So, I've been thinking a lot about putting a center post on my 1961 Aloha. Before you start hemming and hawing about how there are no outlanes and I'm lucky to even have flippers, let me tell you why. First of all, I love this game, but even I am frustrated that you only get a few shots at hitting the ball at best - the gap it just too big. How do I know? Well, I did some investigating. You know what I found? A lot of modified Gottlieb pinballs from this same era (1961-66). Yes, I found photos of Aloha with center posts added Aloha (resized).png but I also found Gaucho's with side posts (not center) Gaucho (resized).png Oklahoma Oklahoma (resized).png Rack-A-Ball Rack_A_Ball (resized).png and, yes, even Slick Chick - which already has bumper extensions under the flippers Slick_Chick (resized).pngSlick_Chick_Center (resized).png What does all of this mean? It means a lot of other people think the gap between the flippers in the early 60's Gottlieb machines was WAY too big! The other reason I am considering it is more practical - I like playing pinball and would like to play each ball longer (so would my friends who play this game). So, here is the moment of truth. Do you think it's ok to add center posts to games with a large gap between the flippers on these early machines? Please use the poll options to answer and post your photo with a center post if you have one.

Longer flippers just don't look right on these early EMs. I'd rather drill into the playfield.

I like where you put it. Been debating that in my head - i.e. cover the Gottlieb symbol or not. Truth is, that is the most logical place for it. I'm afraid it would block shots if I put it over the "Aloha" writing in the yellow area. Looking around the web (and you really should - I'm not the only one with this problem on early 60s machines) I found that a few people on a few games had to cover the symbol as well to add a center post. Just how it goes.

Excellent point! In the restoration world I have experience with pinballs, Jukeboxes and vintage motorcycles. In all cases, you will come across people who are absolute factory purists. For example, the 1971 BSA 650 was a color that could only be described as baby puke green. Triumph twins suffer from notoriously bad electrics with can be FIXED by upgrading to an electronic ignition and eliminating the Zener diode/selenium rectifiers. By the same token, design defects in a game that will forever be "factory" versions would be fixed or improved upon by owners if players didn't like particular aspects of the game. Taking the factory design as the word of GOD is a mistake, in my opinion. The workers, designers and managers at the factory did not necessarily opine on the minutia like we do on every game - they made mistakes sometime. We have the opportunity to fix those.

Frankly, there are too many games I found in a brief search today (please see my first post) for this to be just my personal issue. I think the gap's too big and it makes the game less fun - I love the look and sound of this game. I even love the game play of this game, with the bonus roll over and the gobble hole. I just don't like the gap.

This is pretty funny. Looks like even the VIRTUAL pinball guys have added a center post!

And now, for my big finish, you can witness the desecration of my sacred Aloha pinball machine (which I love, by the way). Thanks for the input. I was pushed over the edge by the zelots who refuse to ever modify any pinball machine in any way. I am not of that camp (in anything - you should see my 1964 Triumph Desert Sled). This was NOT a museum quality machine, and now it still isn't.

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Postscript - I counted four saves that were related to the center post (5-ball game). This modification actually makes the gobble whole more of a player in the game. I like that.