Topic: Help Identify Tables

[mceagle555]

First time poster here....

I currently own a cheap Havard table with 1/2" hollow rods (bend very easily). I have been searching Craigslist in search of a new table since new rods would cost an arm and a leg.

Can you help me identify the brand and quality of the following tables?

Table 1 - Says "National Tournament Table"

http://images.craigslist.org/1241g1132ZZZZZZZZZ89k08d2fc5bb4191c8a.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/11812a1g9ZZZZZZZZZ89kadf242ebd1661cf1.jpg

Table 2

http://images.craigslist.org/1311ga144ZZZZZZZZZ89m6746ad94d26e1414.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/1311ga144ZZZZZZZZZ89m6746ad94d26e1414.jpg

[Will17]

The first one is a rip off of the old TS brown top, the guy probable paid 500 new. the second one looks like a sportcraft. Neither are worth much but if you are just looking to have some fun playing foos and don't care too much about improvement or playing in a tournament in the future then i would go with the top one and it would be a nice addition to a game room. If you want to improve then get a tornado coin op.

[wildcard]

Table 1 reminds me of the old browntop ts, but probably a knockoff

Table 2 is just junk

Neither will help you get your game better, I would suggest that you add "tornado" to the search criteria on Craigslist and if you can find a coin-op in decent shape for less than $600, jump on it. OR you can check out the new Warrior table at any IFP event, you can buy them there for $600, or new from the Warrior website for $750 plus shipping. I know that's probably not what you want to hear, but if you want to take your game even half seriously, you have to get either a Tornado or a Warrior.  Good Luck.


PS to Will17--  haha you just beat me to it!

PSS to mceagle555--where ya from? the reason I ask is that there is a "McEagle" development corp in my area, just wondering if you are in the St Louis/Metro West area? If you are I would be happy to help you find a decent table.

[mceagle555]

Thanks for all your help guys. I'm not really looking to get into competitions, but I work on a college campus and have guys over to play foos about 10 hours per week, so I do want durability.

My decision is this.

1 - Do I purchase a set of new 5/8" rods & men for my table with really cheap 1/2" hollow rods? Plus, I would have to buy new bearings and hopefully be able to drill out the holes from where the 1/2" bearings were, installing new bearings. Would this allow the men to swing freely and not impeed the gameplay.

or

2 - Buy a craigslist table.

Also....can you identify this table?

http://i8.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/06/25/0ae5_1.JPG

[mceagle555]

Table 1 reminds me of the old browntop ts, but probably a knockoff

PSS to mceagle555--where ya from? the reason I ask is that there is a "McEagle" development corp in my area, just wondering if you are in the St Louis/Metro West area? If you are I would be happy to help you find a decent table.

They want $275 for the first table I listed before...good deal or not?

Nope...I am in central Virginia.

[Will17]

Call about this dynamo for $150: Probably a way better deal. get pics then post them here. its cheaper and a way better brand.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/spo/850571675.html

[Will17]

275 is way too much. 50 bucks would be ok

[mceagle555]

Call about this dynamo for $150: Probably a way better deal. get pics then post them here. its cheaper and a way better brand.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/spo/850571675.html

Thanks....I sent a message on it to the person.

[bbtuna]

how much do you want to spend and it doesn't matter if you plan to play competitively now or not, you want a table which plays true and can stand up to plenty of hours of play...

if you can swing $500-$750 you can get an older coin-op Tornado shipped or picked up for even less ... I have seen a half dozen brown marble sell for under 500 on ebay in the last month

all those tables you have shown are junk and not worth any amount ... save your penneys and be patient and you won't regret it...the right table will with a little basic maintenance will literally last you the rest of your life even with 10+ hours a week play time

by one of these junkie (sorry) home model cheapies and you will spend your money twice

the other thing is, if you ever get more interested you are set and if you decide to sell it is the difference between reselling an Honda verses a Pinto

[Syronis]

haha, nice analogy tuna. Everybody here has been pretty accurate. I thought about just buying a cheaper table to get back into foosball, went over to a friends house who had a sportscraft, and the table was just junk... it was discouraging even to play on it. Save your money, shop around, and get something you won't regret.

Here's a really nice Tornado, the price is way to steep you could probably find one cheaper.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/tag/805544480.html

[wildcard]

Another way to find a tornado is to check with the local vending companies in your area. Lots of times they will have a brown marble coin-op table in the $250-500 range, depending on how much work it needs. ANY part you may need will be available on foosball.com probably cheaper than any vendor, and any investment you make in the table will pay back dividends both immediately and in the long run. I can't stress enough how you need to forget the junk (Harvard, Sportcraft, or even old TS tables) and stick with either Tornado or Warrior.

[Will17]

Everyone jumps this tornado bandwagon all the time. If you just want to play foosball you can go buy yourself a table for 20-50 bucks, or even find one for free. it will not last forever, it wouldn't be high quality like a tornado, but it would be the equivilant of going and buying a new one from walmart for 500 bucks. So don't go to walmart, save your cash. Honestly - just like everyone else on here I would save up a bit of funds and buy a tornado - but maybe that isn't your goal at all and maybe if you had 500 bucks to spend on something you would rather buy something else other than a foosball table. if thats the case then forget the tornado thing, find something that looks heavy with thick rods and you can find that for cheap. usually people are willing to take way less than they asked on craigslist.