# Lots More Lots

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2004-07-25  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/paradise2.html

---

## Analysis

Report on the second and final auction of Pinball Paradise stock following the death of proprietor Robert Thomson in July 2004. The auction included over 400 lots spanning video games, pinball machines, and slot machines, raising £91,415 with notable sales including Monster Bash at £1,900 and various classic pinball and arcade games.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Second auction of Pinball Paradise stock held at company premises in Borden, Hampshire — _Direct statement in article opening_
- [HIGH] Over 400 lots included ~100 video games, ~250 pinball/pinball-related items, and ~50 slot machines — _Explicit breakdown provided in article_
- [HIGH] Monster Bash sold for £1,900, the highest pinball price of the day — _Detailed in closing analysis of auction results_
- [HIGH] Combined total from both auctions raised £128,055 for Robert Thomson's family — _Explicitly stated: £91,415 (auction 2) + £36,640 (auction 1)_
- [HIGH] None of the pinball games in the auction were powered for testing — _Stated in article description of auction procedures_

### Notable Quotes

> "It was good to see the pleasant atmosphere of the first sale continuing. I didn't see anyone being awkward or unpleasant and there were no disputes about the bidding or the hammer prices."
> — **Article author**, Not specified
> _Describes positive community conduct at the auction event_

> "the biggest price of the day was the £1,900 Monster Bash which was not exactly unexpected, but even the Alvin G soccer game sneaked in with a last minute £950, and that was without the metal arch."
> — **Article author**, Not specified
> _Highlights notable high-price sales and market valuations_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Robert Thomson | person | Proprietor of Pinball Paradise; deceased (untimely death referenced) |
| Pinball Paradise | company | Pinball game and parts business in Borden, Hampshire, UK; subject of liquidation auction |
| Borden, Hampshire | location | Location of Pinball Paradise premises where auction was held |
| Monster Bash | game | Pinball game; highest-priced item sold at auction for £1,900 |
| Alvin G & Co | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; Alvin G Soccer game sold for £950 |
| Williams | company | Historical pinball/arcade manufacturer; multiple games in auction (Defender, Joust, etc.) |
| Bally | company | Historical pinball/arcade manufacturer; numerous games throughout auction lots |
| Data East | company | Pinball manufacturer; games including Star Wars and Playboy in auction |
| Gottlieb | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; games including Q*Bert, Black Hole in auction |
| Stern | company | Pinball manufacturer; historical games including Dracula, Meteor in auction |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball machine auctions and liquidation, Vintage and classic pinball game valuations
- **Secondary:** Video arcade machine market, Slot machine collecting and trading, Community response to business closure

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0.5) — Article maintains factual, respectful tone while covering a business liquidation following an owner's death. Mentions pleasant auction atmosphere and charitable outcome (proceeds to family), but underlying context is loss and closure.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Liquidation of established pinball parts and equipment supplier creates major inventory flush into secondary market (confidence: high) — Two separate auctions with 400+ lots each, noted container of parts sold separately in car park
- **[market_signal]** Higher auction prices in second sale compared to first, attributed to better condition and word-of-mouth about bargains from prior auction (confidence: high) — Quote: 'Immediately it was apparent that prices were going to be higher this time around. The games were in a better overall condition and news of the bargains at the last sale brought a bigger crowd'
- **[market_signal]** Significant secondary market activity for classic pinball machines; games ranging from £10-£1,900 with Monster Bash commanding premium pricing (confidence: high) — Detailed auction price list showing wide range of valuations across different titles and conditions

---

## Transcript

Story  dated
July 25, 2004

Last time we reported on the first auction to sell the Pinball Paradise stock following the sad and untimely death of its proprietor Robert Thomson.

Today saw the second and final auction at the company's premises in Borden, Hampshire, UK.

Last time there were plenty of parts for sale along with 400 lots of pinball games and playfields.  In this auction, all the sales took place in the warehouse opposite the workshop. The workshop was closed to sellers and despite the expectation that the remaining parts would be boxed and sold as unlisted spares, no parts appeared in the auction at all.  There was also no word about where they would end up.

With many of the warehouse games already sold, there was much more room to display the remaining ones.  It wasn't all pinball this time either.  Of more than 400 lots, around 100 were video games, 250 were pinball or pinball related and 50 were slot machines.  They were arranged over two floors, the lower floor having a mix of games with the upper floor split into video games on one side and pinballs on the other.

Meanwhile, two containers of various parts from all types of games had been opened in the car park.  These were for sale and gave those who couldn't stay for the whole auction the chance to snap up a deal or two.

As before, none of the pinball games in the auction were powered, so buyers had to hope the games worked or bid accordingly.  Several video games were set up and ready to play which provided some welcome relaxation and fun.

Again, the auction began with a one minute of silence in Bob's honour and then the sales began.

Immediately it was apparent that prices were going to be higher this time around.  The games were in a better overall condition and news of the bargains at the last sale brought a bigger crowd of sellers hoping to repeat the deals.  There were also video game and slot machine collectors to swell the numbers.

It was good to see the pleasant atmosphere of the first sale continuing.  I didn't see anyone being awkward or unpleasant and there were no disputes about the bidding or the hammer prices.

The video games were sold first, followed by the pinballs with the slot machines bringing up the rear. The prices of all the lots are shown below in UK Pounds.  There was a 10% buyer's premium added on top but no sales tax.  To convert to US$, double the price shown. Blank lots have been removed and the game information comes from the auction catalogue.

Lot No
Game Name
Price

500

Atari "Asteroids" 1979
£90

501

Yoick" Midway clowns conversion
£80

502

Williams "Defender" 1980
£100

503

For-Play "Sport Center"
£60

504

Konami "The Simpsons"
£100

505

Atari "Skyraider" 1978
£300

506

Atari "Super Breakout" 1978
£60

507

Midway "Space Invaders" 1978
£240

508

Taito "Missile - X" 1977
£160

509

Taito "Sub-Hunter" 1977
£130

510

Midway "Gunfight" 1975
£40

511

Midway "Gunfight" 1975
£70

512

Williams "Defender" 1980
£300

513

Atari "Asteroids" 1979
£150

514

Caberet "Phoenix" 1981
£120

515

Atari "Video Pinball" 1978
£100

516

Atari "Galaga '88" 1988
£180

517

Taito "Space Invaders Part 2" 1980
£160

518

Taito "Space Invaders" 1978
£440

519

Taito "Space Invaders" 1978
£260

520

Midway "Deluxe Space Invaders" 1978
£160

521

Midway "Space Invaders" 1978
£220

522

Zenitone "Invaders Revenge"
£90

523

Midway "Space Invaders" 1978
£140

524

Zaccaria "The Invaders" 1979
£120

525

Williams "Defender" 1980
£320

526

Midway "Gorf" caberet 1981
£240

527

Atari "Canyon Bomber" 1977
£80

528

Bally/Midway "Baby Pacman" 1982
£300

529

Bally/Midway "Granny and the Gators" 1983
£280

530

Williams "Defender" 1980
£330

531

Williams "Defender" 1980
£150

532

"Shuttle" conversion
£50

533

Atari "Asteroids Deluxe" 1980
£320

534

Exidy "Crash" 1979
£100

535

Atari/Kee "Sprint One" 1978
£80

536

Universal "Cosmic Guerilla" 1979
£280

537

Atari/Kee "Super Bug" 1977
£80

538

Stern "Berzerk" 1980
£90

539

Sega "Outrun" 1986
£300

540

Atari "Pole Position II" 1983
£20

541

Atari "Asteroids" 1979
£100

542

Atari "Asteroids" 1979
£200

543

Gottlieb "Q*Bert" 1981
£140

544

Nintendo "Space Firebird" cocktail table 1980
£240

545

Streets "Defender" cocktail table 1980
£200

546

generic "Galaxian" cocktail table
£200

547

"Super Earth Invasion" cocktail table
£260

548

Taito "Lunar Rescue" cocktail table 1979
£440

549

Namco Golly Ghost 2 player video
£180

550

Williams Joust
£950

551

Atari Primal Rage two player video
£100

552

Sega Virtual Striker
£160

553

Sega Virtual On twin driver simulator
£50

560

Sega Manx TT Superbikes twin ride on simulator
£620

561

Sega Manx TT Superbikes twin ride on simulator
£800

562

Sega Sky Target single flight simulator
£660

563

Sega Touring Car single simulator
£260

564

Sega Le Mans 24hr twin simulator
£950

565

Sega Rally twin simulator
£1250

566

Sega Touring Car twin simulator
£750

567

Sega Touring Car twin simulator
£800

568

Konami Dance Stage twin
£4000

569

Namco Star Blade simulator
£280

570

Sega Star Wars twin ride on simulator
£420

571

Atari Space Pirate shooting simulator
£180

572

MTV Drumscape drumming simulator
£900

573

Mad Dog II shooter by American Laser Games
£190

574

Kick It football simulator
£220

575

Sega Magical Truck twin simulator
£180

576

Namco Alpine Racer 2 skiing simulator
£1300

577

Namco Alpine Racer 2 skiing simulator
£800

578

Sega Jurassic Park twin ride on simulator
£n/s

579

Sega Rail Chase II twin simulator
£90

580

Sega Virtua Racing twin driver - no seats?
£50

581

Sega Virtual On twin simulator - no boards
£30

582

Sega Le Mans twin simulator
£110

583

Namco Alpine Surfer snowboard simulator
£900

584

Namco Alpine Surfer snowboard simulator
£900

585

Namco Rapid River rafting simulator
£1100

586

Sega Super G skiing simulator
£420

587

Popeye Arm Wrestling machine
£240

588

Namco Whap-a-Snappa
£400

589

WMH Challenger Crane with swag actual machine featured in Big Brother
£800

590

Love Meter
£150

591

Electronic Darts
£100

592

Glass topped football table
£380

593

Football Table
£300

594

Sega Virtua Racer twin driver
£220

595

Sega Sprint One
£10

601

Zaccaria Aerobatics
£n/s

602

Gottlieb James Bond
£110

603

Atari Middle Earth
£110

604

Gottlieb Black Hole
£400

605

Gottlieb Black Hole
£360

606

Williams Black Knight
£420

607

Gottlieb Slick Chick
£360

608

Williams World Cup
£200

609

Bally Electra
£140

610

Bally Skateball
£200

611

Bally Mata Hari
£420

612

Bally Tic Tac Toe
£320

613

Bally Vector
£260

614

Bally Medusa
£340

615

Bally Flash Gordon
£240

616

Bally Mr & Mrs Pac Man
£340

617

Williams Sorceror
£380

618

Bally Kings of Steel
£300

619

Stern Flight 2000
£220

620

Stern Dracula
£200

621

Bally Spy Hunter
£200

622

Stern Meteor
£100

623

Stern Sea Witch
£240

624

Bally Paragon
£420

625

Bally Mystic
£240

626

Williams Defender
£1000

627

Williams Defender
£520

628

Stern Lectronamo
£160

629

Bally Centaur
£340

630

Williams Diner
£780

631

Data East Secret Service
£360

632

Williams Bad Cats
£460

633

Data East Playboy
£380

634

Bally Hard Body
£280

635

Sega Lost In Space
£440

636

Bally Fireball Classic
£280

637

Williams Blackout (no head)
£100

638

Stern Freefall
£220

639

Stern Iron Maiden
£300

640

Williams Magic City
£300

641

Williams Seven Up
£220

642

Bally Strikes & Spares
£200

643

Bally Fireball
£360

644

Bally Speakeasy
£240

645

Gottlieb Q'Berts Quest
£260

646

Williams Fire Power
£240

647

Stern Stingray
£100

648

Bally Blackwater
£260

649

Williams Pinbot
£440

650

Bally Strange Science
£380

651

Zaccaria Aerobatics
£340

652

Bally Hot Doggin
£240

653

Gottlieb ?
£100

654

Williams Hotline
£280

655

Williams Eight Ball
£240

656

Bally Freedom
£180

657

Stern Galaxy
£280

658

Bally Gold Ball
£340

659

Williams Hyper Ball
£220

660

Stern Big Game
£260

661

Williams Disco Fever
£300

662

Bally Night Rider
£260

663

Bally Cosmos
£160

664

Williams Cosmic Gunfight
£340

665

Williams Winner
£360

666

Bally Evel Knievel
£240

667

Bally Hoo
£240

668

Bally Cosmos
£200

669

Bally Discotek
£220

670

Williams Champ
£420

671

Bally Golden Gate (Bingo)
£560

672

Bally Miss America (Bingo)
£460

673

Bally Champion Pub
£1000

674

Williams Monster Bash
£1900

675

Data East Star Wars (ex corporate hire)
£780

676

Pinball 2000 Revenge From Mars
£1200

677

Pinball 2000 Star Wars Episode 1
£1500

678

Sega X Files
£700

679

Data East Star Wars
£560

701

Chicago Coin Festival - no head
£15

702

Williams Casanova
£170

703

Bally Playboy
£240

704

Williams Alpine Club
£60

705

Bally Playboy
£320

706

Bally unknown
£n/s

707

Williams Post Time
£100

708

Recel Torpedo - empty head cabinet
£20

709

Gottlieb Force II - no glass
£20

710

Williams Jolly Roger
£90

711

Bally Hoo - no head
£20

712

Gottlieb Bowling Queen
£140

713

Williams Honey
£120

714

Williams Starpool - no head
£n/s

715

Bally Par Golf
£40

716

Bally Rolling Stones - no head
£20

717

Williams Fun Fest
£70

718

Bally Six Million Dollar Man - no glass
£160

719

Williams Doodle Bug - no head
£20

720

Williams Gold Rush
£70

721

Williams Casanova
£60

722

Williams empty cabinet - no head
£20

723

Williams Jubilee
£80

724

Williams Jive Time - no glass
£10

725

Williams Post Time - no head
£30

726

Williams Toledo
£100

727

Williams Time Warp
£60

728

Segasa Baby Doll
£20

729

Nordamatic Champion
£80

730

Playmatic UFO-X
£20

731

Gottlieb Torch
£20

732

Bally Odds and Evens - no glass
£20

733

Stern Lectronamo
£20

734

Zaccaria Ten Stars
£10

735

Williams Flash
£110

736

Williams Big Ben
£20

737

Bally 50/50
£140

738

Gottlieb King Kool
£60

739

Chicago Coin Action
£70

740

Williams Barracora
£90

741

Gottlieb Fashion Show - no head
£40

742

Gottlieb Totem
£20

743

Automatics Dig-A-Star - no glass
£10

744

Stern Split Second
£160

745

Williams Barracora - no head
£20

746

Zaccaria Pinball Champ - no glass
£30

747

Bally Eight Ball - no glass
£110

748

Stern Lightning - no head
£10

749

Bally Blue Chip Bingo
£190

750

Williams Casanova
£40

751

Bally Spectrum - no glass
£100

752

Williams Heatwave
£70

753

Bally Flip Flop - no glass
£60

754

Data East Torpedo Alley - no glass
£140

755

Bally On Beam
£180

756

Stern Pin Ball - no glass
£100

757

Bally Centaur - no head
£110

758

Williams Derby Day
£280

759

Bally Gator
£320

760

Gottlieb Royal Gaurd
£200

761

Stern Nine Ball
£320

762

Williams Aztec
£240

763

Zaccaria Supersonic
£180

764

Williams Tri Zone
£180

765

Stern Catacomb
£220

766

Stern Big Game
£n/s

767

Williams Black Knight - no glass
£100

768

Williams Black Knight
£170

769

Bally Six Million Dollar Man
£220

770

Gottlieb Royal Gaurd
£140

771

Stern Flight 2000
£180

772

Bally Mr & Mrs Pacman - no glass
£220

773

Williams Starlight - no head
£50

774

Zaccaria Wood's Queen
£320

775

Recel Space Race
£100

776

Bally Speak Easy 4
£320

777

Zaccaria Nautilas - no glass
£90

778

Bally Star Jet
£100

779

Williams Phoenix - no glass
£80

780

Bally Space Time
£280

781

Gottlieb Orbit
£260

782

Williams Dipsy Doodle
£120

783

Chicago Coin Super Star
£80

784

Chicago Coin Cinema
£220

785

Stern Meteor - no glass
£100

786

Recel Lady Luck
£120

787

Gottlieb Mars God of War - no glass
£70

788

Stern Wild Fyre
£80

789

Chicago Coin Blue Max
£140

790

Stern Magic
£240

791

Williams Strato-FLite
£200

792

Chicago Coin Sky Rider
£190

793

Bally Rolling Stones - no glass
£100

794

Bally Nip-It
£440

795

Bally Eight Ball Deluxe
£400

796

Bally Six Million Dollar Man
£280

797

Zaccaria Moon Flight
£300

798

Stern Monaco
£100

799

Bally Big Valley
£220

800

Gottlieb High Hand
£320

801

Gottlieb Soccer
£300

802

Williams Apollo
£320

803

Bally Grand Tour
£340

804

Keeneys Venus Bingo
£50

805

Bally Playboy
£550

807

Stern Lightening - no glass
£180

808

Bally Key West Bingo - head only
£50

809

Bally Hawaii Bingo - head only
£110

810

Bally Bingo - no glass
£240

811

Bally Laguna Beach Bingo - head only
£n/s

812

Midway Hotshot basketball
£120

813

Star Battle Coctail Table Pinball
£440

814

Sega Speed Basketball
£280

815

Gottlieb Water World
£440

816

Data East Time Machine
£200

817

Bally Party Zone
£480

818

Bally Safe Cracker
£1075

819

Segasa Head Only for Gulf Stream
£n/s

820

Stern Head Only for Cheetah
£40

821

Williams Head Only for Fire Power
£100

822

Bally Head Only for Camelot
£20

823

Williams Head Only for Fan-Tas-Tic
£20

824

Bally Head Only for Mini Zag
£10

825

Williams Head Only for Big Daddy
£20

826

Gottlieb Head Only for Sunset
£60

827

Bally Head Only for 50/50
£20

828

Williams Head Only for Lazer Ball
£50

829

Williams Head Only for Fun-Fest
£30

830

Williams Head Only for Casanova
£25

831

Bally Head Only for See Saw
£20

832

Bally Head Only for Vector
£55

833

Williams Head Only for Fan-Tas-Tic
£20

834

Gottlieb Head Only for Flip A Card
£30

835

Segasa Head Only for Travel Time
£20

836

Williams Head Only for Gay 90's
£20

837

Jive Time head only
£25

838

Galaxy head only
£40

839

Williams Head Only for Fun-Fest
£15

840

Bally Head Only for Hootenanny
£20

841

Bally Head Only for Kiss
£75

842

Alvin G & Co Playfield only for Soccer Ball
£20

843

Alvin G & Co Playfield only for Soccer Ball
£50

844

Bally Playfield only for Freedom
£10

845

Gottlieb Playfield only for Sinbad
£25

846

Bally Playfield only for Beat The Clock
£25

847

Bally Playfield only for Night Rider
£15

848

Gottlieb Playfield only for Slick Chick
£35

849

Williams Playfield only for Alien Poker
£25

850

Williams Playfield only for Tri-Zone
£15

851

Bally Playfield only for Camelot
£10

852

Williams Playfield only for Stop & Go
£20

853

Bally Playfield only for Freedom
£10

854

Bally Playfield only for Escape from Lostworld
£20

855

Bally Playfield only for Power Play
£40

856

Zaccaria Playfield only for Pool Theme
£15

857

Bally Playfield only for Odds & Evens
£15

858

Gottlieb Playfield only for Spin to Win
£20

859

Williams Playfield only for Fun Fest
£10

860

Stern Playfield only for Quick Silver
£15

861

Stern Playfield only for Meteor
£15

862

Stern Playfield only for ?
£10

863

Williams Playfield only for Lightning
£15

864

Playfield only for Bank-a-ball and Flying Carpet
£15

865
Pachinko Machine
£220

866
Bingo Machine
£180

867
Hoop-la Stall
£60

868
Seaside Photo Frame
£40

869
Coconut Shy
£50

870
Sega Gun Fight
£460

901

Bell Fruit Chance A Nudge
£60

902

Bell Fruit Ten Up
£70

903

JPM Super Chance
£n/s

904

Bell Fruit Chance A Nudge
£n/s

905

Bell Fruit kickback
£n/s

906

Bell Fruit Nudge Gambler
£n/s

907

Bally Monte Carlo
£20

908

Brenco Copper Prince
£50

909

Cromptons Cromputer Win
£120

910

Cromptons Penny Fruits
£220

911

Cromptons Tooty Fruity
£110

912

Win Free
£50

913

Bell Fruit Each Way Treble Deluxe
£25

914

Alpine Club
£20

915

Brenco Silver Chest
£25

916

JPM The Foursome Deluxe
£20

917

Cromptons Tooty Fruity
£220

918

Bally Mustang
£360

919

Bally Super-Line
£540

920

Bally Super-Line
£300

921

Bally Super-Line
£360

922

Bally Add-A-Line
£280

923

Bally Las Vegas
£320

924

Bally Las Vegas
£320

925

Bally Mustang
£520

926

Bally Circus
£520

927

Bally Big Five
£300

928

Bally Safari
£90

929

Bally Las Vegas
£90

930

Bally Stars'N'Stripes
£120

931

Bally Lucky Twins
£50

932

Bally Circus
£300

933

Bally Circus
£130

934

Bally Safari
£50

935

Bally Add-A-Line
£120

936

Bally Deluxe Progressive
£140

937

Bally Super-Line
£90

938

Bally Gold Rush
£130

939

Bally Gold Bars
£100

940

Bally Vegas
£130

941

Bally one arm bandit
£130

942

Bally one arm bandit
£90

943

Bally Gold Award
£130

944

Keep On Running
£30

945

Coinmaster Super Nudger
£25

946

Bell Fruit Upstairs 'n' Downstairs
£20

947

RS Coin Monopoly
£40

948

Rocket Game
£120

949

Chicago Coin Rodeo Shooter
£360

950

Chicago Coin Speedway driving game
£30

951

Brenners Human Analyst fortune teller
£n/s

952

Williams Phantom Shooter
£170

953

Whittakers Super Roulette
£50

954

Whittakers Super Roulette (for spares / repair)
£25

955

Mini Soccer
£160

956

Alvin G & Co. A.G. Soccerball
£950

957

Whittakers Royal Ascot horse racing machine
£320

958

Nova Shocker electric chair
£1000

959

Jaques Air Hockey table
£160

960

Cromptons Star Soccer
£300

961

Dynamo Hockey Table
£260

962

Air Hockey
£90

963

Midway Twin Pirates Gun
£360

964

Astralite lighting trussing and light fittings
£550

From that list you can see that there were some big ticket items - the Dance Stage Twin reached £4,000 and a Joust managed just shy of £1,000 - and plenty of £20 deals too.  On the pinball side, the biggest price of the day was the £1,900 Monster Bash which was not exactly unexpected, but even the Alvin G soccer game sneaked in with a last minute £950, and that was without the metal arch.

The total raised in this auction was £91,415, which when added to the previous auction's £36,640 gives a grand total raised for Bob's family of £128,055.  To that can be added the proceeds from the parts sales.

Although, obviously, nothing can replace him, we hope the money goes some way to providing a safer, more secure future for them.

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_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: f710cdf4-6210-4809-ab96-519aab054900*
