#Pinball wizard new hampshire full

'These are called electro-mechanical, and they were used into the '70s. The deal was simple: Nichols put his machine into the commercial establishment, kept it running, and they split the receipts, 50-50. When the business became his, he added pinball machines, and at one time had as many as 85 machines in 35 locations - including Cape Ann Lanes, Ipswich Lanes, and the Beverly Bowl-o-Mat. In many ways, this is a continuation of work that started when he was 12 years old, and Nichols would travel from site to site with his father, who owned jukeboxes. When I get through overhauling them, 90 percent of the time, will work.'Īt times, Nichols will fix only the mechanics of the machine, and at other times will do a complete restoration, including fixing light bulbs, waxing the 'playfield' (area where the ball rolls around), and other aesthetic touches. If you don't check each and every one, there are going to be problems. I go through every single blade - and there's hundreds of blades,' Nichols said.

'Here's what I do when they first come in: I don't plug them in or anything. He estimates that he works on about 30 machines a year ('because I'm retired'), charging about $45 per hour for work at his shop, more if he needs to travel. Nichols, who lives in Manchester-by-the-Sea, has had customers come from as far away as Rhode Island in one direction and New Hampshire to the other. 'You go to his place and it's unbelievable, like something out of the movies,' said dentist Roger Wise, another of his clients, 'He's also like the last of a dying breed because he doesn't overcharge you for things.'Ĭhris Pechilis,, a longtime friend and president of Rowley-based AP Vending, has seen the shop and observed, 'I don't think he's thrown anything away since 1960.' You almost expect Nichols to reach into one of the workshop's nooks and crannies and pull out a monkey's paw.

#Pinball wizard new hampshire full

The room Nichols shares with the owner of the building is crowded with tools, cabinets full of parts, pinball games, boxes, and miscellaneous bicycles, change machines, a jukebox, an old clock, and more, all in various stages of disrepair. 'That blew my mind, because I grew up in Beverly and had never heard of the guy.'ĭunn found Nichols's shop - there's no sign, but it's called Gregg Music & Vending - in the back of a warehouse on Water Street. 'I heard from a couple of people - the real diehard pinball freaks - who all said, 'There's a guy in Beverly,' ' Dunn recalled. Wanting to get the function to match the form, he sought advice from others. When he bought his first machine a few years ago, Dunn liked the look (the artwork on the 'backglass' of machines was painted by talented artists, who built a following among collectors), but it didn't work well.

Frankenstein, bringing the old machines back to life. The Chicago Coin-manufactured 'Hula-Hula' machine is the property of Jim Dunn of Hampton, N.H., a comedian, surfer, and former arcade rat who collects vintage surf and beach-themed pinball machines. Since Greg Nichols had it working properly, the little automated hula dancer in the center was able to wiggle again.

From the front, the script on the 'back glass' reads 'Hula-Hula,' and the painted illustrations feature surfing and other beach activities.

The back of the vintage pinball machine had been removed, exposing its electro-mechanical innards.