Treasury of pinball machines goes on the auction block

WASHINGTON — Some cherished items that used to be part of a museum in the D.C. area are up for auction starting Friday.

David Silverman founded the National Pinball Museum, which opened in the Shops at Georgetown Park in 2010. He later moved it to Baltimore and the museum closed in 2012.

Now Silverman, who’s been collecting pinball machines for more than 35 years, has decided to sell his massive collection.

The first batch of 75 pinball machines, some dating from the 1930s, will be sold through Morphy Auctions in central Pennsylvania today and tomorrow. Estimated selling prices range from $600 to $4,000.

Also up for sale: an 1857 bagatelle game, which was an early form of pinball. That one is expected to sell for between $10,000 and $20,000 because it’s the only one Silverman has ever seen.

Take a look at the auction catalog here.

If you’re interested in buying one of these machines, you can bid online.

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