About
Purpose
The VECTOR Restoration Committee (Vintage Electromechanical Conservancy of Technology, Operation, and Restoration) serves as a knowledge hub and work space for amusement technologies developed from the turn of the 20th century onward. Our goal is to educate, preserve, and build upon the knowledge of the past.... "Learn. Fix. Play!"
Many of our projects serve as fascinating interactive learning platforms. Electro-mechanical pinball machines are an ideal "hands-on" example of the evolution of physical switches into the integrated circuits of today's modern age. Our projects are collaborative in nature and serve as useful teaching tools for describing the fundamental principles of electrical components and machinery. They are also a delight to interact with!
VECTOR provides a place to learn, restore, experiment, and build "arcade tech" and encourages the development of new unique projects.
Meetings
Meetings generally occur on the 3rd Thursday of each month, at 7pm.
Check https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/ for the next meeting.
Equipment
Vector has hand tools and cleaning solutions in a tool chest, some of which are specific to fixing pinball, arcade, and sewing machines. We have polishing tools, as well as EvapoRust for un-rusting metals, and a collection of spare parts for old pinball machines.
Current Projects and Playable Machines
Active Projects
Pneumatic Horse
Blindstitch Sewing Machine
Group Projects
Donated sewing machine rehab
How to Contact
Got a project or idea in mind? Comments? Need more information about upcoming classes?
Send an e-mail to the committee chairperson!
Members
Active Members
Amelia Greisch (Chair)
Mark Reynolds
Keith Kubal
Rob
John K
Jayson Woods
Paul Wilson
Past Members
Nicholas Schell (aka "Nick Dangerous", VECTOR founder, now Director of Roanoke Pinball Museum in Virginia)
Nick Sainz (proud Maker of many "signs")
Ken Purcell ("Lampy")
Haley Moore (late to the party, forgot the chips)
Benjamin Groves ("Hi, I'm Ben!")
Daniel Jackson ("DJ")
Raymond Jett (The fixer of the boards)
Stacy Devino ("Broken? Add a capacitor!")
Shawn Christian ("It was cheap, I couldn't resist")
Chuck Baber
Mary Mathias (The Asker of many questions "newbie")
Oscar Afghani
David Smart
Mitch Cerroni (As seen on Battlebots)
Jeremy Ortwine
Michael Sorensen
Patrick Thompson
john a. gorman
Aaron McMillen
Joshua Wilson
Wayne Enochs
Jim Hartnett
Rodney Black (CNC Jedi & Maker of the Mortal Kombat cabinets)
Photo gallery and media
Photo archives
Photos from Texas Pinball Festival 2017 - https://arianaby.smugmug.com/Professional/Texas-Pinball-Festival-VECTOR-2017/
Photos from Texas Pinball Festival 2016 - https://arianaby.smugmug.com/Professional/Texas-Pinball-Festival-VECTOR/
Makerspace Talk forum thread w/photos - https://talk.dallasmakerspace.org/t/the-official-dms-pinball-selfies-thread/6167/
An early photo gallery from our previous location (Ladybird Ln) - https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Pinball
Vector Logos:
File Name | Adobe Illustrator file | PNG Image |
---|---|---|
Vector Logo | File:Vector.zip | |
Vector Logo, Outlined | File:Vector Outlined.zip | |
Vector Logo, Flat Outlined | File:Vector logo flat outlined.zip |
Governance
All committee reports and binding committee decisions will be facilitated by the committee chairperson.
Arcade and pinball related links
Educational and repair information sites
The Internet Pinball Database (IPDB) - http://www.ipdb.org
The Pinwiki - http://www.pinwiki.com
Pinrepair help site - http://www.pinrepair.com
Mark's Guide to Williams System 3-7 - http://pinball.flippers.info/system6repairpart1.asp
Tuukan.fliput.net helpful hints - http://tuukan.fliput.net/index_en.html
Flippers.be helpful hints - http://www.flippers.be/
Pinballhelp.com blog - http://pinballhelp.com/
Explanation of a switch matrix - http://webpages.charter.net/coinopcauldron/swarticle.html
Mark Gibson's "Fun With Pinball" educational site - http://markgibson.zenfolio.com/fun-with-pinball
Bally Squawk & Talk AS-2518-61 sound board info - http://webpages.charter.net/coinopcauldron/squalkart.html
Ryan's restoration & re-theme of Swinger (good for newbies!) - https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/williams-swinger-restoration-and-eventual-retheme
Forums and classifieds
Pinside (forum and marketplace) - http://www.pinside.com
Pinball Owners registry (caters to international audience) - http://www.pinballowners.com
Mr. Pinball Classifieds - http://user.xmission.com/~daina/classified
DFW Pinball & Arcade Club - http://www.facebook.com/groups/dfwpinballclub
News
Pinball News - http://www.pinballnews.com
Parts suppliers
HAPP Controls - http://www.happcontrols.com/
Tornado Terry's (Keller, TX) - http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm
Arcade Components (Raymond Jett / Highland Village, TX) - http://www.arcadecomponents.com
Marco Specialties - http://www.marcospecialties.com
Pin2DMD - http://pin2dmd.com/
Pinball Life - http://www.pinballlife.com
Pinball Resource - http://www.pbresource.com