Arcade Resources
Mass emails sent for Mr. Do! information
I estimate that I have now emailed over 20 people on the VAPS group to see if any of the owners of a Mr. Do have this particular model, or know anyone who does, but I haven’t had any luck. I have had a ton of great responses back though, people are nice to at least let you know that they don’t know anything.
Winter Indianapolis USAmusement Auction
What a serious drop in attendance and machines. In the three auctions I have been to, I have seen quite a change and the downfall of the US Amusements auctions. I don’t want it to go away by any means, but from the people I have spoken to, it seems like a lot are upset that there is now a buyer and seller premium at the auction. The only thing left now for them to charge would be attendance, and that would keep me away. It is already inconvenient that you have to pay parking at the fairgrounds.
Photo of the Dig Dug control panel
I wasn’t going to hold my breath, but Tim is an upstanding guy. He sent me photos today of the Dig Dug control panel. It looks good. The control panel overlay has some chips in it, but I have seen a ton worse. However, it does seem to be missing the little buttons for player one and two.
Unsure even what these were called, I did a lot of research online tonight. Come to find out, these are called “cone” buttons, and are actually very hard to come by. A pair of them run $24 on ebay and other places, which is way too expensive for my blood. Might as well just buy a complete control panel. I haven’t given Tim and answer yet, only told him that I was going to try to find out some more about these buttons and I would let him know.
Following up with Richard Ford for Jr. Pac-man Sideart Photos
I emailed Richard back today to see if he had time to get some photos. I watched over Christmas, thinking I would get them over my vacation, but it is the holiday, and he was pretty busy I am sure. Sure enough, he shot me back a nice response and said just that, that the holidays are really busy for him at work, but hopes to get something off to me soon.
Found a Dig Dug control panel in Michigan
Took some time today to get out and meet some other arcade collectors in MI. The first guy I met, Tim in Vermontsville, has a ton of games. I told him about some of the things I was looking for, and he said that he has an almost complete Dig Dug control panel in one of his other storage spaces. He said I could have it if I wanted, but that we didn’t really have time to go look today. He said that he would send me photos in the next couple of days, at my request, so I could see condition and see if I wanted to pay to have it shipping to me.
Collecting is about who you know
Today I exchanged two emails with Richard, he is super friendly, has an awesome collection, and is really willing to help me out. He says he is going to send me hi res photos of the sideart, I am so psyched, especially since it validates the idea that “it is not what you know but who you know.” But I got lucky to meet Joe in Chicago, he and Richard both are two extraordinary guys that I got lucky to be in contact with so soon.
Contacting Richard Ford about Jr. Pac-man
Having not heard anything back from Joe’s contacts, I decide to ask about the guy out east, and if Joe knew many people on that side of the country. Joe did know some people, but Richard was not one of the ones he listed off directly. I debated on calling each individual out there with Richard’s full name, but decided I would ask Joe about Richard directly. Sure enough, Joe knew of Richard, they had exchanged emails on a number of occasions for another super rare game.
I shot Richard an email, now we will just have to see if he responds.
