# Episode 363 - 1940 Bally Duet **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2016-03-08 **Duration:** 8m 16s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-363-1940-bally-duet --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge discusses the 1940 Bally Duet, a flipperless game with a dual-mode dial system allowing players to compete for score or through a 10-bumper rotation sequence. The game features innovative mechanics including a reserve system and multiple win conditions, with colorful art deco design and lighted scoring up to 39,900 points. Baldridge notes the IPDB lacks photos of this machine and appeals to listeners for additional documentation. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Duet is a flipperless game from 1940 with a dial allowing play of two different games — _Nick Baldridge, podcast host, describing the basic premise of the machine_ - [HIGH] Hitting bumpers 1-6 in rotation mode earns 2 free games; hitting all 10 earns 20 free games — _Nick Baldridge describing the rotation game mechanics_ - [HIGH] A second nickel qualifies both games simultaneously and allows winning the reserve, a number of replays that climbs to a maximum of 200 — _Nick Baldridge explaining the reserve system mechanics_ - [HIGH] The maximum score on Duet is 39,900 points — _Nick Baldridge describing the lighted scoring range_ - [HIGH] The IPDB only has the flyer for Duet and lacks photographs of the machine — _Nick Baldridge lamenting documentation gaps_ - [MEDIUM] The game almost certainly had a knockoff button typical of 1940-era machines for selling replays back — _Nick Baldridge speculating on standard 1940s pinball features_ - [MEDIUM] Bumpers are illuminated through sockets at their centers with red or yellow diffuser caps — _Nick Baldridge describing bumper construction based on flyer and photos from someone restoring one_ ### Notable Quotes > "Duet is a pretty darn interesting flipperless game" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~0:30 > _Opening assessment of the machine's appeal and rarity value_ > "The basic premise of Duet is that you can play one of two different games for both" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~0:45 > _Core mechanic explanation establishing the machine's dual-mode design_ > "So it's to your great benefit to play for rotation, actually, because with enough skill at nudging, you could probably win the rotation" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~2:15 > _Gameplay insight showing how skill-based nudging affects strategy and win conditions_ > "The artwork is very colorful and nice but I have to go from memory on this" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~3:30 > _Acknowledgment of limited documentation and reliance on flyer imagery_ > "Every game comes close. But the trick is, not quite getting there. As they say, it ensures plenty of repeat play in the fattest collections since Bally Reserve" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~5:45 > _Quotes original marketing language showing designer intent for repeat play and collection-building_ > "If anybody listening happens to have one, or has played one, I would love to hear about it" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~6:00 > _Direct appeal to community for documentation and personal experiences_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast, episode presenter, expert on EM and bingo pinball machines | | Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer that produced the 1940 Duet machine | | Duet | game | 1940 Bally flipperless pinball game with dual-mode gameplay and innovative mechanics | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and bingo pinball podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge, episode 363 | | IPDB | organization | Internet Pinball Database, resource for pinball documentation; holds only flyer for Duet, lacks photographs | ### Topics - **Primary:** Flipperless game mechanics and design, 1940s Bally pinball machine design and features - **Secondary:** Art deco machine aesthetics and artwork, Mechanical bumper illumination and construction, Pinball machine documentation and archival gaps, Replay mechanics and coin operation systems - **Mentioned:** Skill-based nudging strategy in EM games ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.82) — Nick Baldridge expresses genuine enthusiasm and fascination for the Duet machine, its innovative mechanics, and design. Tone is educational and appreciative. The only negative element is frustration about documentation gaps in the IPDB. ### Signals - **[historical_signal]** Deep dive into 1940 Bally Duet flipperless machine, exploring early pinball design philosophy before widespread flipper adoption (confidence: high) — Detailed technical analysis of bumper layout, scoring mechanics, and game modes specific to pre-flipper era design - **[restoration_signal]** Host references recent restoration work on Duet and expresses concern about IPDB documentation gaps; appeals for community photos and information (confidence: high) — Nick mentions someone recently fixing up a Duet, lost associated emails, and requests listeners submit photos to IPDB - **[gameplay_signal]** Analysis of dual-game mode design and how player nudging skill affects probability of winning rotation mode vs. score mode (confidence: high) — Detailed explanation of bumper sequences, rotation mechanics, and how skillful nudging favors the rotation win condition - **[design_innovation]** Duet's dial-selectable dual-game system and reserve accumulation mechanic represent innovative design for balancing casual vs. skilled play (confidence: high) — Explanation of game 1 (score-only) vs. game 2 (rotation) modes, and reserve system that climbs to 200 replays - **[community_signal]** Host actively seeks community participation in archival documentation of rare machines through podcast appeal (confidence: high) — Direct request to listeners: 'If anybody listening happens to have one, or has played one, I would love to hear about it' - **[historical_signal]** Discussion of 1940s-era machine economics: knockoff buttons allowing establishments to buy back replays as early coin-op monetization strategy (confidence: medium) — Nick notes game 'almost certainly had a knockoff button' and explains how players could sell replays back to operators --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's 4 Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to 4 Amusement Only, this is Nicholas Baldridge. Tonight I wanted to talk about 1940's Ballet Duet. Duet is a pretty darn interesting flipperless game. and I was talking with somebody who was fixing theirs up here recently. I can't find any of my emails about that, otherwise I'd ask him a couple of questions. But the basic premise of Duet is that you can play one of two different games for both. There is a dial on the front, and on the front of the cab, the numbers 1 and 2 are painted. turn the dial towards number 1, and you play only for score. So once you beat whatever score is set, then you'll win a replay. But turn the dial to number 2, and you play a game called Rotation. And this allows a second way to win. there are 10 sets of bumpers on the play field starting at the top center it's number one two and three are on the left and right hand side right below that four again is center five and six left and right seven center eight and nine left and right, and 10 center again. These 10 sets, if you hit 1 through 6, then you'll get 2 free games but if you hit all 10 then you earn 20 free games So it's to your great benefit to play for rotation, actually, because with enough skill at nudging, you could probably win the rotation. now if that wasn't enough there's a third way to win and that's by putting in another nickel so your first nickel qualifies either game 1 or 2 your second nickel will actually qualify both at the same time and allow you to win the reserve the reserve is a number of replays that climbs over time to a maximum of 200 replays so if you manage to knock out 1 through 10 and win on score I believe the game will pay you the reserve in replays now this game almost certainly had a knockoff button it was made in 1940 after all and so you would sell your replays back to the establishment that ran it now it's a little unfortunate because the IPDB only has the flyer for this game and if I could find the emails that I had I would ask them to send it into the IPDB because there are no pictures. And the artwork is very colorful and nice but I have to go from memory on this The bumpers pictured in the flyer are different than the ones that I saw in the photos of the game At least the caps of them. But the bumpers themselves appear to be similar. The idea is that there is a socket which actually goes through the center of the bumper. and illuminates the cap directly through a diffuser. And these are either red or yellow. The back glass has lighted scoring, of course, and it goes all the way from a minimum of 100 points all the way up to 30,000. So your maximum score is 39,900 points. there are flags on the left and right hand side and about center labeled 1 and 2 those indicate the game that you're playing below that you have the numbers 1 through 10 and those indicate the number in the sequence and which ones you still need to get you have vertical stripes on the cab along with a fairly interesting stencil a symbol that I don't recognize in the front and very attractive art deco you've got that early ballet ball shooter and lifter with a triangular cover beautiful machine and the rules in gameplay are very interesting. You have rollovers down the center in between each bumper which are worth a thousand points And down at the bottom on the left and right hand side you have two bumpers to the left and right of the number 10 bumpers which are each worth a thousand points per hit. So if you're able to angle a ball off of a rubber down at the bottom, which is almost certainly there although you can't see it in the flyer you could likely stack up several thousand points per ball that made it down there so there'd be no real way to win on a single ball the ball would have to travel left and right, back and forth up and down But over the course of five balls, I think the 1-10 goal is actually fairly attainable. And as the flyer says, every game comes close. But the trick is, not quite getting there. As they say, it ensures plenty of repeat play in the fattest collections since Bally Reserve. Well, this is a fascinating game. and if anybody listening happens to have one, or has played one, I would love to hear about it. Well, that's all for tonight. Thank you very much for joining me. My name again is Nicholas Baldridge. You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com, or you can call me on the bingos line. That's 724-BINGOS-1, 724-246-4671. 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: 218d1283-4a69-4631-b504-15ed68155eb1*