Your game is one of the 12-15 Space Station prototypes. The 'X' in the serial number is Williams destination for a prototype game. Usually Williams will make around 12-15 proto's and then run a batch of 100-300 sample games to market test a game before running a complete production run. Games like Starlight or Varkon only made it to the proto/sample run and therefore never got made into a production run. Your game is definitely a PROTO-TYPE game. The sample games do not have a 'X' in the serial number.

The cabinet red likely faded away, looking at the cabinet. Easiest way I know of to check for a prototype on that game is the mini-playfield. If it's transparent blue it's regular production, if it's solid black it's a prototype.

No idea about the topper though.

-Hans

Sometimes the prototypes vary slightly from game to game since they are hand built in the engineering lab, where-as the sample games are built on the production line. Sometimes the proto's use left over cabinets from the games before them (like Williams's Fire) so the holes on the cabinet might be a feature from that previously produced game. The hole cut out on the head might be the same as one of the beacon lamp domes from a F14 pin.

Your game is a proto and most likely will have the black mini-playfield unless someone switched it to the production one.

I'd love to see some pics of this after you clean it up.

It could a little but it depends on condition. Could you share pictures ?

Definitely a prototype machine. It has the black mini playfield, and prototype style lamp board. Looks like you've got a rare bird there for sure.

Any chance there is a drop target under the mini-playfield, just to the left of the VUK? Compared to the photos in IPDB, there is definitely another mechanism there which isn't on a regular production machine.

What color are the wires going to the topper? I wonder if Barry Oursler might be able to answer if there was ever a topper intended for it.

I can see your concern, definitely going to be a full restoration job on that machine. What confuses me is how completely it was sanded..... but some inserts still have artwork on them? Very strange.

-Hans

It is a whitewood or was is sanded? The thing is, if it was sanded it will loose value for sure.

There's a scrap of arwork in one corner near the right outlane.

Judging by the condition of the artwork between the outline and shooter lane (which is peeling and flaking), I'm guessing the playfield got damp and the artwork started peeling off. I've seen that happen on some playfields before.

I'm guessing someone simply removed what had peeled off. Hence why the artwork on the inserts is still there.

It’s more than just the outlane.
Look inbetween the pop bumpers and pretty much the rest of the top of the playfield.

Proto Space Stations had a single drop target guarding the VUK, and it indeed looks like it's present on the OP's game.

What's more interesting is that slingshot kickback in the right outlane... Never heard of that before!

I wonder if the code still supports these features as retrofits, like how Firepower supports drops if added?

Interesting. The manual does call out a pair of backbox flashers with the black/violet wiring, just like you have. Calls them "Station Flashers". The wiring definitely looks factory and intentional. But I'm not finding even a hint of a reference to a topper prototype.

Quite the mystery.

This is thrilling!
It is kinda putting Space Station at the top of my list...when I sell a Blackout and FP2...

Saw you're selling it. If you were closer I'd be very interested. But I'm too far away and don't have a current passport, and I'm sure shipping would be far too expensive.

Good luck with the sale!

Should be about $400.00 depot to depot
I paid $500.00 from Texas to Edmonton