#123 - I saw the light - The Classic Pinball Podcast

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d agoDec 30, 20241 hr 15 min listenBy George

From the creator

Chimes. Targets. Bulbs. Bulk repairs. Buck Rogers revisited. Rectifiers. Stats. Thumb. Nip it. Next months [email protected]

Highlights

Bally and Stern solid-state target banks are similar but not swappable between manufacturers
Stern used cheaper pot metal in early solid-state games causing wear, while Bally used bushings that lasted longer
Dead chime bars are a real problem in early solid-state games: minute cracks in metal develop that affect tone
Constantino Mitchell (automotive engineer) produces LED glass 4447 replacements for Bally/Stern Space Station lighting that are 3-6x brighter with proper color matching
Bridge rectifiers manufactured in Mexico from the early 1980s are now failing en masse in System 80 and Williams games
Buck Rogers machine's back glass was deemed 'too misogynistic' by its owner and donated to the Oddfellows club
David Humphrey (NNWC board designer/The Ace) offered free board reprogramming service for a defective System 80 Spider-Man board
Episode 115 (Pintastic coverage) was the show's best-performing episode of 2024, streaming 762% above average
A parts vendor (referenced as 'Twenty Eyes') sells replacement target links for Bally games at $3 each
Constantino Mitchell is developing new LED products including a 'Yop Pop' (two-sided LED bumper light) and 'Yop Dot' (backbox light socket replacement)

“They're not selling this thing. They're saying this thing is a problem.”

George

“The board is saying it needs reprogramming. Free of charge, send it to me, I'll reprogram it and send it back to you.”

David Humphrey (The Ace)

“I can't believe the game looks as good as it does...considering it was in a basement.”

George (reflecting on Miriam's Buck Rogers restoration)

“I'm on fire, I can fix, fix, fix.”

George

“Why have a fuse on the flipper board if it fails it should blow that fuse...but it blows the main fuse which is really bizarre.”

George