Info about Pinball Machines
Pinball History
Pinball history dates as far back as the 15th century, a time when outdoor games were growing increasingly popular. Pinball actually links two other games, known as Bowls and Bocce (pronounced Bah-chee). These were some of the earliest games that required balls to be hit with sticks. Other early games required these techniques are shuffleboard and croquet. Over time, all of these games evolved and were eventually played indoors. The indoor play led to the creation of bowling and billiards. Ultimately, pinball evolved from billiards, though it is today recognized as a completely separate game.
Bagatelle
To better understand the detailed history of pinball, it is important to realize that the first legitimate version of the game was a French title known as Bagatelle. This form of pinball was created by taking a billiard table and then narrowing it. Pins were then placed at the end of the table, and players then attempted to use a stick, which was referred to as a cue, to strike the balls into the pints. This style of the game is similar to modern-day ten-pin bowling.
Once all of the pins were knocked down, it was required to reset them. In the early stages of the game, this procedure was performed manually. Obviously, there are machines today that reset the pins, eliminating the need for a human to constantly go back and forth.
However, when the pins were fixed, new scoring mechanisms developed. The fixed pins eventually served as ricochet tools, and holes were placed adjacent to the pins. Players then aimed for the holes in which they were hoping to land the ball.
The game would become popular, and in 1777 the French King Louis XIV promoted it with consistency. He introduced the game at a party, which was held in the Cheateu D’Bagatelle, an establishment owned by the King’s brother. This event is how the game was named Bagatelle, and eventually the game grew popular throughout all of France. It wasn’t until the American Revolutionary War that Bagatelle was introduced in America. The French soldiers played the games with their American allies, and today evolutions of the game still remain popular.
Ball Shooter
In 1871, Montague Redgrave was credited with US Patent #115,357, which was a patent denoted as “Improvements in Bagatelle.” Though this invention was by no means new, it became what is today known as the first patent of a “Ball Shooter,” which is used in modern pinball machines. This invention eliminated the need for a cue, or stick, to strike the ball. Instead, a plunger, which was attached to a spring, served the purpose. This exact invention led to the birth of what is today referred to as pinball.
Ballyhoo
In the new century, Pinball became the preferred choice as a social activity. However, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that it developed national recognition.
A company called Automatic Industries invented the first machine-operated pinball game in 1931. Shortly after, David Gottlieb, who was part of D. Gottlieb & Co., developed what became known as “Baffle Ball.” Raymond Maloney, a distributor for Gottlieb, grew infuriated that he was unable to obtain enough Baffle Balls, which were not cheap (US $17.50). As a result, he decided to form his own company. This company was later named Lion Manufacturing, and it was credited with manufacturing the Maloney design, which was coined “Ballyhoo.”
The invention of Ballyhoo was no doubt pivotal innovation for the future of pinball machines. Ballyhoo eventually sold over 75,000 units, and Raymond Maloney decided it would be best to rename his company Bally Manufacturing. Bally did not fall short of its expectations, as it became a leader in the industry, especially during the solid state era. Unfortunately, Bally ceased its operations in 1988, and sold all of its assets to Williams. Surprisingly, Williams continued to promote the Bally name.
TILT
Of all pinball activists, Harry Williams, who worked for Pacific Amusements at the time, is credited for the integration of the “TILT” mechanism into pinball machines. This mechanism was invented in 1932 and prevented players from cheating by lifting and moving the machine in their favor. Without this mechanism, the game would not have grown popular since it would have been easy to beat every time. Since prizes were given away for participants who broke certain pinball records, it was crucial that a control system was set in place to prevent cheating. The TILT mechanism solved this issue, and there are various tilt versions:
The Plumb Bob Tilt – a weighted metal senses any tilting since it is placed in the center of the machine; when the rod tilts, a player is cheating
The Slam Tilt – this set of contacts detects any slamming at the front end of the machine
The Roll Tilt – through this mechanism, a small metal ball moves around when the machine is lifted
The Playfield Tilt – these contact detect any excessive slamming, lifting, and dropping of the machine
In 1944, Harry Williams established Williams Manufacturing, which lasted until 1999. Pinball historians will never forget the impact that Harry and his company had on the industry.
Flippers
It wasn’t until recently that pinball machines utilized Flippers. This method involved firing the ball from the shooter and then controlling the flippers to hit the ball where desired. Traditionally, players shot the ball and bumped the machine in the desired manner. But D. Gottlieb & Co. was credited with the development of the first flippers with the introduction of his “Humpy Dumpty” model in 1947.
This new integration allowed players to now control where they hit the ball. The three flippers on each side allowed players to strike the ball in the desired direction. This invention led to a whole new era in pinball gaming.
Solid State Pinball's
Though the invention of flippers was considered revolutionary, there were other advancements worth noting, including Bumpers, Drop Targets, and Multiball. These innovations grew popular during the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Pinball was traditionally either Electro-Mechanical (EM) or Pure Mechanical (PM). The relay banks and stepper motors were the primary gears that performed the operations. The transitional to solid state was pivotal in the evolution of pinball history.
Solid state pinball allowed for the integration of more features, more bonuses, and the possibility to store information regarding a player’s current position in a game, even after the ball had been drained. Though this innovation was now more practical, it did come with a price. Competitors developed other games to battle business with pinball, and it was during this tie that Space Invaders, Galaga, Pac-Man, and Frogger became popular. The introduction of these new titles provided gamers with a new alternative to pinball. Midway, the company that now owned Bally, realize that there wasn’t much profit left in pinball, and took advantage by reaping the profits of the new video game era.
Understanding the business decision involved during this time will lead one to understand why pinball was no longer a money-maker. Arcades, the main pinball machine customers, were no longer buying machines and were purchasing more advanced technology. However, in the 1990’s, Williams (an affiliate of Bally) had an idea. This idea involved integrating the game of pinball with current gaming trends, as was seen in the release of the Addams Family pinball machine. The company manufactured and sold over 20,000 of this specific unit, a clear resurgence in the industry. What a great idea to incorporate popular gaming into the pinball platform!
Williams continued along this integration trend and grew as a market leader during the 1990’s. Eventually, a light display was placed at the top of the pinball machine that provided live updates on scores along with video graphics that presented animation. Accompanying the graphics with audio soon became common among most machines.
Eventually, the late 1990’s showed the true demise of pinball, as competing electronics manufacturers, such as SEG, forced Williams to close its doors. Though the demise of pinball was a disappointment, the entertainment that the game provided will always be remembered.