This is a better picture of the inside.

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Holy cow! That looks like it just came off the assembly line!

No kidding! Around the World is one of my favorite multiplayers-- I'd say you did it justice.

I put together a video of gameplay of Colors. I tried to record a game where I won multiple stars but they are few and far between. I did at least win a star on the first ball in the game featured in the video.

Oh, awesome!! Thank you for filming your machine, such a cool game. I like your split screen, too

Given that I had everything set up (and still remember what I did), I recorded gameplay of Times Square. This machine has automatic flippers along with impulse flippers. Other Williams machines with automatic flippers include Paratrooper, Twenty Grand, Silver Skates, Palisades, and C.O.D.. I didn't win any replays, but at least lit three of the upper bumpers.

Aside from old pinball machines, I also enjoy old radio shows. One I listened to early this morning (a broadcast of The Whistler from August 11, 1948 called "Enough Rope") featured a character who won a jackpot on a pinball machine (presumably meant to be a late 40s one-ball horserace payout machine or something similar--too early yet for a bingo machine).

Woman says to man at bar: "Darling, you're so jumpy. It's only the pinball machine over there. The man must have hit the jackpot or something."

The narrator, the Whistler, then discusses, "the man standing at the pinball machine..." The character, Harvey Brandt, who won the jackpot (voiced by Alan Reed--same fellow who originally voiced Fred Flintstone) later says as he's inviting the couple to join him in a drink, "... to celebrate my good fortune. I just hit the jackpot."

Youtube "video" (cued to the clip referencing the jackpot) is below.

Yup. Fred Flintstone's voice for sure!

Does anyone know the sizes of bells that Williams used on their machines in the early 1950s?

I'm working on a Nifty from 1950 and although a 4" bell in the backbox is there (and appears original), two bells that are attached to steppers on the bottom of the playfield are missing (see photo from ipdb below which shows the two bells). I assume that the larger one is another 4" bell, but don't know for sure. Moreover, the smaller one looks to be smaller than a 3" bell based on comparison to the larger one in the photo. And based on the size of the armature for the small bell, it seems like a bell with a diameter somewhere between 2-1/2 and 2-3/4" would work best (and a 3" bell would be too big).

Thanks for any info!

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Excited to get this cleaned up, polished, and running just brought home today. Came with a new beautiful BG to replace the one in the photo.

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Recently completed getting a Williams Nifty (1950) back up and running again.

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The upper SUPER SPECIAL SCORE hole and lower SPECIAL SCORE hole award up to 10 replays when lit. They are lit when numbers 1-10 are completed (tough to do). Both hole values step up (through steppers on bottom of playfield) when various actions are completed and then step down when awards are made; values carry over to next game. The lower hole kicks the ball SDTM and so am considering putting back the post that was previously installed (though presumably didn't come this way from the factory).

Although the playfield is in nice shape and doesn't show much wear, many of metal rods on the bumper skirts were either broken off where they contact the graphite rings or very thin and ready to break and so the machine must have had lots of games played on it. Also, the two pop bumper caps match the style of the other caps, but apparently should be red, saucer-shaped caps that say "Thumper" and "Bumper" on them (if anyone has a set they're willing to part with, please let me know!).

I earlier asked in this forum (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/woodrail-pinballs/page/34#post-7183055) if anyone knew the sizes of bell shells that were used in early 1950s Williams machines (as a few were missing from the Nifty (1950) machine that I was working on). The bigger shells used at that point appear to have been 4" in diameter but it wasn't clear what size the smaller shells were. Moreover, the 1949 Williams part catalog is also unclear about the smaller bell size--although it lists part number 5224 as being a 4" bell, part number 5277 is listed as being a "small" bell.

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I never heard back from any owners of a Nifty, but did hear from owners of other Williams machines from that era (thanks @osprey101, @claimman, and @oldcarz!) that the small bell shells in their machines were 1-7/8" in diameter. And MarkG said that the 1956 Williams parts catalog lists the later style bell shell sizes (part number 1178 is a 5" bell and part number 5392 is a 3-3/8" bell).

And one final note about bell shells: AlexF sent me a 4" bell shell (thanks Alex!) that looked to be a good match for the style of the other bell that was in Nifty, but it turned out to have slightly different dimensions than the Nifty 4" bell with the Nifty bell being about 1-1/8" deep while the other one was only about 1" or so in depth. The difference in dimensions translated into very different frequencies of tones of the two bells (with the deeper one being a tad bit more than an octave lower in tone than the less deep one).

Very interesting write up on early Williams-- thank you for the information. I always love the lesser known gems like these. I've not played a Nifty but it sure doesn't look like a walk in the park to me. This looks like the kind of game that makes the case for Williams games being gambling devices!

Pulled this old gal out of mothballs. Got it somewhat playing at this point, but I still have a few bugs to work out.
She made me bleed too. I was trying to screw the lightbox insert hinge on, and the insert tipped back and knocked me on the head. The two prongs on the "M" relay coil gouged into my scalp!
Ouch!

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The Bitch!!

What do you expect from a Joker.

Got her to start, reset, and play through a game. Operational now, but she'll need some love.
I'll leave that up to the next owner.

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The hacks in this game were astounding. It really tested my skills. Maybe a total of 20 hours to get it from a total mess, to playing.

Frustrating at the time, but cracking each one is like earning a merit badge.

I’ve got a Spitfire with the star feature. Where did you get the tray liner for Colors ?
I’d like one for my Spitfire.

I'm not sure what the exact one is, but I have a friend in NJ who repro'd some of the Williams woodrail apron overlays. He's on Pinside, but doesn't post very often.

@dr_nybble,

The trayliner for Colors was created based on your image of the trayliner for Spitfire. I believe that I only changed the colors given what appeared to be a more pink/purple hue of lettering and lines/arrows as shown on other star feature machines’ trayliners (e.g., see https://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=545&picno=506). Then I printed it on 11x17 ivory card stock at FedEx or maybe OfficeMax or Office Depot, cut it to shape, and stapled it to the playfield.

I've repro'd these apron cards. Message me if interested.43r 1952-55 Williams apron cart print (resized).jpg42r Genco Apron Card print (resized).jpg

Thanks, I'll revisit the graphic I have for the apron -- it came from someone else who was restoring a Spitfire, kind of forgot I had it.

If anyone needs it, it is in the gallery -- https://pinside.com/pinball/machine/spitfire-williams/gallery

Would love to have a scan of a trashed original to work from; as I have doubts about whether all of the fonts / kerning etc. are correct on it, and I am particular about these things.

I have a Williams 1950 hay burners. I lost interest in. Backglass is trash. Playfield is not the best one horse flaked off and the upper field grass as well. Have all the original pop caps, coin mech, and the horse assembly is fully intact and functional (I rebuilt this) no chains. New score motor. I want to part ways with it. Hoping someone wants the entire thing, buddy willing to part out as well.
I am in garland texas.

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Excited to have found one high on my wishlist for a winter project. Apparently it works but not taking chances until I give it a thorough spit and polish.

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I decided I won’t take on anymore projects. I’ve done four restorations and am burnt out. For this game I would make an exception.

I'm actually deep into restoring a Three Deuces and wasn't really thinking about another project but couldn't pass on a wishlist game. But then I'm done and will do what I enjoy the most - playing these games. (so he said until another wishlist pin comes along)

Started the restoration on the Williams Rocket recently acquired by cleaning the bottom board. The seller has been playing it for the last few years and I did not have to adjust any switches on the motor or relays but still needed a good cleaning as pictures show.

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Do you plan to replace the coil labels?

Yes, they're in bad shape or missing.

Had a Majestic for a period of time some years ago. First Gottlieb with the roto-target.

What I really liked was how the lower mech board was hinged to allow easy repair.
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Wow that is brilliant! I didn’t know that existed.

Bally did this for a while (on On Beam for example: https://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1715&picno=58884) but I didn't realize that Gottlieb ever had. Now I wonder if Williams or anyone else ever did. Thanks Garrett for sharing.

That’s a great feature I’d like to see on my games.

What value would the group put on a nice condition Wms Dallas?

New toy.

Owner circumvented the ball count unit with a switch because he was tired of dropping coins.

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Arrrrgghh!! (Say in your best Robert Newton pirate voice) Too bad the owner didn't know how to set to freeplay. We are lucky we have so many online resources to help with such things that our predecessors didn't have even 25 years ago.
Great theme!

Yer scores be high says I.

Gonna have to raise practically every insert.

Dream machine!

Is Naptha ok for cleaning the pf? Afraid of ruining the lettering on the inserts.I usually use it, but haven’t had printing on inserts before and I Guess these would not be replaceable

Any chance you can provide a scan of the score and instruction cards for Seven Seas?
I only have the Title card image....
Please email the files to me. [email protected]

Peter

I’d be glad to. Haven’t found a serial number.

Naphtha is harmless to playfields. I use Gemini CP100 naphtha. . .works great.

ZNET Not finding that brand at the big box stores. Where do you get it?

Here are 3 vendors, including Marco, which sell Gemini CP100. Suzohapp is typically the least expensive for bulk purchases. Other vendors can be found by Googling. To my knowledge, big box retailers don't carry CP100. Instead, they have pure naphtha, which has a strong order.

CP100 is safe for wood, electronics, rubbers and plastics. I have used it successfully for years for prewar to woodrails to EMs to modern games. . .most versatile cleaner by far. . .I always have a bottle on my pinball/arcade supply shelf.

Unlike pure naphtha, CP100 has no odor. Its main ingredient is naphtha. Just avoid excessive contact with your skin over long sessions using it.

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Thanks! I was looking at Lowes, Home Depot and auto parts stores.

Seven Seas looks to be very low production numbers 700 compared to other Gtbs of the era. I’m guessing that games with gobble holes had lost popularity?

They just lost their balls was all.