Talkin' BaseBall Pinball machines

[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

[Rob D.]

Mine also is a one-player model, Mark. From 1963.

http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=sl...ype=quick#2210

[tedzan]

Here's a story you "pinballer's" will appreciate.

Everytime any of our 3 grandchildren are visiting us, they go straight to the Super Slugger. Six years ago, Kurtis and Madison (then
11 and 8 years old, respectively) were competing with each other....running up their scores on the machine.

Suddenly, I hear them calling...."Grampie, Grampie "

I run down to our lower garage to see (and smell) smoke emanating from the machine. Apparently, they had held down the Batting
button too long; and, this caused the Bat actuator solenoid inside the machine to burn up. I had instructed them to always moment-
arily press the Bat button. But the're just kids, these things do happen. My daughter Debbie was really upset, she knows how much
I enjoy this pinball machine.

I lifted the top of the machine and unsoldered the electromagnet coil that energized the bat mechanism. I acquired an exact replace-
ment coil from a supplier in upstate New York. Soldered it into the machine and turned on the power.

"SLAM-BAM".....now I really had a "Super Slugger", as the Bat was significantly more powerful than before. My grandchildren did me a
great favor (although they sure didn't think so that day). Obviously, the original solenoid had lost some of its juice over the past 50+
years.

What was more satisfying than realizing that I had revitalized my machine....was the glee on Kurtis' and Madison's faces, when I told
them that they had inadvertently did us all a great favor.


TED Z

[oaks1912]

Ted.... With the update made to the machine, you'll have to start tabulating a new summary of high scores. All new home run totals made after this "juicing", shall we say, will have to include an asterisk to reflect this artificial supplement, which was not available to previous record holders (you, Pat Roche , Ronnie & myself). By some longshot of a chance, was this part manufactured by Balco Enterprises.........? Hmm.......

[tedzan]

Just getting back to you regarding your "?" in post #5.

You are way ahead of me in the Tobacco pack game.

My collection comprises of AMERICAN BEAUTY factory 25 (VA), MECCA, OLD JUDGE, PIEDMONT factory 25 (VA),
PIEDMONT factory 42 (NC), PIRATE, and RECRUIT.

Best regards ole buddy,

TED Z

[bijoem]

great thread.


great machines.

I don't remember your machine Ted (before my time I guess) - but it is very cool looking.


I remember playing 'Slugger'

For sure my favorite was "Pinch Hitter" -
I loved that game!
Max - that machine is absolutely beautiful!

[tedzan]

The United's Super Slugger Pitch & Bat machines were not as numerous as Max's Williams machines.

Where did you play the BB pinball games ?

Also, if you do a search on my machine, you'll find some great pictures of it.


Best regards and will we see you at the Philly Show this weekend ?

TED Z

[bijoem]

Ted -

I will see you tomorrow. I am looking forward to it.


I played BB pinball in arcades in malls, hotels, amusement parks, and boardwalks. I think I grew up in the arcade era. They were everywhere.

[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

[perezfan]

Great stuff, Ted! Such pride of workmanship and attention to detail... that is one spectacular machine. I can't think of anything that better defines the golden era of baseball (and Americana) better than that.

Thanks for posting...

[tbob]

Interesting post, Ted, thanks for sharing. It's hard to believe that the pinball-baseball machines pictured in this thread survived in such nice shape over the years.