Williams Early '60s Chrome Flipper Games

Quoted from pinwiztom:
The Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda CA has probably one of the most vast EM collections,
with tons of early 60s WMS EMs, Along with tons of Woodrails and GTB and BLY EMs)
That is in part due to the fact that 60s WMS pins were my favorite to acquire and collect and play.
At one time I had about 75 of the 170 WMS EMs from 1960-1978 eras
and I have since donated the vast majority of my collection to the PPM.
Including all the WMS reverse wedgehead pins ever produced.
And what games that I did not donate, of WMS EMs from 1960-78 eras,
they acquired the remaining (about 90% of WMS EM pins) thru other donors.
Another great place to play WMS EMs from the 60s & 70s is at Matt Cristiano's Pinball Ranch in San Benito county CA
where he has a bunch, most of those from the Sam Harvey acquired collection.

You now have me wanting to compare the games linked in this topic with the games listed for the Pacific Museum here on Pinside. Wish I had a visit to the West Coast coming up soon.

#52 2 years ago

MTO

hazmat7719

Pinside+ Addict

Arbutus, MD

5y 66,150 304 18 1

Quoted from Runbikeskilee:
Hazmat, nice addition to your Williams collection! Was it a local or quasi local find?
Looks like you have your work cut out for you with some playfield touchup artistry.
Enjoy.

It was local in Brooklyn Park, MD.

#53 2 years ago

JJF

wolverinetuner

Pinside+ Frequent

Dearborn, MI

7y 94,800 2,958 18

I’ve never owned a pin with the metal flippers, but I’ve played some. I like the look, and I assume they’re more durable than plastic. I would think that chipping and cracking are eliminated. 8 Ball is at the top of my wishlist, so maybe I’ll have metal flippers some day.

#54 2 years ago

SDM

EMsInKC

Pinside member

Kansas City, MO

10y 79,550 4,015 22

Quoted from Mardi-Gras-Man:
And from 1962 on there were generally 2 rubber-rings fitted on each flipper. It's not only on the flyer, this was real. 2 rubber-rings look much better than one, also it protected the flipper from getting broken. It's neither original nor better looking when people fit their 2-inch-flippers with just 1 rubber. It also was the case that most operators fitted the pre-1962-machines with 2 rubbers to protect the flipper from getting broken. No idea where this "new" trend comes from to return to just one rubber.

It's not a "new" trend. That's how they were in the 60s. The 60s were when I got started playing pinball so I played a ton of games from all manufacturers, all two inch flippers, and they were all single rubber flippers. Maybe the operators somewhere did it, but they did not come from the factory with two rubbers on each flipper. If they did then the ops of all the games I played removed them.

I asked Steve Young this very question one time. His statement was that one rubber was factory. Might be the reason there is only one groove for the rubber on the flipper. In addition, I've run one rubber on all my two inch games forever and I've never broken one flipper bat doing that.

#55 2 years ago

DCR

DCRand

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 74,050 1,355 15

Quoted from Vintage-Pinball:
My own Apollo has chrome bats yet a customers one I'm overhauling has red ones. Chrome looks nicer to me though.

My Apollo has white flippers. Chrome would be great on this game though, so may have to see if I can find a pair.

#56 2 years ago

WEN

jrpinball

Pinside+ Addict

Doubling the rubbers on the round top 2" flippers was done to accommodate the smaller 1 1/16" pinball. It isn't to keep the flipper from breaking, but to have the flipper strike the ball closer to the center. When flippers first appeared, the standard pinball was 1 1/8" in diameter. A smaller ball was soon used, and in order to compensate, an additional rubber ring was routinely installed. This was permanently corrected with the introduction of the flat top 2" flipper.
I always double rubber the round top 2" flippers.

#57 2 years ago

ARF

AlexF

Pinside member

Edgerton, WI

11y 116K 5,763 8 8

Plus double rubbers give you just the tiniest bit of extra reach. Which is nice on some games.

#58 2 years ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

https://imgproxy.pinside.com/Wy3EQmeE1VyELKLBX9uWJUdFkkYbnOpJ94-SruF4Fg0/rs:fit:2048:2048/q:70/aHR0cHM6Ly9vLnBpbnNpZGUuY29tL2QvMTIvYWYvZDEyYWYzMzE1MDkxYzZjMjhkOTJmYWI1OWZlMGU0Mzc0YzEyZjAwMi5qcGc

Looks like Hot Line also has metal flippers:

#59 2 years ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Jerry Kelley's first design for Williams, Pot 'O' Gold, also has metallic flippers:

Williams Pot O Gold (resized).jpg

1 month later

#60 2 years ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

A current classified ad: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/113623 for the game Lucky Strike shows another Norm Clark design with bluish chrome flippers from August 1965.

2 months later

#61 2 years ago

???

cjs001

Pinside+ Frequent

Fort Ann, NY

8y 49,650 239 39

I own a Williams Oh Boy! And it has red metal flipper bats.

8FEC2AB7-AFAD-418D-BC43-439DC148275B (resized).jpeg

C9E775F9-E7D6-4EA2-A3F3-A59E342E17F8 (resized).jpeg

1 week later

#62 2 years ago

dmarston

Pinside member

11y 59,900 1,544

Some eye candy for you from Cash Box magazine, August 11, 1962. Note the references to chrome flippers, part of a bundle of cabinet improvements.
.................David Marston

ChromeFlipper (resized).JPG

#63 2 years ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from dmarston:
Note the references to chrome flippers, part of a bundle of cabinet improvements.

Thanks so much for your note. Glad to see that Williams' officially acknowledged the chrome flippers as an enhancement. Some have told me that the chrome flippers were an after-market addition. This document pushes the evidence towards chrome flippers being an official part of these Williams 1960's machines.

#64 2 years ago

fireball2

Pinside member

I thought I was the only one with an Oh Boy! One of the best 2 player games EVER.

#65 2 years ago

fireball2

Pinside member

Chrome Flippers: Location Tested for Profits!

#66 2 years ago

MRM

mrm_4

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 126K 6,204 11

My Shangri La has the chrome-sters!

7F42EDC1-33F4-44C0-AD37-B10400B6E020 (resized).jpeg

9AD2A6B6-8996-4603-BCE8-7EF5EB570B2D (resized).jpeg

#67 2 years ago

WEN

jrpinball

Pinside+ Addict

OP
Quoted from OldHockeyGuy:
Some have told me that the chrome flippers were an after-market addition.

They are much too common to have been an aftermarket addition. There's so many games that have them exclusively. I've never seen, say a "Friendship 7" with plastic flippers.

#68 2 years ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/shangri-blah-to-shangri-la-

Does anyone have a source for replacement two inch chrome flippers?

#69 2 years ago

???

Vintage-Pinball

Pinside+ Frequent

Linton

11y 61,550 746 28 10

Quoted from mrm_4:
My Shangri La has the chrome-sters!

That's a nice looking game, I'm jealous!

#70 2 years ago

ARF

AlexF

Pinside member

Edgerton, WI

11y 116K 5,763 8 8

I bought a pair of chrome replacement flips off of Ebay some years back. I think they were an aftermarket replacement as they were solid aluminum not hollow like true Williams flippers. It seems like I read Wico or someone may have sold them at some point?

#71 2 years ago

MRM

mrm_4

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 126K 6,204 11

Quoted from Vintage-Pinball:
That's a nice looking game, I'm jealous!

Thanks!
Here’s a popcorn thread of the game if you want to see more of it.

#72 2 years ago

???

Mopar

Pinside+ Member

Unknown

7y 80,050 4,178

Chrome metal flippers on the Trade Winds. They look pretty new or
perhaps there's no red lettering because of polishing..

IMG_0808 (resized).JPG

#73 2 years ago

???

Mopar

Pinside+ Member

Unknown

7y 80,050 4,178

Even the Loop-the-Loop came custom with metal flippers.
And I might add, the local print shop did a good job on
the instruction card which I just installed today..

IMG_0809 (resized).JPG

#74 2 years ago

ARF

AlexF

Pinside member

Edgerton, WI

11y 116K 5,763 8 8

Trade Winds looks original to me. The Loop the Loop looks like the aftermarket I had. Had a decal for the "Flipper" text. Both look cool.

#75 2 years ago

???

Mopar

Pinside+ Member

Unknown

7y 80,050 4,178

Quoted from AlexF:
Trade Winds looks original to me. The Loop the Loop looks like the aftermarket I had.

I'm not sure if Trade Winds flippers were replaced, or extra polished.
In person they look even newer than in the pic..
I got in Loop-the-Loop with those flippers. They must have been added to the
machine at some point. It's hard to see from the pic, but they're both left flippers.
The writing on the right one is upside down. They work fine, so I figured I'd leave
them until maybe someday I might need a left chrome flipper..
I actually do like the looks of them even if one is upside down..

#76 2 years ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from mrm_4:
Thanks!
Here’s a popcorn thread of the game if you want to see more of it.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/shangri-blah-to-shangri-la-

Detailed chronology. Thanks for referring us back to the post.

#77 2 years ago

MAO

MikeO

Pinside member

Overland Park, KS

11y 88,400 3,624 41

I shopped two TradeWinds and both came with the chrome flippers. Here is one of them.

IMG_5567 (resized).JPG

#78 2 years ago

WEN

jrpinball

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from MikeO:
I shopped two TradeWinds and both came with the chrome flippers. Here is one of them.[quoted image]

Were both of them wedgeheads, or was either of them the early release with the rectangular head?

#79 2 years ago

MAO

MikeO

Pinside member

Overland Park, KS

11y 88,400 3,624 41

Quoted from jrpinball:
Were both of them wedgeheads, or was either of them the early release with the rectangular head?

Both were reverse wedges.

#80 2 years ago

ACE

paulace

Pinside+ Frequent

Charlottesville, VA

6y 72,300 1,400 8

My Friendship 7 - 1962 - has those lovely chrome flippers. I just go with a single rubber on them.
F7 pf (resized).jpg
F7 (resized).jpg

#81 2 years ago

???

RobAquinas

Pinside member

Atlanta, GA

3y 20,900 53

Can anyone send me a high quality scan or picture of the ink well plastic from Teacher's Pet? #teacherspet DodgersFan32 Jets_1479 fireball2

4 months later

#82 1 year ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Two chrome flipper sightings at 2022 Pinfest: 1) Full House and 4 Roses.

4 Roses 1_LI (resized).jpg
4 Roses 2 (resized).jpg

Full House 1 (resized).jpg

Full House 3 (resized).jpg

#83 1 year ago

WEN

jrpinball

Pinside+ Addict

OP
Quoted from OldHockeyGuy:
Two chrome flipper sightings at 2022 Pinfest: 1) Full House and 4 Roses.
[quoted image]
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

These were in the flea market.

20220505_141046 (resized).jpg

20220505_141438 (resized).jpg

#84 1 year ago

MYK

undrdog

Pinside+ Addict

4y 99,050 3,217 9

Heat Wave has red metal round top flippers.

My folks got me an Oh Boy! When I was 13 or 14. Was glad to have a pinball, but didn’t particularly like the game.

Would be interesting to play it again and see if I like it any better. Mostly I remember the large side drains.

E20E2F43-CC16-4E63-AB42-151642592D90 (resized).jpeg

5 months later

#85 1 year ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/145645

Looks like there is a nice Eager Beaver at a modest price for sale now:

#86 1 year ago

DNO

TwinDavid

Pinside+ Frequent

Newark, DE

4y 59,900 281 22

OP
Quoted from OldHockeyGuy:
Looks like there is a nice Eager Beaver at a modest price for sale now:
https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/145645

I spy with my eye an operator sticker...just sayin

#87 1 year ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from TwinDavid:
I spy with my eye an operator sticker...just sayin

What are you trying to communicate?

#88 1 year ago

WEN

jrpinball

Pinside+ Addict

Cadillac Music sticker on the head. They used to put a metal plate on some of their games, like an auto dealership.

#89 1 year ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from jrpinball:
Cadillac Music sticker on the head. They used to put a metal plate on some of their games, like an auto dealership.

My bad. You guys have great eyes for details. I totally missed it.

#90 1 year ago

NAZ

Nazumpan

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 49,550 62 7 6

You can add Ski Club to your list. Four chrome flippers…

0B929DCE-9DC5-4E54-90C3-E2B7CCF53144 (resized).jpeg

C4F880A6-F82F-41AB-AC02-C42CD5E9C5F4 (resized).jpeg

#91 1 year ago

MRM

mrm_4

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 126K 6,204 11

Quoted from Nazumpan:
You can add Ski Club to your list. Four chrome flippers…
[quoted image][quoted image]

That’s awesome!

#92 1 year ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from Nazumpan:
You can add Ski Club to your list. Four chrome flippers…

Fantastic ski and lodge theme well executed and enhanced with those 4 chrome metal flippers.

6 months later

#93 11 months ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Last weekend @ Piinfest, a beautiful Skill Pool with bright, shiny chrome flippers.

20230505_120744 (resized).jpg

20230505_120759 (resized).jpg

20230505_120808 (resized).jpg

#94 11 months ago

GTW

Gotemwill

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 62,300 914 1

OP
Quoted from OldHockeyGuy:
Last weekend @ Piinfest, a beautiful Skill Pool with bright, shiny chrome flippers.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

I loved playing this. For the life of me though I couldn’t figure out how the 2, 5, 10, 15 balls were lit on the backglass.

#95 11 months ago

???

OldHockeyGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from Gotemwill:
I loved playing this. For the life of me though I couldn’t figure out how the 2, 5, 10, 15 balls were lit on the backglass.

You obviously had far more mental clarity than me if you noticed that degree of game strategy and illumination. I felt lucky doing my duty to finish each game no matter how successful or pathetic my play would be.

#96 11 months ago

fireball2

Pinside member

Quoted from Gotemwill:
I loved playing this. For the life of me though I couldn’t figure out how the 2, 5, 10, 15 balls were lit on the backglass.

The numbers on the bg are how many racks of balls you've cleared. Gawd I miss my Skill Pool.

#97 11 months ago

WEN

jrpinball

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from fireball2:
The numbers on the bg are how many racks of balls you've cleared. Gawd I miss my Skill Pool.

Every time you clear a rack by rolling over all fifteen buttons on the playfield, the balls on the backglass advance. It's VERY hard to do in one game.
That copy was offered by my friend @mike-k. It's a very nice example of that title.

#98 11 months ago

fireball2

Pinside member