The lure of the flashing lights, the ringing bells, the chance of winning an extra game and testing your skill against a shiny silver ball being hurtled around an enclosed table at warp speed. Ahh yes, there was nothing like my frequent visits to amusement arcades and milk bars to play the pinball machines. They've left the milk bars and are almost completely gone from the arcades, but now they're readily available to buy and put in your own games room at home.

But as with all purchases that involve reasonable dollars, research is a must. There are a few factors that must be taken into consideration when buying a pinball machine, so here are a few tips to consider before you buy your new pinball machine?

Firstly, make sure you're going for a machine from a big name manufacturer. That's not suggesting the smaller manufacturers were dodgy when they brought out their machines, it's just that when you inevitably have to find spare parts for your pinball machine it will pay to have the most common. A bumper may wear out and need replacing, you may need the rubber changed. If you go with one of the big names (, Gottlieb, Stern, , Williams or Data East) you will have fewer problems finding parts.

Poker Machines are readily available to buy over the internet. You may have had a favourite machine you played in your youth so you know what it is you're going to buy. You may have fallen in love with the Meteor or Kiss machine or in my case, Disco Fever, and want one for your own games room. Ensure that if you're bidding for one on-line you see as many photos of the machine as possible. You're trying to ensure that the machine is in as good quality as possible - no missing glass, bumpers, etc.

Some of these machines will have been well-used after all, most have been sitting in arcades and other public places and frustrated players have been venting frustrations over them for years. It's possible that the body of the machine will be scratched or beginning to wear out, particularly the more popular names. However, the more popular the machine, the more likely that parts will be available for them.

Find out, if you can, how new the flippers and coils on the machine are. If anything is going to wear and affect the playability of the machine it's going to be these parts. Also, try to get a look at the pinball ball(s) in the machine. A less than shining ball could damage the surface of the table and affect the quality of the game you get.

Whether you're determined to buy a pinball that you remembered playing as a kid or are looking to add another valuable asset to your pinball collection, there is a wide range of machines out there and some of them are at bargain basement prices. Just remember to do your research.