Talkin' BaseBall Pinball machines

[tedzan]

As a kid growing up in the 1940's & '50s, I was a BB pinball "nut". Every Summer we would go to the Jersey shore,
where the biggest & best BB pinball machines were. I'd spend my entire Coin collection playing BB pinball machines.

In 1988, an SCD adv. was auctioning off a BB pinball machine. I instantly realized that it was no ordinary machine,
but the "Babe Ruth" of BB machines. I bid on it and won it. And, since it had some electro-mechanical problems, I
got it for a very reasonable price. Applying my EE expertise, I solved its problems, and I've had it in operation for
the past 22 years.

Shown here is my 1950 United Super Slugger. It has 3 decks that you aim to hit HR's....and, 4th level (a small slot
designated "SUPER HOMER") that tallies up 50 Runs if you are lucky to hit it. This slot is seldom hit. Plastic players
run the bases, and it has many other clever features.

The machine allows you 3 Outs to run up the score; and, some pretty high scores have been been been attained
on it. My Grandson Ron, Mark Macrae, friends Pat Roche, and Kim Vida, have run up scores approaching 500 Runs.
I have the highest score (526 Runs) on it....home-court advantage, I guess.


Anyhow, that's my story, so now let's hear about your BB pinball stories ?






TED Z

[ethicsprof]

gorgeous machine, Ted, and what a great find!!!
i spent my boyhood punching that button on the side at just the right moment to swing the bat for coveted homeruns into the upper deck(s)--
depending on the machine.
even slipped in a number of those silver dollar bars just to play baseball on the pinball.
Closest i ever got to owning one was a 007 pinball machine which i kept for 25 years until i got tired of the periodic shock i received---i'm no bell engineer!!!
great thread.

all the best, ole buddy
barry

[tedzan]

Barry

Shocking ! ....very shocking !

Yep, those vintage machines had only 2-wire plugs; and, you had to be very careful. I converted mine with a 3-wire power
cord to make sure it was electrically grounded.
Thanks for your interest in this subject ole buddy.

What are your current challenges regarding your T206 adventure ?


T-Rex TED

[Tabe]

More info on this game at the incredibly awesome Internet Pinball Database:

http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=su...archtype=quick

Love me some pinball, though I haven't played this particular one. Someday, I will own a Funhouse machine. Someday. Grew up playing "Mystic Marvel" at my grandmother's house (my mom & uncle had a machine growing up in the 50s!) and "Strat-o-Flite" at our house. I was a lucky kid

Tabe

[ethicsprof]

Ted,
i've been having a great time seeking T206 era cigarette packs and recently picked up 2 unopened ones: a Polar Bear and an Obak.
I think i now have 18 different framed packs on one wall of my office.

how are your packs coming?
all the best,
barry

[baseballart]

Pinball pitch and bat games are great. Here is my Williams



Max

[redmansam]

Ted, any chance you might know of a "Final Score" pinball out there ? It featured the Reds and Tigers who played in the 1940 W/S .
Thanks,Len

[tedzan]

Len

I'm not familiar with the "Final Score" machine.


Max

I have very fond memories of your Williams BB machine. If I had all the nickels I put into this pinball, I'd be a really "rich guy"
nowadays

In the 1950's, this Williams BB pinball was the most popular game along the Jersey shore arcades....Asbury Park, Atlantic City,
Long Branch, Ocean City, Wildwood, and Cape May.

If I recall correctly, my Super Slugger was only in the larger arcades found in Asbury Park and Atlantic City.

I really appreciate you posting pictures of it.....I'm having flashbacks of some great memories.


I'll follow up later today with a "bad news/good news" story about my machine.

Thanks,

TED Z

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by tedzan

For those of you interested in more info on my Super Slugger BB pinball machine....check-out this link:

http://www.marvin3m.com/baseball/supslug.htm


TED Z

Marvin's Marvelous Museum! Love that place. Try to make it a point to stop there whenever I visit my parents (grew up 20 minutes away, in Pontiac). They have this huge pinball machine with flippers that are about 8" long and a ball the size of a cue ball. Sounds great - until you play it. Then you realize just how slow a ball like that will roll

Originally Posted by redmansam

Ted, any chance you might know of a "Final Score" pinball out there ? It featured the Reds and Tigers who played in the 1940 W/S .
Thanks,Len

It's actually the 1935 World Series - Cubs vs Tigers - not the 1940. The game came out in 1937:

Final Score:

http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=fi...archtype=quick




Tabe

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Pinball pitch and bat games are great. Here is my Williams



Max

One of my favorite machines, Max. Yours looks great.

[perezfan]

Here's mine...

A slightly earlier model than those posted by Ted and Max. Mine has fewer "bells and whistles", but lots of aesthetic appeal. It's a "one player" game that works great, with the exception of two burnt out lights. Anybody know who to contact for routine maintenance of these? (Max - we're close geographically, so perhaps you have a contact?)

The one thing I really miss on my Machine are the Home Run "ramps". As a kid, I used to love launching those homers into the "grandstands". IMO, nothing in the hobby has more charm than these wood-rail games with the runners circling the bases behind the glass...

Great thread!

[tedzan]

Thanks for posting your machine. What vintage is it ?

Also, I have gotten parts from an outfit in upstate New York. It's been quite a while since I have, and I don't recall the source.
There are suppliers on the West coast, try a search on google.

Fortunately, I have done all the repair & maintenance work on my machine. Because (here on the East coast) the pinball gurus
don't make "house calls".


TED Z

[David W]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Here's mine...

A slightly earlier model than those posted by Ted and Max. Mine has fewer "bells and whistles", but lots of aesthetic appeal. It's a "one player" game that works great, with the exception of two burnt out lights. Anybody know who to contact for routine maintenance of these? (Max - we're close geographically, so perhaps you have a contact?)

The one thing I really miss on my Machine are the Home Run "ramps". As a kid, I used to love launching those homers into the "grandstands". IMO, nothing in the hobby has more charm than these wood-rail games with the runners circling the bases behind the glass...

Great thread!

I used to work for a video game outfit in Northern Indiana. The owner had all kinds of parts/old games/etc....

I am sure if you contact a local vending/amusement company in your area, you might have a good chance of finding replacement parts.

[bbcard1]

We still have at the Williams machines when we make it to Myrtle Beach...one of the arcades has a whole wall of them. Make to to 27 runs and you get a prize...I have won once or twice, but last summer I made it to 26 runs with one out and promptly hit two outs...good times.

[susmiester]

I have one of these but the back glass graphics are almost gone where can I get the graphics for it how much are they worth

[Hoy4HOF]

Beautiful machine! I used to play the "1962 World Series" pinball by Williams at the bowling alley for hours on end...10 cents per game...five balls. I now have a "Simpsons Pinball Party" that I bought new.