The Video Revolution
Video arcades became all the rage in the 1970s and 80s, with at least one springing up in virtually every small town in America. Over time, the popularity of these entertainment venues waned, and the games seemed to vanish into thin air. Later on, it became fairly obvious that many of them, having survived their tours of duty in the video arcade circuit, ended up in basements and man caves all across the country.
Having a home video arcade is an enjoyable hobby that allows you to relive those glory days, but without the burden of making sure you have an ample supply of quarters. Many folks end up collecting more than one, with some residences having more to offer in the way of video games than most commercial arcades of the era.
Planning Your Move
If you are contemplating a long distance move, you will of course want to take your video arcade collection of games along with you, and there are several steps you need to take, in the proper order, to make sure that everything arrives at the other end in good working condition and ready to be enjoyed for many more years to come.
Here is our guide to moving a video arcade.
- The first thing you need to do is plan your route, and that route starts with the room the video arcade is in. Take measurements of all of the games you will be transporting, as well as any and all doors, stairways, and other passages through which the video games will be passing. You have to make sure everything will fit and make arrangements to disassemble or partially disassemble any machines that may require it.
- Secondly, determine how you plan to move the units. Will it be by hand? Will you use a dolly or a hand truck? Do you have the help required to manage machines that may weigh several hundred pounds and become quite awkward and hard to handle? Do you have a vehicle capable of accommodating all of the machines in your collection? And lastly, what does the path into your new home look like (considering similar measurements of doors and passageways)?
- Clean your games thoroughly using furniture and glass cleaner and microfiber cloths. Do this after the machine has been unplugged, as you do not wish to have any staticky discharge. If you must disassemble or partially disassemble the machines, make sure to take plenty of pictures or video to document the process and help with reassembly at the other end. Place all loose pieces in a bag or box labeled to correspond with the machine they came from and keep those parts with the machine if at all possible.
If you are moving a pinball machine, be sure to remove the balls as well as taping the flippers down and removing the legs if possible (refer to our complete article on pinball machine transportation insert link).
- We have already mentioned the route the machines will have to take. Inspect that route before moving any of the machines and do a final check of all measurements and clearances. Failure to do so means that you could strike the machine against a wall or door jamb, damaging the wall or door as well as causing damage to the video game itself. Keep in mind that some clearances may require the removal of doors and hinges, so you should do this, again, prior to the move. Lastly, inspect for any obstacles along the path that may trip or be fall risks. You do not want to risk a fall with a 500 pound machine.
- Shrink wrap is recommended for pretty much any large item in any move, but for video arcade games, you want to consider heavy duty cling wrap. This protects your machine from damage without adding a great deal of extra bulk. Do not use any sort of adhesive tape on the surface of the video arcade game as this could seriously damage the finish or artwork on the game console itself.
- If the machine is too heavy to move using regular labor, make use of a dolly with ratchet straps and a ramp as this will make the transport much easier. And it bears repeating, always ask your friends for help. There is something about moving a video game that seems to bring out a few more volunteers.
- Once you have the video arcade game outside the house, it is time to pad it up. Keep the machine upright and placing it on its side or back could cause damage to the unit, with the delicate pieces and computer chips that make up the inner works of any video arcade game. Use moving blankets to wrap the machine securely and tighten those blankets with more straps or bungee cords.
- When you place the game into your moving truck or on your trailer, again, store upright, securing the machine to the wall using ratchet straps to provide stability and reduce the chances of shifting during transport due to sudden stops or last second turns. Depending on the length of the journey to your new home, stop every so often and check the status of the straps, making sure nothing has come loose, and that the unit is not making any unwanted moves back there. Getting to your destination and discovering that a unit has been damaged in transit would be most discouraging.
- Once you have arrived at your destination, remove the video arcade games from the moving truck. Again, inspect the path leading to their new room in their new home and check measurements and look for obstacles. At this point, you can move the game into the home and perform any needed reassembly that is required. The last step in the process is to plug the machine up and verify that it is in good working order.
In Conclusion
Home video arcades can provide hours of entertainment for the whole family, and planning your move ahead of time and seeing to the devil in the details will go a long way towards making sure that you and yours can continue enjoying them for many years to come!
