The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Photo Gallery => Pinball nostalgia pics => Topic started by: Strangeways on May 11, 2011, 11:34:09 PM
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As some of you are aware, during my ramblings, I refer back to the "good old days" and my Father - who may be the first "operator" in Australia and he says he brought in the first pinball container into this country in the 50's. Until now, I've relied upon his failing memory of the exact year he started importing pinballs or Bingos. He believes the Bingos were first, in the mid fifties, and the pinballs were shortly after. He recalls the Bingo names, but not the Pinballs. They were woodrails - and the only "clue" I have are a few 100 woodrail legs in various states of deterioration in the storage building. I always assumed they were JUST Bingos. Anyway, in the 80's, Dad had to throw out 90 Bally Bingos, but he gutted parts and backglasses - some are still in storage, and AMAZINGLY, he has some backglasses reproduced on Perspex - I still have them as well. He kept all documentation - and I just stumbled across some of it.
While I'm cataloging some of the older stuff, I came across several OLD boxes of documentation, and I found a schematic of a Gottlieb "Rocket Ship" - in really good condition. I showed Dad, and he cannot recall the name. I showed him an IPBD picture of the game and he instantly recalled the machine. Here it is (from IPDB)
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=1990
This machine was produced in 1958, the same year as most of the "Golden" Bingos were produced. So he had a shipment in 1959 - or thereabouts. But is FINALLY is some proof that he was operating woodrails. Last year, I was picking up a coin operated game from a local guy in St Kilda (Gav's projector) and I spoke to the seller for HOURS. It turned out he bought many juke Boxes and pinballs from my father in the 60's (old route machines) and one of them WAS a "Rocket Ship" - or that's what he said to me "at that time". Dad did not recall - but this guy owns a perfectly restored "Rocket Man" - with Australian coin mechs. This guy MAY own this VERY machine.
So here is the schematic - amazing !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo001.JPG)
As I dug deeper, I found one of the most interesting books I've EVER seen. This IS the original training manual (or appear to be) for Gottlieb EMs written in 1964 ! It has EVERYTHING - including a guide on how to read schematics, the theory behind each circuit and general maintenance. I can't put it down !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo002.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo003.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo004.JPG)
Then more and more documentation was found. Most had deteriorated, but they look complete. These are workshop manuals for 1950's Bingos that were operated "in the old days". I have some of these games in storage. I'm hoping the "Miss America" is still there !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo007.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo008.JPG)
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo006.JPG)
This documentation is GOLD for me as it is original and it will help me to piece togather the formative years of coin operated industry in Australia. At least there is some tangible proof of what was operated in the old days.
Honestly, you can't wipe the smile off my face right now. I have several other boxes to go through - Juke Boxes, EM pinballs - a PERFECT set of manuals for a Bally "Circus", and HEAPS of other things.
I will post pictures as I find them, but this is REAL history laid out before me.
Had to share this - I'll update with more soon !
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Great stuff, Love to read the Gottlieb Instruction & Service manual. *%* Wonder if still available anywhere.
Amazes me the complex workings of the Bingos back then. You definately have a treasure cove of documantation there.
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Fantastic, nothing like source documents to make history come alive!
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Classic... just classic.
ROCKET SHIP is the #1 pinball i want as a woodrail. I only have the instruction cards.. you have the schematic.
!@# mmmm... somethings missing !@#
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Classic... just classic.
ROCKET SHIP is the #1 pinball i want as a woodrail. I only have the instruction cards.. you have the schematic.
!@# mmmm... somethings missing !@#
.. and I think I've found the exact machine. What are the chances ?
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ROCKET SHIP! My number one wood rail too! Will fit in perfectly with my mainly sci-fi line up.
I'm currently restoring one, but need a few parts.
So far I've got the leg levelers - can anyone help with the rest??
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Oh bugger off everyone! ROCKET SHIP is all mine geddit???
Going slightly off topic.. but ROCKET SHIP fr those who've never seen this machine is just stunning to look at..
its the epitome of 1950's space exploration art with nice pointy rockets ( i still draw rockets with points on the end), bubble head gear etc.. check it out...
http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1990&picno=18580
http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1990&picno=13654
Only a Williams 59 ROCKET can tip this game.... GTB wins for artwork ( BG gives 1 extra point), but WMS wins for a better game,
Check out the layout.. what a cracker
http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1988&picno=8056
BG isnt as good as GTB machine
http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1988&picno=7447
Still a cracker though... and the WMS game will be harder to get and yet youll pay less..
OK - sorry... back on topic
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What a great find Nino it's amazing all this stuff
Can still be hidden away in places.
You Dad turfed 90 bingos how sad but I'm sure there would have been many more classics sent tonland fill !!!
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What a find ! lucky Man ! Many would love a copy of the 'Instruction & service manual' &&
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Amazing find Nino. Thanks for sharing. ^^^
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What a find ! lucky Man ! Many would love a copy of the 'Instruction & service manual' &&
I'll see what I can do. It is a very interesting manual and I'm tempted to see if it can be reproduced (professionally) by the license holders.
I think this manual would be a great help to anyone wanting to do their own repairs. I've never seen it available for purchase, but there is enough interest to warrant investigation *%*
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Great finds there Nino . Pls add me to the 'interested' list re the Gottlieb EM repair manual .
Cheers
Dave
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Definately interested in a copy Nino
Just thought of something funny your dad was operating machines before they even had electricity here.
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Definately interested in a copy Nino
Just thought of something funny your dad was operating machines before they even had electricity here.
Geelong didn't have electricity in the 1950's !@#
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Batesford where I work didn't get power till 1958 I'm told not sure about the city
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Batesford where I work didn't get power till 1958 I'm told not sure about the city
Geez - image being a youngster growing up without electricity. Kids would actually have to go outside and occupy themselves ^^^
OK - I've emailed Steve Young regarding the book.
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It would be a real shame if kids had to go outside wouldn't it
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When our gilrs were younger (now almost 18 and 16) they used to play outside all the time (we didn't buy them a PS2 for years after they wanted one) .. one day a neighbour from way up the street was walking past and commented to us how great she always thought it was to see our kids playing outside
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Millsy and Daniel,I got a mint,original copy of the 1964 Service manual from US ebay about six weeks ago.It sure is a useful read.I paid $28 US.They do appear from time to time and there has been another one since I bought my copy.Ian #*#
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When our gilrs were younger (now almost 18 and 16) they used to play outside all the time (we didn't buy them a PS2 for years after they wanted one) .. one day a neighbour from way up the street was walking past and commented to us how great she always thought it was to see our kids playing outside
our kids don't play out side very often. its not that they don't want to its just every time something gets broken or goes missing in our neighbour's yards our kids get the blame for it even if my wife or myself are out there watching them and we know they haven't entered the yards they still get the blame. I will admit one of our kids did break a swan that was next door 2 years ago (it was already cracked before my kid touched it so the head just snapped off) my eldest son got the blame for egging a neighbours car even though he never went out side that night and none of the eggs were missing from the carton in the fridge. !@# work that one out.
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When our gilrs were younger (now almost 18 and 16) they used to play outside all the time (we didn't buy them a PS2 for years after they wanted one) .. one day a neighbour from way up the street was walking past and commented to us how great she always thought it was to see our kids playing outside
our kids don't play out side very often. its not that they don't want to its just every time something gets broken or goes missing in our neighbour's yards our kids get the blame for it even if my wife or myself are out there watching them and we know they haven't entered the yards they still get the blame. I will admit one of our kids did break a swan that was next door 2 years ago (it was already cracked before my kid touched it so the head just snapped off) my eldest son got the blame for egging a neighbours car even though he never went out side that night and none of the eggs were missing from the carton in the fridge. !@# work that one out.
Mate .. thats a bloody sad story .. something wrong with your neighbours me thinks .. luckily we only have one annoying neighbour that none of us , that live around him , get along with
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Batesford where I work didn't get power till 1958 I'm told not sure about the city
Geez - image being a youngster growing up without electricity. Kids would actually have to go outside and occupy themselves ^^^
OK - I've emailed Steve Young regarding the book.
If I have ever seen a document that is crying out for a reprint/reproduction or just plain copying this is it!!
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Another folder found and this one is of particular importance and interest. There are a few Bingos that have been "locked away" in another storage building. They were packed up and placed in a room that has been locked since 1986. No one has been in this room since then, but this folder below holds the inventory of machines that are in storage. These are all complete and were working at the time they were dismantled and stored.
Here is a picture of the "ancient" folder !
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo009.JPG)
The list of machines stored, with a "C" for "Circuit Diagram" and "WM" for "Workshop Manual"
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo010.JPG)
Some of the manuals as removed from the folder
(http://www.aussiepinball.com/strangeways/restores/misc/bingo011.JPG)
I confimed with Dad that the machines listed in this folder are in fact in storage. In addition, I have two "Big Show" and one "Miami Beach" stored elsewhere.
The list of Games
Miami Beach
Big Show
Miss America
Night Club
Ballerina
Show Time
Cypress Gardens
Key West
Beach Time
Laguna Beach
Curcus Queen
Roller Derby
Super Jumbo
Carnival Queen
Nip It is a Bally EM Pinball, to which Dad had two, but both are gone a long time ago. There are still one or two unaccounted for.
I will be relocating these games as soon as I have room in the storgae building (just down the road).
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Cypress Gardens brings back memories - fed many 10c coins into it back in the late sixties.
Never played Nip-It, would like to have a game on it, seems to be highly rated.
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Just give me the key mate and ill sort it all out for you... thats what mates do for each other... help out like ^^^ ^^^ #@# ^^^ ^^^
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Some really interesting stuff Nino, must be great sorting through it all
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Received a reply from Steve Young. I have to contact GTB LLC direct. The GTB manual was reproduced, but demand was low due to "on online guides" etc. I will chase it up.
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Really looking forward to the day you open your family time capsule Nino how exciting will it be to open