Bally Freedom an American Icon

I was born in Chicago, the year 1976 along with 5,000 brothers. My creator the Bally company incorporated in me the latest electromechanical technology. I had hundreds of miniature light bulbs inside, pop bumpers, slings,drop targets and flippers. Four players could enjoy me at the same time for the reasonable price of 25 cents each. I had an anticipated life of 5-10 years and was soon shipped off to a local Arcade.

In time I had to endure heavy smoking, spilled drinks and machine bashers pushing me around, with some trying to steal money out of my coin box. In some arcades that I lived in the line voltage was low, so I was opened up and my transformer was hot tapped to give me more energy and power. I felt violated. 
As technology advanced my future friends incorporated solid state boards with a variety of new features and toys. It seemed that I was played less and less. Eventually I was pushed to the back of the arcade with the other old timers and almost hidden away.

Over the years, somehow I made my way across the country and ended up in Massachusetts. I was located in a dirty old Garage, sitting on my backside, in pieces and not operational. I thought that it was all over for me, perhaps heading for a junk pile of used parts never to be played again. It was the year 2023 and I was 47 years old.

my current owner sold me to three local pinballers with nick names; the captain, mechanic and Tireman. All three are members of pinside, this story teller. They carried me home and saved my life. No longer was I destined to be tortured in arcades anymore but instead would live at someone's house and only be play occasionally.

soon I was all cleaned up and my bulbs and rubbers replaced with new ones. I even got some LED bulbs that were brighter and gave off less heat. All my coils were checked and some replaced, electric contacts cleaned and flippers rebuilt. I looked shinney and new and played great.

I now lived in a clean basement with new friends, some were very fancy and striking. However I remain the wise and older pinball machine among the group. I was a forerunner of the new machines that followed. Made in America, I was a true Icon of the American revolution in 1776 called "Freedom ".