I restored a reimported rock star a couple years ago. As you can see at the bottom of the photo, the apron simply says "buttons".. This was definitely a reimport as the Italian operator had done some modifications in the backbox (counting to 1 million in normal play) including some labels that were written in Italian. You can see, it does say "wow" on the play field and there were "wows" in the silk screening of the backglass. I think that this was probably a transition time When they were not as strict about these things.( Late in the EM era.)

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And the sample R.S. has the word Flipper, so no doubt that was never attended
to go to Italy. I'm wondering if only the sample machines stayed in the states and the
rest went (or at least was meant to go) to Italy. Federico (the collector in Italy) said
Rock Star was a popular machine, so sounds like at least the better portion went
over there..

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Why was “flipper” banned, was it related to gambling or was there some other reason?

That cabinet paint looks fine... in fact it looks fantastic, at least the head... you're not showing the rest.

If the cabinet looks that good, or even close... repainting it would be a disservice not only to its original state, but to future owners after you.

77 Lucky Hand restoration on the way. Never getting rid of any of these.

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Sea_Wolf - got some nice machines there! I'd love to play a Wild Card for real. I've played the virtual version and love it - I'll bet the real thing is fun. Love Lucky Hand too - that'll be a nice addition. And I prefer that Add-a-ball version to Jacks Open.

paulace Thanks. These machines were all by chance that they ended up in my basement except for the Mata Hari I traded for with another Pinsider.

The Wild Card is fast and really fun to play. I can’t wait to get the Lucky Hand although it needs some work.

Here is a Gottlieb Soccer I just went through and sold. Up next is Williams Doodle Bug.

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I’m interested in Doodle Bug if you decide to sell….

PM incoming.

atpcfiaim

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That is a seriously nice looking Doodle Bug.

One of the ultimate pins with pointy people artwork.

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Recently finished this title and now on the Hawaiian Beauty.

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Turned out great!

That's basically a new game now!

Very nice restoration!

Nick is the best

Thanks for the kind words all

Added a project El Dorado to go along with my Fireball project. I think I have a good start on an EM collection with my Card Whiz to complete the trio.

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Agreed, gameplay and aesthetics always top shelf.

Here is a 1966 Midway Fun Ball that I picked up recently. It is appropriately named, as the main objective is trying to score as many runs, bonuses and extra balls as possible. I think this game could have had just about any theme, although baseball works fairly well. It appears that Midway used a similar layout for other games.

This is my first Midway game and it is different than pretty much any other game that I’ve worked on. Many of the game’s features are based on degrees of rotation of the motorized score reels. This puts a whole different “spin” on reading the schematics. Some of these less common manufactures don’t get the same respect as the Gottlieb or Williams, but I find that many times their engineering is more outside the box and often times more intuitive. I’ve worked out the bugs but am looking forward to cosmetically refreshing the game as a winter project.

I love a row a wedgeheads just as much as the next guy. But I feel that having a couple games like this in the lineup really rounds out a collection.

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Cool art on that!

Still miss that Stage Coach.

And looks like you have the (moreless) add-a-ball version.
Years back I went through one that I picked up and it's a great player
with the 4 and 2 extra balls being part of the features. Couple years
later, I go through another, and it was different. I don't think
it had the 2 Added Balls, but for sure not the 4. I did some tricks so
it would add balls, but it wasn't the same as the 1st one which I still have.
Another machine I'm hoping to once again have set back up some day..

I might add (and this is coming from a prominent mechanic from way back).
On the Reel Clutches, Neatsfoot oil is what's best to use..

Me too!

It’s a great game!

That is interesting. An original ad for the game indicates that regular, replay and extended play models were available. But this game seems to have both replay and extended play. The continually rotating bonus reel allows points, 2 ball, 4 ball, and specials which awards either 100pts or 1 credit. Extra balls can also be scored depending on which targets are hit and how they are lit. The game keeps track of how many times “STAR” is completed and will award a credit at a selected threshold. This feature carries over game to game. There are many combinations to win and extend the game which makes it a great player like you said. On top of it all, there is a magnet under the playfield for curve balls. The player can’t control the feature, but the operator can adjust the frequency of curve balls. It truly is a goofy game. It took me a while to figure out everything that was going on.

Does your game have the instruction card on the apron? Mine is missing and I think I’ll need to come up with something to explain the game to new players.

It's been so long I can't recall, but I noticed it today and it's stored right up front.
I'll see about taking a look for an instruction card tomorrow.
If it is an option on my machine, it wasn't set for any replays, but I don't think I
remember any credit reel in the bg.
Yes, I remember the 2 and 4 extra balls, and getting the S-T-A-R targets twice,
I'm thinking gave a ball or 2. Also, some targets switched instead of getting the
reel to spin, it gave an Extra Ball if hit. Maybe that happened only when you were
on your last ball.
I have to get that machine back out. It may not look like much until you play
and know its rule set..

I actually have a parts Fun Ball bottom cabinet which still has the instruction
card so I took a pic of it also.
The one with "Fun Park" in red is the one in my machine and I don't remember
doing so, but it looks as if I had that card made. I'm like 95% that I had, but
what the card states is exactly how the machine plays, and it actually does have
a Credit Reel, but the backglass window is blocked out. It's a good blocking as
if factory. I picked it up right here in New York, and being add-a-ball it probably
has been here all it's life.
My bg went bad, and years back I got lucky enough to pick up a spare head with
a nice bg. It has the Credit Reel window, but outside of that, everything else is
exactly the same.

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Got my first EM project this summer. I have a limited line-up of mostly very modern games and my wife wanted something a bit more "classic". Got her a cheap EM project/garage game. It's a Recel Lady Luck.

While I have no interest in a full restoration I did go through every relay/switch, shopped it and got some new parts to make it look a bit less tired. The game wasn't too bad to get up and running. I find it surprisingly fun.

Only 2 things left to fix. Match doesn't award a credit as it should (but score based replays work), and there's a free play hack that's been done and I can't figure it out, not that I've tried much lol. Don't really care about the last one since I'd rather not have to add credits all the time. Just not a fan of hacks.

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Looks like a fun game. At least in that picture, the captive ball is missing.

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Yeah sorry I was still working on the game when that pic was taken. Both balls were likely missing lol. You have to hit that captive ball just right. It's actually a shallow ramp. The manual actually calls it the ramp shot. It's satisfying to ring the bell when you get that shot. the other sounds are electronic beeps and boops.

I'm sad I also forgot to take shopping out pics. At least I remembered to take pics with my shuffle alley I also revived this summer.

If you think 'that' looks nice.... you should have seen it before it got repainted.

I can imagine. When I restore a game, the sweatier the better.

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Yes, well... I'm glad you didn't take my comments to heart.

First post was actually serious but the second... just ribbing you a bit.

But I hope you... and others here... will at least 'consider'...... keeping games with great original cabinet paint... as is.

Now, I'll be the first to say it... sometimes the paint is so monked up and dilapidated, you just don't have much of a choice.

All I'm saying is... please don't be 'repaint happy'.... that's all.

You lost me, not sure how that was ribbing, I must have missed something? Most the projects I get are trashed cabs with good potential. That's where I get the best deals and the most satisfaction after restoring.

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Excellent work John.............

That is really interesting! My game is closest to the top original card that you posted. Except that my game switches back and forth between 100 runs and a credit if a bonus target is hit and “Special” comes up on the continuously running score reel. Also it does not score 100 runs if STAR is completed. So not sure if mine is the “Regular” or “Replay” version. It makes sense that your other game is the “Extended Play” version with so many added balls.

I wouldn’t have expected so much variation in the games. At the very least I now have the correct looking format to come up with my own card. Thank you!!

Here are my EM's. Am I the only one with their pins buried in their garage? lol I'm hoping for a productive winter and get some of these fixed up

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Getting Cherry Bell ready to lend to the Delaware Pinball Collective.

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I had this Pro Football for many years, and today as I was moving machines around,
I noticed its production number. It doesn't have an S (however someone carved
below the number), but compared to the numbers on other sample machines I have,
I would maybe think it's an early run, or could that be a number stamp after the fact?

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It sure is a low number.

Yea, but the numbers are larger than normal.
From the outside of the left zero to the outside of the
four is around 2", and they're like 7/16" tall. Almost as
if the 1st set of numbers were scratch out, and then these
stamped in. Wonder how other Pro Football numbers appear.

Did it come with a schematic? Is it a blueprint of a handwritten schematic? That is one indicator of sample games.
What number is on the top of the head? Does it match?
What number is under the tag on the brace behind the coin box? Does it match?

Crazy, but it's possible I may have never opened the machine.
I'll check for a schematic. I had already looked and didn't see
a number on the head. Wasn't aware of a number being under
the tag. I'll look, but something seems off with having a larger
number (than normal) near the coin door, but possibly factory..

Betting the operator removed the factory serial number and replaced with his own inventory ID marking system.

I was fairly certain that number was changed, and I'm betting this explanation is as good as any.
I looked and actually found a Pro Football schematics in the files. It's the only Pro Football I've owned,
so very most likely it came from this machine, and there's no indication it's a Sample machine.
I took a closer look at the top of the head, (and often the numbers are offset), but on the Pro Football's,
dead center it's faded as if something was rubbed out. The finalizer is, the number under the coin box
backing board is 06111
I wasn't doubtful, but just to 100% confirm, I checked that board's number (on an easy to get to) Gold
Strike, and yup, matched the front of the machine's serial number.