The world is full of retro consoles that end up forgotten in landfills. But occasionally, one gets a second chance. That's the case with a Sega Master System that was rescued from a demolished house in Canada and brought back to life by Imgur user billy2600. Despite being exposed to harsh weather, the console only needed a good cleaning and a minor repair.
The Master System arrived too late in the US market to compete effectively, and Sega's partnership with Tonka didn't help. However, it found success in Europe and Brazil. Some optimistic estimates suggest that Sega sold 13 million Master Systems (not counting clones), making it rarer than the NES. That's why it's always worth restoring one, and billy2600 did exactly that.
A Sega Master System Rescued from a Demolished House
The console was virtually unearthed from a demolished house in Canada by a Reddit user. The good news is that the damage to the shell is not extensive, but the bad news is that its exposure to sunlight and elements irreversibly changed the classic red of its labels. The cartridges didn't end up "soldered" to the connectors by rust, but they needed a contact cleaning. Another cause for celebration is the rescue of the Sega Control Stick, even rarer than the console itself.
Inside, he found a significant amount of rust and some twigs. The main "victim" was the RF shield, but since it's not essential for the Master System's operation, billy2600 simply discarded it. The main board received a deep cleaning with a mix of alcohol and vinegar, and the only direct repair was on a cut trace.
Final result? The console works perfectly. I imagine there must be reproductions for the labels, but at the same time, the "orange" serves as a reminder of the impressive journey that Master System had. Although we've seen some more extreme restorations in the past, the truth is that these consoles are more resistant than they seem.
Restoration Gallery
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