME is that these games ARE EASY and I can play a long time without trying so that's why I like those 80's game: they are HARD.

Gee. I have never seen your name listed on any of the larger tournaments top 10 players lists.

Phil must be Montreal's secret weapon.