Bad Cats Pinball

Bad Cats Pinball

I bought a pinball machine a couple years ago. Buying a pinball machine is kind of random and pointless, but, as with most stupid things I do, there is usually some reason that seems logical and rational...at least in my own head.

When I was in college back at Midwestern State University, my buddy Andrew and I had to take a PE elective. We both played on the soccer team, but you could only use soccer once and two PE classes were required for graduation. We decided we'd sign up for bowling. A semester of bowling meant going to class once a week, on Wednesdays, at Village Bowl. The class was fine - bowling was fun - got our credits - yay. Where this ties in is that the bowling alley had a Bad Cats pinball machine and for some reason Andrew and I found it fascinating! We would stay after class every week and play it for like 30 minutes or more. It stuck in my head and I've searched for one from time to time over the years.

What really got me searching seriously over the last 10 years was probably Andrews involvement with one of his clients. Andrew is a Patent Attorney and he had as a client Williams Gaming - the makers of Bad Cats and other Pinball classics. He would mention them from time to time over dinner and it would put the bug back in my head. 

I searched for years! I used to contact people that owned one (there's a global pinball registry believe it or not) and ask if they were willing to part with theirs. Finally, I found one for sale in a small town in Northern California. The guy was a real pinball collector and knew his stuff so I took a chance and bought it sight unseen. Shipping a pinball machine is extremely expensive - they're very heavy and quite fragile. I got mine delivered and the shippers did a great job. It was wrapped up tight and padded. I was planning on putting it in my FOB, but it wasn't ready yet so into the dining room in the main house it went for a while.

The machine turned out to be in great shape - better than new really. It has been converted to LED lighting and has all new rubber. All the sounds and mechanicals work perfectly as well. I enjoy it, but I've been surprised by how much everyone else seems to like it as well. My wife, my daughter of course, and even my mother play it quite often.

Samantha has gotten big enough to reach both flippers - key to pinball success!

When the guest house was finally finished I called my buddy Barry to help me move it up into the FOB. Moving a pinball machine is tough anywhere, but moving one up a flight of stairs is really challenging. We got it done with only minor injuries (to Barry) and now it resides for the foreseeable future in my lair. 

We were in Vegas recently and we went to the Pinball Hall of Fame and Museum and sure enough, they had a Bad Cats machine. We played it a few times, as well as lots of others. 

My FOB is supposed to be the "No Lady Lounge" but I have a hard time keeping Branelle and Sam out of there. Nel went up to get some Christmas decorations out of storage the other day and never came back so I went to check on her - BUSTED!