# Episode 362 - 1977 Williams Liberty Bell **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2016-03-07 **Duration:** 8m 37s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-362-1977-williams-liberty-bell --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge discusses Williams' 1977 Liberty Bell, a two-player EM pinball machine with a shared playfield layout to Grand Prix but distinct patriotic artwork and scoring mechanics. The episode covers gameplay features including spinners, drop targets, bonus advancement, and special lighting, analyzes Christian Marsh's Liberty Bell-themed artwork design, and includes listener feedback from Don about his experience owning and refurbishing the game. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Liberty Bell is a two-player EM that came out in 1977, which was unusual because Williams was nearly at the point of the solid state changeover — _Nick Baldridge, discussing the game's specifications and historical context_ - [HIGH] Liberty Bell shares the exact same playfield layout as Grand Prix (released 1976), differing only in artwork and scoring — _Nick Baldridge, comparing the two games directly_ - [HIGH] The Liberty Bell artwork was done by Christian Marsh — _Nick Baldridge, citing the artist credit_ - [HIGH] Winning a special on Liberty Bell requires knocking down one or both sets of drop targets a total of four times to light the fourth star advance, then hitting all four drop targets to get one replay — _Nick Baldridge, explaining special lighting rules_ - [HIGH] The drop targets are positioned at an angle that shoots the ball to the outlane, making them drain guarantees — _Nick Baldridge, describing playfield geometry and risk_ - [HIGH] Don owned a Liberty Bell and found it to be a fun, fast, and brutal game after refurbishing it — _Don, in listener email to Nick Baldridge_ ### Notable Quotes > "Williams, why were you so late to the party for the Bicentennial that their game came out in 1977? For shame." > — **Don (listener email)**, opening > _Sets up the episode's theme; questions why Williams didn't capitalize on the Bicentennial celebration earlier_ > "It only came in a two-player. Now, if you were to sit this game beside Grand Prix, which came out the year before, you might notice that the playfield layout is exactly the same. The only difference is in the artwork and in how it scores." > — **Nick Baldridge**, early_discussion > _Establishes the core relationship between Liberty Bell and Grand Prix; explains why the playfield is identical_ > "So, what else for the gameplay? Well, how do you win a special? You have to knock down one set of drop targets, or both sets of drop targets, a total of four times. This will light your fourth star advance, and at that point you have to hit all four drop targets in order to get one replay. That's pretty tough." > — **Nick Baldridge**, mid_discussion > _Details the challenging special-winning mechanic; illustrates the game's difficulty_ > "The first would be the center plastic, which is the Liberty Bell. And it is a small diamond-shaped plastic that really only covers the posts directly above the drop targets." > — **Nick Baldridge**, artwork_section > _Highlights key design element by Christian Marsh_ > "Once I refurbished it, it was a fun, fast, and brutal game. I do miss it." > — **Don (listener email)**, closing > _Provides first-hand collector perspective; validates the game's quality after restoration_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; provides detailed analysis and technical expertise on the Liberty Bell | | Don | person | Listener who emailed Nick with commentary about Liberty Bell; previously owned and refurbished the game | | Christian Marsh | person | Artist who created the Liberty Bell pinball machine artwork | | Williams | company | Manufacturer of the 1977 Liberty Bell EM pinball machine | | Liberty Bell | game | 1977 Williams two-player EM pinball machine with patriotic Bicentennial theme; shares playfield layout with Grand Prix | | Grand Prix | game | 1976 Williams EM pinball machine; shares identical playfield layout with Liberty Bell but with different artwork and scoring | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge | ### Topics - **Primary:** Liberty Bell (1977) design and mechanics, EM pinball artwork and Christian Marsh's design, Playfield layout comparison with Grand Prix, Special lighting and bonus advancement systems - **Secondary:** Williams production and solid-state transition era, Game refurbishment and collector experience - **Mentioned:** Bicentennial-themed pinball games ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Nick provides respectful, detailed technical analysis. Listener feedback is complimentary despite good-natured ribbing about the Bicentennial timing. Both parties express appreciation for the game's quality post-refurbishment. Tone is educational and lighthearted throughout. ### Signals - **[historical_signal]** Liberty Bell represents a late EM-era design choice by Williams, occurring as the industry was transitioning to solid-state technology. The decision to produce a two-player-only EM rather than a four-player version is unusual for the period. (confidence: high) — Nick notes 'at this time, we're almost at the point of the solid state changeover for Williams, and it's kind of strange that Liberty Bell didn't come in a four-player version' - **[design_innovation]** Liberty Bell reuses the Grand Prix playfield layout entirely, with differences only in artwork and scoring. This represents a manufacturing efficiency strategy. (confidence: high) — Nick states 'The playfield layout is exactly the same. The only difference is in the artwork and in how it scores.' - **[design_innovation]** Christian Marsh's Liberty Bell artwork is praised as significantly superior to Grand Prix, with specific patriotic design elements including a diamond-shaped center plastic Liberty Bell, red/white/blue striped side plastics, inverted bell with eagle, 13-star flag motif, and historical vignettes. (confidence: high) — Nick analyzes the artwork in detail: 'the artwork is light years ahead of Grand Prix' with specific design elements like the diamond-shaped Liberty Bell plastic and patriotic flag elements - **[gameplay_signal]** Liberty Bell features challenging special-winning mechanics (four-star advance system) and drain-prone drop target positioning, creating a 'fast and brutal' gameplay experience. (confidence: high) — Nick describes drop targets as 'drain guarantees' due to angle, and Don characterizes the refurbished game as 'a fun, fast, and brutal game' - **[collector_signal]** Listener Don's refurbishment of a Liberty Bell yielded positive results, suggesting the game maintains appeal and playability after restoration despite its age and difficulty. (confidence: high) — Don states 'Once I refurbished it, it was a fun, fast, and brutal game. I do miss it.' - **[historical_signal]** Liberty Bell capitalizes on the United States Bicentennial celebration theme with heavy patriotic imagery (flag, eagle, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, historical vignettes, 13 colonies references). (confidence: high) — Detailed artwork analysis shows multiple Bicentennial and American historical elements throughout cabinet and backglass design --- ## Transcript what's that sound it's for amusement only the em and bingo pinball podcast welcome back to for amusement only this is Nicholas Baldridge i got an email that i had to share because i find it very amusing don emails and says hey nick really no liberty bell Well, why? Was Williams so late to the party for the Bicentennial that their game came out in 1977? For shame. Well, you ask, I answer. Tonight I'm going to talk about Williams' 1977 Liberty Bell. Liberty Bell is a two-player EM, which is interesting in its own right, because at this time, we're almost at the point of the solid state changeover for Williams, and it's kind of strange that Liberty Bell didn't come in a four-player version. It only came in a two-player. Now, if you were to sit this game beside Grand Prix, which came out the year before, you might notice that the playfield layout is exactly the same. The only difference is in the artwork and in how it scores. But the same basic shots are there. You've got a spinner on the left, a spinner on the right. You've got four drop targets. You've got two pop bumpers. And then you've got saucers to give points. But they can also be used to light double bonus, which is pretty handy. More points, usually a good thing. So, just like on Grand Prix, you have the ability to advance your bonus by spinning the spinner 10 times. The drop targets are labeled B and like on Grand Prix if you hit them in pairs eventually they will light extra ball which you can collect in the outlanes Your drop targets can also advance your bonus, which is pretty important. You don't have a left and right side bonus on this game like you do on Grand Prix, and therefore there's a little less strategy in what you're shooting for, because you're pretty much trying to drop the drop targets. It seems as though it's all about hitting those drop targets and advancing your bonus as high as possible, and lighting double bonus in order to collect when you drain. There's a saucer at the top, but down by the flippers there is no in lane. And there's no broken in lane that allows you to fall out or nudge in. Instead, there's a larger plastic that covers the sling. So, what else for the gameplay? Well, how do you win a special? You can win on score, of course, but in order to win a special, you have to knock down one set of drop targets, or both sets of drop targets, a total of four times. This will light your fourth star advance, and at that point you have to hit all four drop targets in order to get one replay. That's pretty tough. If you've played Grand Prix, then you know how difficult it is to get four-star advances, much less getting four-star advances and then continuing to hit the drop targets. Those drop targets that are front and center are pretty much drain guarantees. Because of their angle, it shoots them right to the out lane. now another thing on this game is that unless lighting double bonus is lit on the kick holes on the left and right, you pretty much want to stay out of them, because they only give you 500 points. Really your big points are lighting the spinners for 1,000 and then hitting all your drop targets. So let's talk about artwork. game's artwork was done by Christian Marche, and in this case, I think the artwork is light years ahead of Grand Prix, on the playfield especially. You have what's obviously a patriotic theme, but there are special elements to the artwork that I think make it stand out. The first would be the center plastic, which is the Liberty Bell. And it is a small diamond-shaped plastic that really only covers the posts directly above the drop targets. There are two long plastics that line the left and right-hand side. and those are red and white striped with blue stars. And then on the play field itself, you have a Liberty Bell turned upside down. At least, I think that's what that is. And if I'm wrong, then I'm going to feel pretty silly. you. But, in the center of this bell that's upturned and cut at an angle, there is an eagle And I just think it looks pretty cool Now the cabinet has an actual 13 Colonies American flag on the left and right side with the Liberty Bell stenciled on top of that. And the flag is also on the front of the game. The back glass has a flag in the background with the Liberty Bell positioned in the stars area with 13 stars for the 13 colonies an eagle above each set of score reels, the Statue of Liberty hiding behind one fold in the flag and then various vignettes from the United States' history On the right hand side, you have a lady dancing, wearing a patriotic outfit. So let's return to Don's comments. He says, Just kidding. But I owned a Liberty Bell, which is very similar to their popular Grand Prix. Once I refurbished it, it was a fun, fast, and brutal game. I do miss it. And he says, poking some fun. Keep up the good work. Thanks. Don. Well, Don, I really appreciate your email, and thanks for pointing out to me just how much I get wrong. If any of you have something to point out to me, feel free to email me. My email is 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com or you can call me on the bingos line. That's 724 bingos 1 724 246 46 You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at Bingo Podcast. You can follow me on Instagram, also at Bingo Podcast. Or you can listen to us on our website, which is foramusementonly.libsyn.com. Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time. _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 09ce2b9f-ad3e-4a6c-bc7f-185a4d907fdc*