Hello,

I've been working on an early 1960's United Cypress bowling machine and I am having issues with the light sockets. I cleaned the insides of the sockets and removed any corrosion that would accumulate over the years and I ohmed out the bulbs. I also wire wheeled some of the bulb because of corrosion. The lights do light up in every socket but the lights will dim or not light up after a few games have been played in random sockets. Especially the underside lights for Flash. If you move the bulbs, they will come back on. The bulbs seem to have enough spring tension and should work. Just wondering if there are any tricks to get the bulbs to stay on.

I remember about ten years ago I had the same issue with a 1960 United Falcon bowler and what I did was to slightly squeeze the sockets so the lightbulb would be touching the sides of the socket instead of relying on the little side lightbulb tabs that normally make the contact with the sockets. This worked but I was wondering if there was a better solution than deforming the sockets.

Thanks,

Larry.

Way over 100 lights. Too many to replace.

It seems that changing them would be the way to go. I think there was 150 bulbs.

I’m curious what goes wrong with the sockets. Is it corrosion or do the sockets loosen up somehow and you lose continuity.

These sockets have the cut out “V” section in the bottom of the socket. The solder tip off the bulb makes contact there. The “V” acts like a spring and pushes the side tips of the bulb into the side slots of the socket. It looks and feels like the bulb and socket are making Contact and should light up. Any idea on what causes these sockets to go bad? I can’t see them wearing out since there are no moving parts?

OK thanks for all your input.

Thanks Dave. I will try those ideas. This is for a game that I may not keep. I already have a 13' United Falcon in my basement. The Cypress is 16'. I thought it was 13' when I bought it. With all my other arcade/vending, I believe I can only keep one. I already have more $$ and time into the game than I can get out of it if I had to sell it. It was my dream game, but I just don't like the way the 16' game plays with Flash and Line up. May look for a new early sixties game. Tropics would be my next dream come true. That would match my Embassy shuffle. I could sell the Falcon to make room for that, but the Cypress is just too much additional work and too long. I do like the extra length for all the other five games. I still have to strip the wood and make a wood piece for the lower marquee to even make it presentable to sell.

Thanks again everyone for your advice.