I got this machine a while back and had it shipped over with a couple of others from USA. My mate Dan Kramer, who works with Wade Kraus, had pointed me in the direction of this title a few years back now and told me that if ever one came up to buy it without hesitation as it is one of GOTTLIEB's best.
Well, while on my searches for reasonably priced woodrails, one, or should I say SEVERAL did come up for sale. I had the choice of about 4 of these from a single seller. Some were worn to a nubbin on the PF due to so much play, others had faired much better. Oddly enough, all were priced the same as it would seem that in woodrail land USA, condition is only somewhat important.. the fact that its for sale is everything. Must say, I don't agree with this at all, but the flip side is that sometimes this quirky thinking can work in your favour.
Anyway, I tell the seller that I definitely want one of the WORLD CHAMPs.. just a question of which one. He then tells me that he has some weird Add A Ball version that he's never seen before and I could have it at.. yep - same price as the rest. Condition was one of the better ones and so naturally I snapped it up in a jiffy.
My mate Dan disagreed wholeheartedly with my choice, citing that Add A Ball games were 2nd to REPLAY games as the work done to achieve a single extra ball is the same as achieving 5 extra balls with a replay game!
I can see the point and agree.. but I do like the oddball games and a great title with a rare version? it overrides all common sense!
Machine eventually arrives here in Brisbane with backglass intact. As far as I was aware, this was the only difference between this model and the replay... in the Refs handkerchief is the word BALLS to indicate an extra ball... standard backglass has a plain handkerchief
For some odd reason the credit wheel goes in increments of 5 instead of 1... which doesn't add up for an Add A Ball game
When I got the machine, I was a little disappointed as all coin mechs were removed and a single push switch had been installed on the timber coin door. Inside was quite a bit of rewiring seen here as the red cabling and an internal push button added credits
The machine also worked faultlessly which is always a let down.. I do like to have something to do in order to get these babies going.. it nails home the fact that its mine for some reason. It was my intention to go through and take out the red wiring as I had assumed that the game was really a standard REPLAY machine and some clever hack had gone in and turned it into an Add A Ball even though it didn't add a ball!
Roll on a year or so and a thread comes up on Pinside regarding the 57 GTB WORLD CHAMP, so I chime in and mention that I have one with a different backglass. This then sets a ball rolling
and I start to look a bit deeper into the game as it was mentioned that a 1997 issue of Games Room magazine featured a prototype "Extended Play" version of the game that had the credit wheel go in increments of 5.
Quick search on IPDB shows that GTB made 3 prototypes of an extended game.. World Champ... Dancing Dolls and a 1956 Classy Bowler.
The Dancing Dolls version has already turned up in someone's collection and is well documented ...
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=5902With this information and the pictures shown, I start to make comparisons to my machine..
QUOTE:
The game seems to play well and score correctly when the Balls window is blank. When the Balls window shows any units of 5, the motor in the bottom of the case runs continually until the button on the coin door is pressed and a new game starts. I don't know if the button is original to the game or was added later for Free Play, I'm guessing it was originalMine doesn't run continuously, it plays as normal but it does have the push button. Pictures also show quite a bit of extra BLACK wiring in the cabinet... mine has RED.
Dig deeper and make more comparisons and I find the "DELAY UNIT" in the back RHS of the cabinet... something that only these Extended Play games have.. here's mine..
Its connected to the game via an extra Jones Plug..seen here top RHS
So it seems that my assumption that the game was either; a standard game that had been hacked...or... the head from an Add A Ball game with a standard body modified to suit was wrong!
Game is in fact a prototype Extended Play machine.. believed to be an experimental precursor to the actual AAB machines.
Another small difference is that WORLD CHAMP was never made with a light socket installed for the GAME OVER light... most owners install their own or leave as is to retain originality. On a standard game, there is no actual wiring for this bulb and the relay must be modified to suit...take another look at the BG when game is over and you can see GAME OVER lit up.. it actually has a 544 flasher in there..
Quick look in the back and we have a factory installed socket!
So there we have it.. Prototype Extended play WORLD CHAMP in Australia.. only 1 ever made and although the machine has seen plenty of play, it remains in superb original condition... here's a few pics.. one of the loveliest cabinet designs ever!!! ( I reckon anyway...LOL)
And of course, the PF..
Its a lovely machine.. looks great and has a brilliant rolling light show in the backglass as you hit targets...but.. as usual, we have the ever gaping gap between the flippers which can crucify a game. The pin in the centre is actually an issued add on should the operator wish to have a more liberal game. Most people replace this with a post and I can see why... you've got to hit that pin square on to get the ball to bounce back into play... it is more liberal, but only just! LOL!
Hope you've enjoyed the read.. been quite a bit of fun digging around about this game and I feel much much better about the red wiring and push button... they were intended for factory play only..
Cheers!
Gav
