Firecracker
Bally, 1971
Skyrocket
Bally, 1971Are there enough Skyrocket fans out there to justify a club on Pinside? I think so!
Love this game and I am honestly intrigued to find out how many Skyrocket's are out there. It cant be the 545 number that Pinside and IPDB shows. Id guess its closer to 1100.
If you join the club tell us your serial number so we can try to get to the bottom of this odd scenario.
Mine is #1558
A few pictures of mine.
20210112_152612 (resized).jpg20210112_210853 (resized).jpg20210112_211020 (resized).jpg20210113_082930 (resized).jpg20210113_082937 (resized).jpg20210113_082949 (resized).jpg20210113_083233 (resized).jpg20210113_112631 (resized).jpg20210113_112637 (resized).jpg20210113_112644 (resized).jpg20210113_164411 (resized).jpg20210113_164643 (resized).jpgQuoted from FLASHBALL:Are there enough Skyrocket fans out there to justify a club on Pinside? I think so!
Love this game and I am honestly intrigued to find out how many Skyrocket's are out there. It cant be the 545 number that Pinside and IPDB shows. Id guess its closer to 1100.
If you join the club tell us your serial number so we can try to get to the bottom of this odd scenario.
Mine is #1558
I think that 545 production number is probably accurate. I don’t own a Skyrocket, but I do own a Magic Circle, and they made 580 Magic Circles. I’ve only seen or heard of four Magic Circles and probably the same number of reported Sky Rockets.
If anyone knows of a Sky Rocket let me know as I’d like to join the club!
Just played mine yesterday w the kids. One of them was literally just plunging and getting the extra ball while draining three times in a row! It’s a very unique pin and am happy and lucky to have one
Quoted from FLASHBALL:I seen this in another Skyrocket restoration thread that his serial number was over 2000. Thats why I was questioning the production number.[quoted image]
The lowest serial number on ipdb is in the low 1500s, and the highest one is low 2000s. There’s one outlier.
Yes, I have # 2030.
Or, that may be the year that I get around to putting my playfield back together. Can’t decide to have it cleared or just leave it as-is. Looks purdy.
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Bluespin is right, lowest confirmed number is still above 1500. I'll bet they were trying to make their sales look better by starting at 1500, so if that's the case 2045 would be the last serial number. 2030 would've been dang near the end! Pretty cool if that's true.
Further info from the Internet Pinball Serial Number Database:
http://ipsnd.net/View.aspx?id=2204
There are 15 games submitted ranging from # 278 to # 2037. My # 2030 and another # 1597 are not on IPSND. Game # 278 does not have a confirming picture, so if you throw that one out, the range of the 14 games on IPSND and the 2 others is # 1517 through # 2037.
The plot thickens.
Quoted from Ballypin:Further info from the Internet Pinball Serial Number Database:
http://ipsnd.net/View.aspx?id=2204
There are 15 games submitted ranging from # 278 to # 2037. My # 2030 and another # 1597 are not on IPSND. Game # 278 does not have a confirming picture, so if you throw that one out, the range of the 14 games on IPSND and the 2 others is # 1517 through # 2037.
The plot thickens.
That #278 is the outlier that I was talking about. I think he meant to type 2078, or it’s a cabinet from another pin that was repainted as a Sky Rocket. I’ll try to reach out to him.
Quoted from bluespin:That #278 is the outlier that I was talking about. I think he meant to type 2078, or it’s a cabinet from another pin that was repainted as a Sky Rocket. I’ll try to reach out to him.
I can attest repaints happened in 1971. My Double Up (May 1971) is # 1004 and the base cabinet clearly shows Firecracker (February 1971) graphics beneath. Cheaper to paint over rather than sand down and start fresh. I wonder how prevalent this was with Bally sample / test runs ?
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Quoted from FLASHBALL:As most of us know, many of these early EM machines require the flipper button to be pressed to turn on the lights after toggling the power switch.
What was the reason behind this?
Earlier Bally games did NOT have a toggle switch and the left flipper button was used to power on with a "kick" button near the bottom center of the cabinet to power off.
Not sure why the flipper switch remained with the addition of the toggle.
Quoted from FLASHBALL:bluespin this one popped up in Ohio. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Pinball4sale/permalink/4354274011266031/?sale_post_id=4354274011266031
Thanks but that's really over my budget. I can't see myself paying $3K for one.
Quoted from Ballypin:Further info from the Internet Pinball Serial Number Database:
http://ipsnd.net/View.aspx?id=2204
There are 15 games submitted ranging from # 278 to # 2037. My # 2030 and another # 1597 are not on IPSND. Game # 278 does not have a confirming picture, so if you throw that one out, the range of the 14 games on IPSND and the 2 others is # 1517 through # 2037.
The plot thickens.
It appears that the owner of # 278 on IPSND has provided the following picture showing his game to be # 1741. This adds more fuel to the first game theory of # 1501 if the 545 production figure is correct or the actual production is at least 1,037.
Right on!! Glad you were able to get that clarification from him. I know theres gotta be more skyrocket owners out there. Pinside shows 27 owners. Hopefully more will chime in with their serial numbers as they see the club.
EM games can be so finicky! I ran into a little issue tonight. My lower pop bumper was not registering soft hits. I opened the glass case and playfield and I adjusted the lower pop switch to be a bit tighter. Now the lower pop bumper isnt firing at all. I didnt mess with anything else.
What could I have done to cause this?
Quoted from Ballypin:Yes, I have # 2030.
Or, that may be the year that I get around to putting my playfield back together. Can’t decide to have it cleared or just leave it as-is. Looks purdy.
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Let NEO clear it for you. He did mine. It is glorious... glorious I say!
A little birdie whispered in my ear about this thread... thanks @eagle18!
My production number is 1704.
Skyrocket is my #2 favorite EM just below the Freedom prototype. It turned out to be a monster classic... and Harry Williams no doubt had a lot to do with that. Would take a Skyrocket over *any* Gottlieb EM, period, case closed.
Need to get a Firecracker and see if the gameplay is anywhere as good. Kinda cool that he did two fireworks themes for Bally and that’s it. Talk about going out with a bang!
I think maybe we should include Firecracker owners in here. The Firecracker/Skyrocket duo is all Harry Williams working for Bally... and only those two!
Quoted from NicoVolta:Posting in case you haven’t seen it in action...
NicoVolta changed the name of the club to include firecracker owners too, good idea!
That video is quite possibly the main reason for me hunting down this game!
Eventually I'd like to get the match working on mine. Seems someone must have needed parts for another machine. I believe that I need to order a coil and probably other parts to get the mechanism operating. Can someone post a picture similar to this so I can verify what all is missing from my mech?
Thanks.
20210112_210853 (resized).jpgQuoted from Ballypin:German Firecracker and Skyrocket.
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Quoted from FLASHBALL:ballypin Which one do you play more?
Well of course Ballypin has both... 
Yes do a head-to-head review! Which one you prefer but also what you like/dislike about each.
Quoted from FLASHBALL:ballypin Which one do you play more?
That's easy... Firecracker, because my Skyrocket is still in restoration. I bought it 2 years ago and I have been in constant game gathering mode and it keeps getting pushed.
Quoted from NicoVolta:Well of course Ballypin has both... Yes do a head-to-head review! Which one you prefer but also what you like/dislike about each.
I have not played MY Skyrocket yet. I played a couple games on Nic's at the RPM a few years ago and his is the gold standard that my game hopes to someday emulate .
Firecracker has 2 ways to score big: build/collect bonus and the random score Firecracker feature. The inner white circle of inserts shows the build up of bonus from 1,000 to 10,000 by hitting standup targets or the top lanes. Bonus can also be increased by the random Firecracker award when landing in either the top or center left Firecracker kickout saucers. Bonus is collected by shooting the upper right kickout saucer -OR- getting the Bonus Score award from the Firecracker saucers. Draining the ball forfeits all uncollected bonus.
The main "trick" feature of the game is the Firecracker unit. Landing in either of the 2 kickout saucers will start the Firecracker unit to flash the outer circle of yellow inserts, with an audible "cracking" sound, until it lands on one of 5 different awards: Collect Bonus; or Advance Bonus + 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 or 5,000. The points are awarded and then the ball is kicked back into play.
The game also has a play more post between the flippers and the various 10 point switches on the field alternately light the left drain kickback, target for extra ball and target to light the free ball gate for 3,000 points.
I'd eventually like to find an English version of Firecracker.
Ballypin are the colored inserts on the coin door easy to come by? My game only has one on the right side. The center and left are just black. Id like to add a little more color to my coindoor.
20210113_083233 (resized).jpgQuoted from FLASHBALL:ballypin are the colored inserts on the coin door easy to come by? My game only has one on the right side. The center and left are just black. Id like to add a little more color to my coindoor.
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I am not aware that any supplier has these available. Best bet would be to watch the Marketplace or eBay as this door and chute parts do come up for sale from time to time from parted games.
My playfield is pretty “used” and could a professional touch. Have any of you had someone do your repaint and clear?
Quoted from Ballypalooza:My playfield is pretty “used” and could a professional touch. Have any of you had someone do your repaint and clear?
CaptainNeo replied earlier in this thread. He did my Skyrocket and man did it turn out good. 
Quoted from NicoVolta:CaptainNeo replied earlier in this thread. He did my Skyrocket and man did it turn out good.
thank you. I haven’t had to have this much touch up before. Skyrocket is such a beautiful playfield, it deserves the full treatment.
Lately my Skyrocket has been acting a little strange. Im not too great with EM games yet so maybe this is something common..
Most of the time it fires up just fine and plays well. Every once in a while I will power it on, hit the left flipper for lights, then when I start a game the credit wheels spin back to zeros but the ball doesnt kick out. I've found that If I manually engage the reset relay. Then I can press the start button and start a game normally.
Is this something common? Should I try using a flexstone on the contacts for the reset relay?
It's about time someone started a Skyrocket - Firecracker thread!
My Skyrocket is serial #1564.
I just bought the USA version Firecracker project in NJ, essentially in my backyard. The backglass has touch-ups but will be fine. The playfield should clean up well. The head will be coming from a mutual collector friend in the future. I agree that the German version is far more common. In fact, the USA version is scarcely seen.
I've nearly completed a Gator restoration recently. . .just waiting for a good backglass from a friend and a few other tasks. My current Gator backglass is degraded in several areas. It's a 5 digit prototype backglass. I always liked the soothing pale green on Gator's playfield and apron and the vectors appeal to me.
Expressway is still a favorite in my Bally line-up section and looks very good flanking Skyrocket. Among my Bally EMs, gone are 2 Cosmos, 2 Rocket III, a Surfers, MiniZag and a Fireball. I miss Cosmos the most. Attached are several photos of some of these Bally EMs.
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Mulvane, KS
Bulli