claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.036
Classic Pinball Podcast deep-dive on Fathom restoration and Tommy Skinner's rare Bally/Volley collection.
Fathom was a great 1981 game that was not very well known and had limited production, but has since become highly collectible and appreciated
high confidence · Dave speaking from personal experience acquiring one in the early 1990s; Tommy confirming it's his favorite classic Valley
Tommy acquired his Fathom roughly three years ago as part of a $2,000 package deal that also included Alien Poker
high confidence · Tommy stating direct personal transaction details with timestamps
Ron Kruseman, a Michigan-based playfield restoration expert, has been doing clear-coating work professionally for almost 15 years and now works with manufacturers like Spooky Pinball
medium confidence · Tommy's direct knowledge and observation; mentions seeing Spooky playfields (TNT, Hooperz, Rick and Morty) being sent to Kruseman pre-installation
CPR (Circuitboard Playfield Reproductions) created multiple iterations of Fathom playfields over the years, with early versions being more problematic than later ones
medium confidence · Dave and Tommy discussing CPR product history; Dave mentions first version from Nova Scotia (Deaton) was overly complex for a first attempt
Tommy acquired a Flash Gordon for approximately $700 about two years ago from a Facebook Marketplace listing 45 minutes from his school
high confidence · Tommy stating specific transaction details; referenced in show notes about 'less than a Star Wars topper' episode
Hard-top playfield overlays are superior to older overlay products because they use reverse-printed artwork on thin plastic with better alignment and durability
high confidence · Tommy and Dave's direct comparison based on hands-on installation experience with Flash Gordon and Frontier
Tommy acquired a Viking machine roughly six years ago after playing it at Texas Pinball Festival Classics Division, initially through a three-year want-to-buy ad on Pinside
high confidence · Tommy providing detailed narrative of acquisition through new Pinside user 'Kevin' from California with game in Tennessee; included shipping details
“It's my favorite classic Valley for sure. And it's right up there as one of my favorites of all time.”
Tommy Skinner @ early in episode — Establishes Fathom as a personal centerpiece game and signals its rarity and collectibility among informed players
“I opened up the back box, and the back glass of the original is just flawless. Like, I couldn't believe it was an original. And then following that, I looked at the MTU, of course, and it's legitimately probably the most acid damage I had ever seen on an MTU.”
Tommy Skinner @ mid-episode — Illustrates the condition and preservation challenges of classic games; demonstrates insider knowledge of MTU (motherboard) damage assessment
“It's my pride and joy. It's right in my living room. First thing you see when you open my house, my front door, you come in and there's a fathom that just looks brand new, all chromed out.”
Tommy Skinner @ mid-episode — Shows the emotional and aesthetic investment in a full restoration; indicates Fathom as centerpiece collection item
“There's something about it, I try to describe it to people, it's almost, to me, it's just heart and passion that I see in these old games with the artwork and the rule sets and doing what they were doing with the limited technology they had at the time period really amazes me.”
Tommy Skinner @ mid-episode — Articulates the collector philosophy that drives appreciation of classic electromechanical and early solid-state games over modern complex rule sets
“Ron basically lays on a layer of clear and then he waits a really solid amount of time in between adding another layer of clear in addition to doing block sanding in between every coat too. And he said it just allows it to get so hard that his play fields virtually don't dimple.”
Tommy Skinner @ late episode — Provides technical detail about Ron Kruseman's craft methodology and superior quality versus mass-production; hints at trade secrets
“It's really amazing to see the people that are the best at whatever it is they do, do their thing. You know, that's why the Olympics are so popular for television still, I think, where it's amazing people who can do anything at an excessively skilled level. That's what Ron does with his play fields.”
collector_signal: Fathom is identified as a rare 1981 machine with limited production that was not well-known in early collecting eras but has become highly sought-after and expensive. Dave acquired his in the early 1990s when value was low; now highly collectible.
high · Dave: 'It was not very well known in the collective community and they didn't make a whole lot of them but I remember loving it back in the bowling alley I played it in and I just happened to find me or whatever in a one ad thing years ago in the early nineties.' Tommy confirms it's his favorite classic Valley and represents significant investment.
restoration_signal: CPR playfield reproductions have evolved in quality; early attempts (Nova Scotia/Deaton) were overly complex failures, but later iterations are much improved. Hard-top overlays are now preferred over traditional overlays for their superior alignment and durability.
high · Dave: 'The first one they did way back when... it was their first try, and they shouldn't have gone after a really complicated play field like they did the first try.' Tommy on hard-tops: 'I'd use them in a heartbeat' after successful Flash Gordon installation showing durability through 400 plays.
restoration_signal: Ron Kruseman's multi-layer clear-coating methodology (with inter-coat block sanding and extended drying times) produces superior dimple-resistant playfields compared to mass-production clear-coating from modern manufacturers. Spooky Pinball is now sending playfields to Kruseman for pre-assembly clear-coating.
high · Tommy: 'Ron basically lays on a layer of clear and then he waits a really solid amount of time in between adding another layer of clear... And he said it just allows it to get so hard that his play fields virtually don't dimple.' Confirmation: Spooky sending TNT, Hooperz, Rick and Morty playfields to Kruseman pre-factory.
groq_whisper · $0.173
Tommy acquired Frontier roughly one year ago for just over $750 in rough condition, requiring new cabinet and back glass from BG Resto (non-mirrored)
high confidence · Tommy stating direct purchase and restoration details; expressed hope for future mirrored back glass reproduction by CPR
Tommy Skinner @ late episode — Elevates artisanal playfield restoration to professional/competitive respect level; frames Ron Kruseman as world-class craftsperson
“I was incredibly fortunate that I was able to find it, get it, buy it, make the deal for the play field. Then I dropped it off to my buddy Dane in roughly October... And then I was just going to pick it up for him at the Kalamazoo show, which is always in April. So he had it for about six months.”
Tommy Skinner @ mid-episode — Details the collaborative network within pinball community; describes Pinball at the Zoo (Kalamazoo) as annual marquee event
“I had Chris from Hot Rod Arcades, Mike Chestnut's protege, do all the chrome work on the game. And it was one of those things where originally we were just going to do the side rails and the coin door lockdown bar... next thing we knew like anything that could be chromed on that game was shiny.”
Tommy Skinner @ mid-episode — Identifies Chris Royalty and Hot Rod Arcades as successor to legendary chrome specialist Mike Chestnut; shows scope creep in restoration enthusiasm
“I know he's actually working a little bit with Spooky Pinball right now in that some of Spooky's specific customers who also are customers of Ron they sending the play fields before they installed in their machines to Ron so he can clear coat them.”
Tommy Skinner @ late episode — Indicates manufacturer-level collaboration with artisanal craftspeople; signals quality control concerns with modern factory clear-coating processes
“Fathom and Centaur are kind of like my dream machines. So I plan to do a similar restoration on Centaur as the Fathoms and kind of go all out on that one. And those two machines will, wherever life takes me, I plan on those coming with me.”
Tommy Skinner @ late episode — Indicates lifetime collection commitment; elevates Fathom and Centaur to heirloom status for Tommy
market_signal: Rare classic games command significant prices: Fathom in $2,000+ package deals; Flash Gordon $700 (fortunate find); Viking roughly $1,500+ (two Star Wars toppers plus shipping); Frontier $750+ plus restoration costs. Secondary market acquisition through platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Pinside.
high · Tommy's acquisition prices: Fathom $2,000 package; Flash Gordon ~$700; Viking ~$1,500+; Frontier ~$750+. Multiple references to 'Star Wars topper' ($750) as pricing benchmark.
community_signal: Strong informal networks of skilled craftspeople collaborating within the community: Dane providing cabinet/playfield restoration; Ron Kruseman providing specialty clear-coating; Chris Royalty providing chrome work; Mirko providing playfield reproduction. Transactions often barter-based (Tommy traded Alien Poker for playfield restoration labor).
high · Tommy's detailed narrative of Dane's restoration work in exchange for gaming access; Ron Kruseman relationships across Michigan; Chris Royalty succession from Mike Chestnut; Mirko reproduction commissions.
venue_signal: Main Street Amusements arcade (8 years old) serves as community hub with good classic game inventory, driving local interest in pinball hobby. Pitbull venue in Indianapolis features unique infrastructure (bank vault setting) and curated eclectic game mix for tournaments.
medium · Tommy: 'Main Street Amusements Arcade that opened in town. They actually just had their eighth anniversary this past weekend, which is how I know I've been in the hobby roughly eight years ago because I started going shortly after they opened.' Pitball tournament venue description.
event_signal: Pinball at the Zoo (Kalamazoo) is established annual spring event (April) with 'best in show' categories driving collector/restorer competition. Texas Pinball Festival features Classics Division tournament play. Indiana state tournament recently hosted at Pitbull venue.
high · Tommy: 'I was just going to pick it up for him at the Kalamazoo show, which is always in April.' References to Texas Pinball Festival Classics Division and recent Indiana state tournament at Pitbull.
personnel_signal: Chris Royalty (Hot Rod Arcades) has succeeded legendary chrome specialist Mike Chestnut (deceased) as the premier pinball chrome and brass plating expert. Succession indicates continuity of specialized craft within the industry.
high · Tommy: 'Chris from Hot Rod Arcades, Mike Chestnut's protege... Mike was always regarded as the best guy in the business for Chrome or Brass Glading work. And essentially that title's just gone over to Chris now.'
manufacturing_signal: Spooky Pinball is implementing quality control process where playfields are pre-clear-coated by specialist Ron Kruseman before factory assembly, indicating manufacturer acknowledgment of factory clear-coating quality issues.
medium · Tommy: 'I know he's actually working a little bit with Spooky Pinball right now in that some of Spooky's specific customers who also are customers of Ron they sending the play fields before they installed in their machines to Ron so he can clear coat them... he just got notified that he going to have some Rick and Mortys coming in.'
design_philosophy: Tommy articulates philosophical appreciation for classic games emphasizing 'heart and passion' in artwork and rule design despite limited technology, contrasted with depth of modern rule sets. Both communities (competitive modern players and classic collectors) exist in tension but with mutual respect.
high · Tommy: 'There's something about it, I try to describe it to people, it's almost, to me, it's just heart and passion that I see in these old games with the artwork and the rule sets and doing what they were doing with the limited technology they had at the time period really amazes me.'
operational_signal: Tommy operates multiple games on location (bar next to Main Street Amusements arcade, including Flash Gordon on location after Thanksgiving tournament). Demonstrates casual player venue availability and operator routing practices.
medium · Tommy: 'The five-score is actually at the bar, the front two will be here' (home). Flash Gordon mentioned as 'going on location' after hard-top installation.