I was wondering what I was going to do for a marquee for my MAME cabinet. I had thought of just printing on some paper and sandwiching between Plexiglas, but I knew that could only be temporary. Then, I found a most unusual source.

I have been collecting points in the "My Coke Rewards" promotion, and I’d already collected free subscriptions to "Popular Science" and "Wired". Then I found a reward listing for a free 20"x30" photo print from Kodak!

I uploaded a super-high resolution version of this (if you’d like the original, e-mail me):

It came in the mail a week or so later; a HUGE photo, ready to be cut into two marquees. The only problem is that, since it is from Kodak, it has "Kodak®" logos all over the back. This will be a problem if I go for the traditional backlighting (which I plan to). I’m going to think of this as a proof-of concept, and use it until I can get a new one printed at Kinko’s on clean-backed paper.

At any rate, once I cut them apart, they’ll make great wall hangings!

I always knew I wanted my cabinet to look fairly authentic, so when I spotted several types of coin doors on eBay (have you noticed the eBay theme with my parts yet?), I kept an eye out for a bargain. There are many types of coin doors and plain coin acceptors. I always liked the “over/under” style, with the coin mechanisms mounted in the upper door and a lower door for the coin hopper.

After a while, I managed to find my prize for less than $20! It is a Coin Controls brand, and it came with US quarter coin acceptors. It had some light rust, so it needed a paint job, but it is in excellent shape.

I’m going to wire it into the controller so that coin drops actually register. I’m thinking of replacing the coin acceptor mechanisms with some token mechanisms I found on eBay ($5 for three). Then I’ll reward my kids with tokens!