From: sao@athena.mit.edu (Andy Oakland)
Subject: Re: Collecting Pinball Prices
Summary: Consistent A-F rating scale
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 17:01:18 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.150355.9192@infonode.ingr.com> dale@ingr.com writes:
>I am collecting prices that have been paid for pinball machines....
>
>Machine Name          Condition     Price   Date   Comments
>--------------------- ---------  --------- ------ --------------------
>Black Knight          A - F         $450    4/91  
>                      1 - 10

You probably want to reverse the order of your 1-10 ranking; traditionally,
"1" is the lowest rating and "10" the highest.  E.G. Olympic gymnastics
and Bo Derek.  :^)  Actually, I'd recommend using the A - F scale, and I've
included below a reprint from an old Pinball Trader which would be
useful for making certain that people use a consistent rating scale.

	:Andy Oakland
	sao@athena.mit.edu

------------------

Pinball ratings and what they mean
Ted Estes, August 1991 _Pinball_Trader_
Reprinted by permission

A+	The game is brand new.  If it's still in the box, I'll note it
as "nib" for "new in box."  Otherwise, it's had a couple hundred plays,
at most.

A	The game is almost new.  It probably was a demo on some distributor's
showroom floor.  Some ball marks are evident in the ball lanes, but no
playfield paint has worn.  This game will probably clean up as good as new.
The cabinet should have no more than a nick or two.

A-	The game is starting to show wear.  Significant wear is showing on
the playfield, but no wood is showing.

B+	The playfield is STARTING to show wood where the paint is worn.
Some screening over playfield insert lenses may start to show wear.

B	The game is slightly more worn than a B+ game.  Clear ramps will
show some cloudiness.  A plastic piece or two may be cracked (but not
missing.)

B-	This is the lowest value possible for what I consider a
"collectible" game.  There are no more than two spots of wood showing, and
none is larger than a dime.  Slight damage may be present on the cabinet--
some nicks or small scratches.

C+	The playfield is very worn.  Halos of missing paint are present around
the insert lenses.  The backglass is very good, with no scratches or peeling
paint.  The cabinet may show some significant wear.

C	This is an average game at the end of its life on a route.  The
backglass may have a scratch or two, or the paint may be starting to lift,
but the paint is all there.  The playfield still has major portions of the
artwork present.

C-	The game has some significant cosmetic problem.  the backglass may
have started to peel badly, the cabinet may be badly damaged, playfield
plastics may be broken, etc.

D+	Major portions of the playfield are worn or damaged.  The backglass
may be OK for use in another game.

D	This is one tired dog of a game.  Playfield, glass, and cabinet are
very word or damaged.

D-	This game is pretty much hopeless, except as a parts machine.  It
may work, but playfield and glass are so badly damaged and/or worn that it's
an eyesore.  Several playfield plastics may be broken or missing.

F	I have never given a pinball a failing grade.  My feeling is that,
as long as it's a pinball, it doesn't deserve an "F."  If I happened to come
across a game with a large hole burned through the playfield, I'd probably
have to give it an "F."
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball