Buying a pinball machine at a general auction is always a massive gamble, especially when it comes without keys. But sometimes, fortune favors the brave.

Recently, I was called out to service a Stern Elvis pinball machine. The owner had bought it at an auction in Newport as a surprise for his father, who is a massive Elvis Presley fan. The winning bid? An unbelievable £495.

His father was initially skeptical, warning his son that it would likely turn into a “money pit.” And realistically, he had every right to be worried. When you buy a locked pinball machine at an auction, you are buying a mystery box. You have no idea if the expensive logic boards have been stripped out, if the DMD display is dead, or if the playfield is completely trashed. If the internal electronics were missing or damaged, they could easily be looking at an additional £1,000 just in replacement boards. But considering a working Stern Elvis typically values between £3,500 and £4,000, even with major repairs, £495 was the bargain of a lifetime.

Opening the Mystery Box

The first task was getting inside. Without the keys, I had to remove the lock to access the backbox. The suspense was real, but as soon as I opened it up, we were greeted with an absolute miracle: the machine was completely immaculate. It was fully intact and looked practically brand new.

There was only one hidden danger. The old alkaline batteries on the CPU board had exploded. Thankfully, the owner called me before the corrosive alkaline could travel down the traces and destroy the circuit board.

The Fix and The Reveal

My job quickly turned from a potential rescue mission into a pleasant maintenance routine. Here is what I did to get the King of Rock and Roll back in action:

• Battery Relocation: I removed the old battery holder, cleaned the area, and installed a remote battery holder away from the boards to ensure this machine never suffers from acid damage in the future.
• Game Setup: I configured the machine to “Free Play” so the family can enjoy endless games without needing coins.
• Playfield Maintenance: I replaced a few perished rubbers, gave the playfield a deep clean, and applied a fresh coat of wax to make the ball fly smoothly across the ramps.

A Very Happy Customer

The final result was spectacular. The machine plays exactly as it did when it left the Stern factory.

The owner and his father were absolutely thrilled. Not only did they get the ultimate piece of memorabilia for an Elvis fan, but their auction gamble paid off in the best way possible. Instead of a money pit, they walked away with a stunning £4,000 pinball machine for a fraction of the cost.

If you are ever lucky enough to score a barn find or an auction mystery machine, always have it checked by a professional before turning it on—especially to check those batteries!