The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: illawarra_steelers on June 03, 2009, 11:35:59 AM
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Now in the restoration queue is Gottlieb’s Sunshine from September 1958, production run 1100. She joins Thoro-Bred and Bowling Queen who are also being rebuilt at the same time. The game was designed by Wayne Neyens and artwork done by Roy Parker. The game was in fairly good original condition for a game of this vintage. The first thing you will notice looking at the backglass is there are no score reels and has an animation unit. This game was made 11 months before Gottlieb produced single player games with reels.
The score is totalled by lights behind the backglass which is simply stunning to watch in a dark room. The smallest amount of points available to score on the playfield is 10,000. So the score is made up of the far right there is a column for 10,000 points, the far left there is a column for millions and on the inside of that are scores for 100,000. You will notice inside of the head there are large stepper units – this is how the score is kept.
Another thing to notice on the backglass is in the top right there is a ranking system, this was the first game to feature this. So as the game and score progresses so does the rating. Gottlieb used this rating system during the late 1950s and phased it out towards the end of the production of woodrail pinballs.
This backglass is average but a reproduction has been bought and being shipped from the Shay Arcade Group. One of the woodrails was missing as was the lockdown bar. Bought new reproduction rails from PBR and had a new lockdown bar made.
All the playfield plastics are in excellent condition and even tracked down a NOS score and instruction card for it. Have just submitted an order for a stack of parts from PBR that will hopefully arrive next week. The legs have been resprayed and new leg bolts and levellers have been added.
So what to do next? Game is now fully working so will need to wait for the PBR parts before going any further on the playfield. The rails and lockdown bar will be fitted this weekend. There is a photo below showing the game next to Universe which is from 1959 showing the rails and lockdown bar on that game. Also have a Gottlieb Criss Cross from 1958 that will be next being restored and will sit next to Sunshine and Criss Cross.
How does the game play? For the guys into ‘newer’ pins this will seem really simple but nothing could be further from the truth. The player needs to complete the red odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9,11 and 13) and/or complete the white even numbers (2,4,6,8,10,12 and 14). If either is completed the player gets a free game. Complete all the numbers 1 to 15 and every rollover is lit for special. This is very tough to achieve but when you do it’s just jackpot time! Scores also award free games.
She will be complete and ready for the pinball meet in October *%*
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Inside the head showing the lack of score reels and the stepper units
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Next 2 shots are Universe on the left with the timber rails and lockdown in place. Second shot is the replacement rails and lockdown bar
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Nice original cab - remember she is 50 years old ^^^
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Cool pin Tony, ^^^ Can't what to play these old beauties at your meet.
Looking at those steppers in the head I'm always amazed at these EM Pinballs. The guy's that came up with the designs were a genius. It's hard enough getting your head around how they work , imagine try to create it from an idea in your head. Unreal.
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How cool is the artwork. I enjoy pinballs prob 50% play value, and 50% eye candy. EM pinballs, especially Gottlieb provide the best mix of both these 2 qualities. Top stuff Tony.
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Really nice looking game Tony . I love the artwork on this one .
Looking forward to purchasing your old BG when the time comes. &&
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Hey Tony - why am I not surprised to see a hammer sitting on a playfield glass?? :lol
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Awesome Tony - For a 50 year old pin - it looks in better condition than machines half its age !
Can't wait to play it.
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Nice looking machine tony gotta love them woodrails ^^^
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Nice looking game!
Can you send me an image from the instruction card please?
I know a lot like to have original card, but some like my reproduction cards.
Peter
www.inkochnito.nl
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Nice looking game!
Can you send me an image from the instruction card please?
I know a lot like to have original card, but some like my reproduction cards.
Peter
www.inkochnito.nl
No worries Peter,
Will send in the next few days *%*
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I was offered this pin and i thought REALLY hard about it... ended up with another game instead... its no good though... i still want it REALLY badly!
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I was offered this pin and i thought REALLY hard about it... ended up with another game instead... its no good though... i still want it REALLY badly!
Mate I love these woodrails so much that I can see the day when my entire collection will be pre 1960. Already looking at selling my beautiful Gigi just to make room for another really old Gottlieb woodrail *%*
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Gigi is beautiful!!
How i wish it was Gigi in Space then i could buy it... LOL!!! The only way i can discipline myself is to stick to a theme
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Well here is a mini update. Spent a few hours yesterday arvo with my Dad (and pinballahq father in law :lol) getting the old timber rails off and installing the new ones. Not as easy as we thought. The original cabs were really well made.
Anyway, the old fella in the photo is my Dad and here is a little story.
My dad was the guy that got it all started pinball wise for me as in the late 1960s as he grew up playing all the classics of the 1950s and 1960s. As I started seriously collecting pinball machines at 13 years old he would also drive me around to pick up newly purchased games. What a guy!
Last year he had some major health issues and we were told there was a good chance after a triple bi pass he wouldn't live through the weekend. He also had a stoke and was in hospital for 3 months.
Cut a long story short it sure makes you rethink your life when you are waiting for the call telling you one of your parents has died.
So it was excellent to see him do what he loves doing best, working with timber again ^^^
Also the game has been mechanically fully rebuilt and all the PBR resource parts installed except for the new caps which are on back order. The reproduction Shay Group backglass is still in a container on it's way from the US....
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You will be wrapped when its all done tony she is a beauty and its good to see beer were an important paert of the rebuild ^^^
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nice tony,who on earth would you expect to see a em tech working with a mallet and chiesel !@#not these days @@*
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Tony - Great story mate - and I'm pleased your Father is doing so well after the health scare !
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Mini update:
Reproduction rails and lockdown bar stained today and reproduction cigarette holders from PBR installed....
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Oh yeah...the impossible to find N.O.S. instruction and score card :D
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She is definitely a thing of beauty Tony... ^^^
Nice Job !
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Nice pin Tony. Far-out........ I allways wondered what those ripple plates were........cigarette holders!
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Yeah cigarette holders - would imagine all the players of this Sunshine (produced in 1958) that smoked would be long dead :D
Anyway, made a little change to this game....always stick to everything original when rebuilding and restoring these old girls...but the purple pop bumper skirts from PBR are a different colour to their reproduction pop bumper caps.
So.....because the 2 purples are totally different I decided to go with a totally different top 3 bumper skirts and caps....that will explain the red skirts. Still waiting for the PBR back order... #@#
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Oh yeah...the impossible to find N.O.S. instruction and score card :D
WOW, I hope you can send me a copy. #*#
I'll add them to the database for save keeping.
If you can a scan, otherwise a photo will do just fine.
Peter
www.inkochnito.nl
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No worries Peter, will do later today.
Also will also send you a list of all the other NOS 1960s Gottlieb cards I have (sorry forgot to do last time @.@)
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Tony,
Looking good, and I think its great that you and your Dad have Pinball as a common intrest to enjoy together. Well Done
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Thats looking so good Tony ^^^
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Superb Tony - amazing job there mate ^^^
You should NEVER sell this machine if it was a combined effort with your father. Something to be proud of.
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looks great
thanks for sharing yo @@*ur dads story
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WOW, I hope you can send me a copy. #*#
I'll add them to the database for save keeping.
If you can a scan, otherwise a photo will do just fine.
Peter
www.inkochnito.nl
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Peter,
Just sent you an email with a list of all the NOS 1950s and 1960s Gottlieb instruction cards I have....let me know ^^^
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Here is the finished playfield....all new and the only change from the factory is the colour of the 3 upper pop bumpers and skirts.
The factory had purple but for some reason PBR has a totally different purple for the caps and the skirts so I decided to go with red.
All that is needed is the Shay reproduction glass that was packed TODAY on a container in Ohio....spoke with Mike and all the new backglasses and playfields were packed on the next container today #*#
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Thats a sexy looking machine Tony you really are a credit to the hobby ^^^
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Excellant @@*
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Really terrific work, Tony. I didn't see any 'before' shots, but the finished playfield looks sensational. I like the colour change too. That's only 'poetic license'. Well done. Mark
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Another AP ripper job!
You guys are incredible!!
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Great work Tony .. looks fantastic ^^^
Cheers
Dave
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Great work Tony .. looks fantastic ^^^
Cheers
Dave
Dave,
Will let you know when the reproduction backglass arrives here...spoke to Michael again this morning and he confirmed the container leaves Ohio Wednesday morning!
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Thanks Mate ^^^