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Expert: - 1/2/2010


Question
I have a 1932 Gottlieb "Cloverleaf" mechanical pinball machine. Where would be a good place to sell?

Thanks,

John

Answer

Original Magazine Sale
Hi John,

Your 1932 Cloverleaf pinball is a Cool looking machine, and being made in 1932 it is an early coin operated pin table or pinball game made by Gottlieb and Company. If your interested in seeing some more information on this pinball you can see it on this web site, link is: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=537 This link also shows you which publications that have information dealing in this game, except I know one that is not listed here. There is also information located in a Billboard Magazine issued on October 01 of 1932, and there is something on page 66 of this issue about the Gottlieb's Cloverleaf pinball machine there also.

As for your question, "were or how to sell it" well that is a tough answer but we will see if I can give you some good ideas and help here. I would at this point say that exposer is what you need to accomplish in selling this. The more exposure this has, the better chance of finding the right buyer for it, and with some luck maybe someone who has even been looking a long time for this model.

Some good ways to go are, Crags list, as you can advertise it in your local city and state if you want, and for free, and avoid the shipping problems by selling it locally. Go to this link and select your state and city when you get there, it's at: http://seattle.craigslist.org/

For world wide exposure, there is always ebay auction, and there you can post this for auction without a reserve and let the chips fall as they may, or post it with a reserve bid amount and see what kind of bid amounts you get on it, at the same time telling the world you have this and want to sell it. I am sure you know where to find them, but for those who don't, they are located at ebay.com or a pinball link for them is located at: http://collectibles.shop.ebay.com/Machines-/13725/i.html?_armrs=1&_mdo=Collectib...

There are also collectible coin operated machine clubs and associations like the C.O.C.A. club where you can place a free adds I believe, and there at: http://www.coinopclub.org/

If you like the auction idea, besides ebay there are many small and large auctions that  specializes in this sort of machine, some even use the Internet for live bidding which can give you access to 10's of thousands of bidders, a Good auction for this would be this one: http://www.vcaauction.com/ As for fees expect to pay about 20 to 25 percent in fees and now days some auctions are charging the buyers another 10 percent fee on top of this, which is getting way to expensive for my action, but some of them do get a good price on some items, but it's always risky business. On this same line you could try to consign it to a local antique store which they charge around 30 percent or less if it sells.

Then you can also advertise it in some of the trade type magazines, like the Gameroom Magazine located at: http://www.gameroommag.com/ or maybe something in the pinball world of magazines like: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/poa/pplayer.htm or another is: http://www.pingamejournal.com/

These are all items and avenues that I have used in the past, it just depends on how much time you are willing to spend to sell it and trying to get the best offer or price on it. I hope this information for your question of (where and how do I go about selling this) is helpful to you and gives you the ideas that you are looking for. Oh... I almost forgot one, your welcome to post it on my web site for free, its located at http://www.coinslots.com

Thank You and happy new year to you and everyone here reading this, may your 2010 be a Great Year!

Cheers....

Sincerely
Rodger Knutson
http:www.coinslots.com  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    Commentquick response, knowledgable on the subject. Very helpful.


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Rodger Knutson

Expertise

I am an expert on old coin operated machines, slot machines, trade stimulator's, jukeboxes, old arcade machines, etc. I have been identifying these for people who respond to my web site listed below, for a few years now. In almost all cases I am able to tell them about their old coin operated machines, the year, the value, and other general information about their machines. I do not know much about soda vending machines, coin banks, or scales, but I will try to help you with these if I can. Please email photo's to: jackpot7@ix.netcom.com My web site is at: http://www.coinslots.com

Experience

I bought my first slot machine, a .50 Cent Mills Black Cherry in 1969 and have been hooked from that time, I still have that Slot machine! Before that I found a open barrel full of old scraped jukebox wall boxes behind a restaurant, I wanted them all but never took a one of them. Anything that took a coin drove me nuts!

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