...the game commences. For the usual fee...plus expenses.

Oops, sorry, wrong thread!

First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title.

That is an Altenator Unit. In a Dixieland it is used to interrupt a score counter step-up coil every other pulse providing for doubling the score or in the case of a Dixieland to double the already doubled score. You didn't mention what game you have that in. It could be an operator add-on although from the picture at least some of the wiring looks original to the game.

he linked laguna beach as the game

I didn't see that. I see half of it. It's blocked on my page by the "Topic Gallery"

Side comment...that's a rather clean looking cabinet on the inside.

This is an add-on. No factory bingo came with an alternator (the guts of a score reel) inside. There were a few uses for something similar - one was to handle diverting coins to a secondary cashbox (late 60s-early 70s games). Another common thing was to enable 5 plays for a quarter. Every operator had their own way of doing it, and every way I've reversed was worse than the last.

This one looks particularly interesting, as if this is the intended effect, why would you place the relay inside the cab? I guess because you picked the part that took up the most space possible! Because of this, I think it might be used for something different from a simple 5/quarter mod.

Regardless, this is not factory and your machine will likely work just fine with it removed, (and the wires cut or disconnected).

Is the idea to convert the game from taking a nickel to taking a quarter and keeping the same value per credit? If so, five is going to be an odd number for this purpose-maybe! I have not seen the schematic for this game but as with things mechanical there will always be a number of ways to do this. One way would be to start the game (lite a card) and then add 4 credits to the score meter. Another way is to coin the game and have it just "run" until it advances five features (this was a common mod to Lotta Fun's which were converted to Single Coin's by lighting all six cards from one coin). It's also possible to have the coin add 5 credits directly to the score meter. I'm sure there are others. I'm not familiar with Laguna Beech but the circuit logic is all the same.

The machine came from the factory without the ability to do five / quarter. That was an add-on, but as time went on and the machines continued operation years after their intended replacement, operators got crafty.

Bally caught on around 1970 with the multi-play relay. You moved one wire and suddenly had five/quarter instead of 1/1.

So any ability to do five/quarter is going to be some aftermarket solution. Stepper or relay with changes to timing and replay cams.

This machine likely had the option for dime 1/1 or nickel 1/1. You might've been able to request quarter, but I'm not sure exactly when that would have started. It also would have been 1/1 at this time from Bally, if available.

BingoPodCast is right. This will require some modifications and will depend on how determined you are to have this set-up. The Bally method will be at least the addition of a multi-play relay and a cam with 4 lobes per cycle. This will give you one game feature and 4 credits on the score meter. This can be done but if you are not bingo circuit savvy then you will need help. So if you're still determined, look at a schematic for a game as BingoPodCast says after 1970 that has this feature and make a parts list.

A super simple way would be If you have a friend who can design a small circuit board to convert the single pulse from the coin switch to output five 12vdc pulses to a 12vdc relay with up to 4 switches on it. The relay would then be used to pass 48vac to the score meter 5 times while another switch would simultaneously pull in the anti-cheat relay. This is basically how a bill acceptor is used on an EM game.

Most of the Bally bingo's for Belgium had this device fitted.
It was used to play one game for depositing two francs.

The unit had to step twice each time to play
A Belgium franc was about 5 dollarcent

That makes a lot more sense than a 5/quarter mod with the mechanical setup. Perhaps one play for two nickels?

Mystery intensifies - why would the lifter motor itself be in the circuit? If it were supporting the 5 plays/quarter, then every other quarter would put the interior switch at a different position (open vs. closed). And why are there two coils? Step up/step down - perhaps at zero pos it re-enables the coin lockout (instead of running through the CU and replay register.

Wild speculation. My vote is to cut it out and replace the coin entry plate!

You seem determined to have this game work with 5 plays for a quarter. But if your restoring or fixing up the game for use at home is this really necessary? Look, this can be done with some effort but for home use it’s the same amount of steps: 1) Press the coin switch five times or 2) Press the coin switch once and press the credit button four or five times. Why is this so important for you to have the game set up this way?

Or is it that you just like that coin insert plate which I have to admit is pretty sweet.

BTW, the coin chute would have to be one either for nickels or quarters.......or dimes if that’s your desire. Only jukebox mechs and soda machine mechs accept multiple coin demoninations.

Frank, there should be some around. I got a new repo
from Coos H.
Joe Shoppe, Bingo Butch or Nate at Dixieland Pinball should
have what ever you need
Terry K

the green wire is connected to wire 30. The orange wire is connected to wire 70. The lift motor/switches is just a handy place to tap onto those wires. You can ignore the orange wire - it's just providing the 50V to one side of the coil.

it'd be easier if you figure out where the other wires are going in the head (or to cabinet plug wires). The way bally did it was to release the replay cams to add four credits. If you don't have a replay cam with four lobes, but have one with eight, I could see the alternator unit being used to divide the pulses in half.

you can often remove the coin plate and turn it over. The other side is usually chromed but doesn't say anything. With the quarter-sized slot, you can accept a nickel, dime or quarter so what you use depends on what coin mech you put in there. If you go with nickel or especially a dime, you may need the trapezoidal coin guides (or substitute) screwed onto the coin exit area below the mech to make sure the coin activates the coin switch properly.