Many of the Canadian machines had an additional isolation transformer installed in them. These were somewhat large and quite heavy. Is that what you mean? Is it located on the motor board in place of the normal transformer or is it inside the cabinet? What game is it? I had a Gottlieb "Pin Wheel" which had one of these isolation transformers in it. You can probably remove it if the original transformer is still on the motor board.

I haven't had a Chinatown, but from a similar '52 Gottlieb, the transformer is likely part# A-1301. Looks like this (without the blue caps though):

xformer.jpg

What's that coil just sitting there with no armature plate or anything on it?

No idea. I no longer have this game, and I never got around to restoring it, so I didn't dig into that bit of oddness. As I recall, I didn't see any clear function for it, but the wiring didn't suggest any particular hack job either. I don't think it's original though.

It looks original to me especially if your machine had it too Dirt, but I just don't the logic in it either.

Ken

My Chinatown doesn't have that coil (no sign it ever did and nothing on the schematic), and the transformer is A-1301.

I know the coil looked pretty good when I got it, so good that I didn't notice it right away until I was getting ready to restore it. But it really shouldn't be there, and isn't original to the game.

Bit easier to see in these pics. It's just plopped down over the wires that lead to the knocker jones plug. I didn't trace the wires to see where they go though. I traded the game before I did the restore, so didn't resolve the mystery.

2013Oct18 002.JPG
2013Oct18 003.JPG

The game was '52 Happy Days, but I've not seen a picture of the bottom board for another one to compare.