Official Tranquility Base Arcade Logo

I could think of no better way to represent the Tranquility Base Arcade than to create a logo based on the Apollo 11 emblem. First, Photoshop was used to enlarge and modify a copy of the original emblem. I then removed all the blemishes, flaws and other imperfections from the artwork. This was a painstaking and lengthy process but necessary in order for the logo to look clean and presentable when printed in a large format. Once the artwork was complete I used a Hewlett Packard Designjet 4500 printer to print the image on plain white paper. A commercial laminator was used to seal the artwork with 3 mil gloss laminate. Next, I carefully cut out the artwork and traced it on a piece of black foam core board. I then cut the foam core board freehand with a sharp Exacto knife. Finally, a spray adhesive was used to mount the artwork to the foam core board. The logo was hung on the wall with Velcro strips around the perimeter. I specifically made the logo with white letters so that when the black lights were on, it would still be visible. “Houston…Tranquility Base Here…The Eagle Has Landed!”

Rare Control Panel Found

I recently acquired an original Williams Paddle-Ball control panel.
I was thrilled to get this, as parts for Paddle-Ball are virtually non-existent. Besides my game, I know of only one other. I plan on mounting the control panel on a plaque along with a copy of the flyer as well as a brief history of the game.

1980 Midway Space Encounters

I pulled Space Encounters out of storage and added it to my row of black and white games. I repaired the game several months ago
but still need to make a few minor adjustments. You can read the Repair Log here. Space Encounters was one of the last black and white games made and by most accounts it's late release date of 1980 made it largely unsuccessful. The game's obvious Star Wars tie-in, strange sound effects and flashing strobe light all make it
a classic appreciated by video game collectors everywhere!

Coins Detected In Pocket

At last! I have been working almost two months to hear those words! Finally, after an extremely difficult and lengthy repair job,
I have fixed Berzerk and put it in the arcade. The game is in excellent condition and has the original “Opto-Bat” joystick. I would like to take this time to give a very special thank you to fellow collector Steve M. Without Steve’s contributions, help, encouragement and assistance, this repair would not have been possible. Thanks to local collector Scott Z. for allowing me to test my Berzerk boards in his rare and working Frenzy. I would also like to thank my Dad for accompanying me on the 500 mile round trip that was necessary to acquire the game. Last but certainly not least, many thanks to my wife and family for allowing me to spend all hours of the day and night working on “some video game.” Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!

1976 Williams Grand Prix

I added something completely different to my collection this week - a pinball machine! The game is one of the last electromechanical pinball machines made before they switched over to electronics. The game is in very good condition and plays great!

1980 Stern Berzerk

I recently pulled Berzerk out of storage and sent it to the Repair Station. The game has seven different boards that are proving very difficult to analyze. As with most Berzerk’s, the main game board was severely damaged by acid that had leaked from the onboard battery. Despite all that, I am confident the game can be repaired – I will not “‘run like a humanoid” on this one!

Party Like It's 1977

I repaired Gun Fight and put it in the arcade. You can read the Repair Log here. I remember playing Gun Fight in the 1970's and had not played it for over 30 years! Gun Fight was made in 1975 so I thought it was fitting that I put it next to my 1976 Lemans. If you want to learn more about Gun Fight as well as see the game in action, please click here.

1975 Midway Gun Fight

I recently acquired a 1975 Midway Gun Fight. Gun Fight is one of the first video games I remember playing so I was very pleased to obtain one. Gun Fight is historically important, as it is the first video game to use a microprocessor. It is also the first video game to feature two human figures battling against each other. Other games of the time featured lines or squares. The game does not work and has been sent to the Repair Station for diagnosis.

1973 Williams Paddle-Ball

I fixed Paddle-Ball and put it in the arcade. You can read the Repair Log here. Paddle-Ball is Williams first video game and only a few are known to still exist. My Paddle-Ball is serial number 1964-1. The only other one that I know of is serial number 614 which is owned by a gentleman in Wilmington, Delaware. You can read about that machine here. If you have a Paddle-Ball or any information about Paddle-Ball, please contact me!

1980 Midway Pac-Man

This past year I had the opportunity to procure several very special arcade games from the daughter of the original owners. You can read the story of the games here. Among the games I acquired was the game - Pac-Man! Last week I had a chance to pull the game out of storage and send it to the Repair Station for diagnosis.

1975 Fascination

I recently acquired an old Pong clone cocktail made by Fascination Ltd. Not much is known about the game and what is known comes from the few flyers that exist. I doubt there were too many arcade games wrapped in vinyl but I now own one! The game uses a 12" Hitachi TV for a monitor and appears to be for 2 or 4 players. Anyways...it is not working but appears to have a very simple PCB that I can hopefully repair. The game has been sent to the Repair Station for diagnosis.

1976 Atari Lemans

I finally had a chance to put a game in the newly finished room! I remember playing Lemans quite a bit as a kid as was thrilled to finally acquire one this past summer. When I purchased the game it was completely dead and in need of total restoration. You can read the repair log here. If you want to learn more about Lemans as well as see the game in action, please click here.

Let There Be Black Light!

The black lights have been installed. I put four fixtures in the new room and the effect is outstanding!

Change?

You can't have an arcade without quarters so the first thing I installed was this vintage Ardac change machine. The machine works perfectly and accepts one or five dollar bills. The unit is mounted on a small file cabinet which I use to store the keys to the games, manuals and other arcade related paperwork. If you wish to learn more about the change machine as well as see a short video of it in action, please click here.

Carpet

Carpet installation is complete! Room transformation is almost complete as well. Over the next few weeks I will begin to move some of the games in...can't wait!

Ceiling

The final step before having the carpet installed is done! The ceiling took approximately 3.5 hours to complete. I remembered all the time savers from the earlier ceiling install and they proved to be a big help. Finally, a nice and clean looking room! The carpet guys will be coming early tomorrow morning. The games currently in "winter storage" are looking forward to their new and much warmer environment!

Trim

Unexpectedly, the carpet installers informed me that they are coming this Saturday so the pressure is on! I have completed the baseboard and chair rail molding as well as the doorway and radiator trim. All nails have been patched and painted over. I have one day, Friday, to complete the entire ceiling! Wish me luck!

Look Up!

Well...maybe look down for now. I measured the ceiling and figured out the amount of material required. The pile represents all the trim needed for the room as well as the material for the ceiling. I went with the direct mount 'CeilingMAX' system because my basement has a very low ceiling.

Blue And Orange Too!

Two coats of paint have been applied and the room is starting to take shape. Black light carpet has been ordered and should arrive in about two weeks. The addition of chair rail molding along with trim work around the doorways and radiator is next.

Primer

Three coats of mud have been completed. The walls were sanded to make everything smooth and now a coat of primer has been applied. The next step is to mix up some color and get rid of the hospital appearance. The midnight oil is burning....