Restoring the classics…
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong restoration
Donkey Kong Reproduction Control Panel
Jan 13th
Due to a variety of reasons, posting has been light over the past month or so. I hope to change that today, with a rare “double post” update. Hopefully, after the second post, you’ll see one of the reasons that my free time has been so limited.
First up, my Christmas haul for this year. Really, it wasn’t a haul, just the one item that I had asked for (other than a pinball machine which I did not get). I managed to score a reproduction control panel for my Donkey Kong cabinet, along with a reproduction joystick. These are available from Mike’s Aracade and I’m very pleased with the quality. It is not installed on the game yet, more on that in post number 2. Here are a few shots of the control panel and joystick that I snapped on my way out the door this morning. I was in a rush, so the quality is not the best: More >
Way Cool Jr.
Sep 5th
My Donkey Kong Jr. boards finally showed up on my doorstep yesterday afternoon. As I’ve discussed before, you can easily play a Donkey Kong Jr. board in a Donkey Kong cabinet. It’s simply a matter of moving the connectors from one board to the other. What I didn’t realize was how easy it was going to be to mount the Donkey Kong Jr. boards in the cabinet along with the Donkey Kong boards.
If you look at the following picture, you’ll see the the position of the Donkey Kong board in the cabinet: More >
Donkey Kong – High Score Kit Installed
Apr 18th
Anyone familiar with Donkey Kong knows that one of the most frustrating things about the game is its inability to save high scores on power down. Powering off the machine results in all 5 top scores being erased and the high score resetting to a measly 7,650 points. Fortunately, a high score kit is available to remedy this frustrating problem.
The Donkey Kong High Score Save kit was developed by Scott Brasington of Braze Technologies. The kit is fairly simple to install and permanently remembers the top 5 scores and initials. The kit also adds some extra features, such as deluxe free play, the ability to play game sounds while in attract mode, a self test on powerup and on-screen settings (no more dip switches!). Unfortunately, Scott has exited the arcade business but his kits are still available at Mikes Arcade and Arcade Shop. Mine arrived in the mail yesterday.
Donkey Kong – Original Flyers
Apr 15th
As is customary with all of my games, here is a front and back scan of the original marketing flyer for Donkey Kong:
Donkey Kong Pictures
Apr 10th
The newly acquired Donkey Kong machine made it’s way from the garage to the basement last night. I finally got a real good look at the cabinet and the work that it’s going to require. The control panel and joystick are shot and will be completely replaced. The joystick has no springback, the jump button is the wrong color and the instruction sheet is warped and wrinkled and the plywood base has numerous cracks.
There are numerous areas on the cabinet that need to be filled with wood putty or Bondo and the entire cabinet will eventually be repainted. I’ll also be applying new side art, however the side art currently on the cabinet is in pretty good shape.
