What's new
Pinball info

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

The thing about EM pinball machines....

@VeeMonroe, Gottlieb picked El Dorado and Jacks Open as two of the games they updated in solid-state format during the early 80's. Though in the case of the former, they'd used the layout plenty of times already, four I think.
Yeah, but El Dorado City of Gold and Jacks to Open are both a bit of an eyesore. The originals are much more attractive!
 
I did mean generally. Some e/m games aren't that appealing visually, such as 4 Million BC, but make up for it in play.

Another point about e/m games is that with a little dodge they can be returned to the conditions present when turned off, i.e. if you're going well in a game but absolutely have to leave it, it is possible to turn it back on and continue the same game. Games have a 'Hold' relay, which energises and locks in when a game is started, remaining live (unless tilted) until the power is turned off. Opening the door and pushing in this relay puts an abandoned game back in play.

Williams and Bally e/m's even have extra contacts on the left flipper button, to achieve a similar result; a note supplied with Magic City says "Advise locations that they can turn on display lights by pressing left flipper button"
 
Last edited:
I did mean generally. Some e/m games aren't that appealing visually, such as 4 Million BC, but make up for it in play.

Another point about e/m games is that with a little dodge they can be returned to the conditions present when turned off, i.e. if you're going well in a game but absolutely have to leave it, it is possible to turn it back on and continue the same game. Games have a 'Hold' relay, which energises and locks in when a game is started, remaining live (unless tilted) until the power is turned off. Opening the door and pushing in this relay puts an abandoned game back in play.
Oh I have to try that now!!! :) Thanks
 
I've only ever owned EM's, it's the artwork & sounds that I like.
Probably restored 15-20 over the years, but a couple of years ago decided to sell all but 2, Gottlieb Buckaroo & World fair, then the Buckaroo went a few weeks ago.
I'll probably regret it in years to come, but they take up more space than I have. Kept the World fair though, that'll never go!
 
Resurrecting this thread as I missed it and I absolutely adore EMs. I'm 27 so by no means have nostalgia for them. My first pin was an EM as it was all I could afford at the time and I get loads of EMs passing through my workshop now days, sometimes they're a pain sometimes they're a joy - but nothing is more satisfying than taking a rusty, gunked up stepper unit and getting it running like clockwork once again. Generally I've found that once everything has been gone through they're very reliable, but it's getting them to that point. You cant patch up an EM if you're going to work on it every relay and every stepper unit has to be cleaned, serviced and adjusted.

Gameplay I find generally isn't too exciting but I love the old school charm, the weird noises etc. Plus ripping a spinner that's attached to a stepper unit is just SO good!
 
Resurrecting this thread as I missed it and I absolutely adore EMs. I'm 27 so by no means have nostalgia for them. My first pin was an EM as it was all I could afford at the time and I get loads of EMs passing through my workshop now days, sometimes they're a pain sometimes they're a joy - but nothing is more satisfying than taking a rusty, gunked up stepper unit and getting it running like clockwork once again. Generally I've found that once everything has been gone through they're very reliable, but it's getting them to that point. You cant patch up an EM if you're going to work on it every relay and every stepper unit has to be cleaned, serviced and adjusted.

Gameplay I find generally isn't too exciting but I love the old school charm, the weird noises etc. Plus ripping a spinner that's attached to a stepper unit is just SO good!
Agree, you have to break it down and do it all or you’ll always be chasing issues. I love the smell of EMs first thing in the morning. 😜
 
It was EM machines that made me like playing pinball since the 1960's although I have never owned one.

It would be nice if there was an Electro Mechanical section on the forum where members could show the machines that they own.
I reckon it it would make for good discussions.
 
It was EM machines that made me like playing pinball since the 1960's although I have never owned one.

It would be nice if there was an Electro Mechanical section on the forum where members could show the machines that they own.
I reckon it it would make for good discussions.
There is one on Pinside, where there are enough users to sustain it. I suspect that on this forum it would just be the same five people taking to each other on every thread!
 
Back
Top Bottom