# Episode 32 - 1930s Innovation

**Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2015-04-12  
**Duration:** 7m 42s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-32-1930s-innovation

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## Analysis

Nick Baldridge presents a comprehensive history of 1930s pinball and pin game innovation, examining foundational technologies like kickbacks, ramps, bumpers, ball lifters, and lighted scoring. He traces the origins of major manufacturers (Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, Chicago Coin, Genco, Rockola) and explains the technical distinction between purely mechanical pin games and electromechanical pinball machines, including power systems and scoring mechanisms that laid the groundwork for modern pinball design.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] The 1930s contained some of the most interesting pinball innovations ever conceived, including kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and ball lifters. — _Nick Baldridge, opening statement of episode_
- [HIGH] Most 1930s innovations were forgotten during the war era when pinball factories were converted for war effort production. — _Nick Baldridge, discussing post-war innovation recovery_
- [HIGH] Bingo, created by David Gottlieb, is largely credited as the first coin-operated pin game. — _Nick Baldridge, on Gottlieb's Bingo_
- [MEDIUM] Gottlieb's company persisted through the 1970s and eventually became Premier, also changing name to Milstar at one point. — _Nick Baldridge, company history segment_
- [HIGH] Multiple major manufacturers started in the 1930s: Bally Manufacturing Company, Genco, Williams, Rockola, Automatic, Chicago Coin. — _Nick Baldridge, manufacturer origins discussion_
- [HIGH] A pin game is purely mechanical (like bingo with marbles), while electromechanical games with shooters, ball control, nudging, and automatic scoring are pinball machines. — _Nick Baldridge, defining pin games vs. pinball machines_
- [HIGH] Early electromechanical pinball machines from the 1930s were powered by 12-volt dry cell battery packs, not standard AC outlet power. — _Nick Baldridge, on power systems_
- [HIGH] Lighted scoring was one of the best innovations of the 1930s, providing score persistence and preventing fraud. — _Nick Baldridge, on lighted scoring innovation_
- [HIGH] Nick Baldridge owns a game from the late 1930s that uses several coils to control tilt and score stepping. — _Personal anecdote in power systems discussion_
- [HIGH] Bridge rectifiers (solid-state components) can be installed in 1930s machines to convert outlet AC power to DC power for operation. — _Nick Baldridge, on retrofitting power systems_

### Notable Quotes

> "The machines of the 1930s contained some of the most interesting pinball innovations ever conceived."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 0:00-0:30
> _Opening thesis establishing the episode's focus on 1930s innovation as foundational_

> "These innovations were largely forgotten during the war era. The only games being produced were conversion games, playfields, and backglasses for existing games, because all the pinball factories had been converted over for the war effort."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 0:30-1:00
> _Historical context explaining a gap in innovation continuity and industry disruption_

> "A pin game is one which is purely mechanical, such as bingo, which I described earlier. But electromechanical games are pinball machines."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 2:30-3:00
> _Establishes Baldridge's technical definition distinguishing pin games from pinball machines_

> "Lighted scoring is one of the best innovations of the 1930s in my opinion. A method for automatically keeping track of your score is a lot better than having a machine where the marbles have to fall in various trap holes in order to be counted towards your score."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 4:00-5:00
> _Highlights a key innovation and its practical advantage against fraud in bar/gambling settings_

> "The early pinball machines that were electromechanical were not powered by a typical outlet power. They were not 120 volts. Rather, they were powered by 12-volt battery packs. These were dry cell batteries and were incredibly, incredibly heavy."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 5:30-6:30
> _Technical detail revealing operational constraints of early machines, important for restoration context_

> "I have a game from the 30s which has been converted to use outlet power. This is a lot more convenient. And in order to do so, it only required the installation of a transformer and a bridge rectifier."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 7:00-8:00
> _Practical restoration advice; signals Baldridge's hands-on expertise with vintage machines_

> "The same DC that went on to power later EM coils was used to power the very first EM coils."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 8:30-9:00
> _Technical continuity explaining how 1930s power systems evolved into standard EM coil architecture_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Nick Baldridge | person | Host and primary speaker of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; expert on electromechanical and bingo pinball machines; owns and restores 1930s-era machines |
| David Gottlieb | person | Founder of Gottlieb company; created Bingo, credited as first coin-operated pin game; company persisted through 1970s, became Premier and Milstar |
| Gottlieb | company | Major pinball manufacturer founded in 1930s by David Gottlieb; created Bingo (first coin-operated pin game); company eventually became Premier/Milstar, persisted through 1970s |
| Bally Manufacturing Company | company | Major pinball manufacturer that started in the 1930s; not to be confused with Gottlieb's bingo machines (different product line) |
| Williams | company | Major pinball manufacturer founded in the 1930s |
| Chicago Coin | company | Pinball manufacturer founded in the 1930s |
| Genco | company | Pinball manufacturer founded in the 1930s |
| Rockola | company | Pinball manufacturer founded in the 1930s |
| Automatic | company | Pinball manufacturer founded in the 1930s |
| Premier | company | Company that Gottlieb became after persisting through 1970s |
| Milstar | company | Name that Gottlieb company also used during its evolution |
| Bingo | game | Pin game created by David Gottlieb, credited as first coin-operated pin game; purely mechanical with marble balls; no electromechanical components; used for gambling like traditional bingo |
| For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast | organization | Podcast series hosted by Nick Baldridge focusing on electromechanical and bingo pinball machines; available on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, RSS, and Facebook |

### Topics

- **Primary:** 1930s pinball and pin game innovation, Electromechanical pinball machine technology and design, Early pinball manufacturer history (Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, Chicago Coin, etc.), Distinction between pin games and pinball machines, Power systems in early EM machines (battery vs. AC conversion)
- **Secondary:** Vintage machine restoration and retrofit techniques, War-era impact on pinball manufacturing, Scoring innovations and anti-fraud mechanisms

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Baldridge speaks with enthusiasm and reverence for 1930s innovation, emphasizing its importance and ingenuity. Tone is educational and celebratory of early machine designers. No criticism or negative sentiment expressed; focus is on appreciation and technical admiration.

### Signals

- **[historical_signal]** Comprehensive overview of 1930s pinball machine innovation and the founding of major manufacturers (Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, Chicago Coin, Genco, Rockola, Automatic) (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge detailed multiple founding companies and attributed them to the 1930s, including Gottlieb's creation of Bingo as the first coin-operated pin game
- **[historical_signal]** WWII caused suspension of pinball machine innovation and production; factories converted to war effort, only conversion/repair work continued (confidence: high) — Baldridge stated: 'all the pinball factories had been converted over for the war effort. The jukebox factories, too.'
- **[design_innovation]** 1930s machines pioneered kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and ball lifters—foundational mechanical features (confidence: high) — Opening list of innovations by Baldridge: 'innovations included things like kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and of course, the ball lifter'
- **[design_innovation]** Lighted scoring (automatic electronic scoring with persistence) was a major 1930s innovation that prevented fraud in bar/gambling settings by replacing trap-hole counting (confidence: high) — Baldridge emphasized: 'Lighted scoring is one of the best innovations of the 1930s in my opinion... with lighted scoring, there was a method to have score persistence after the game had finished'
- **[technology_signal]** Early EM machines (1930s) used 12-volt dry cell batteries; later retrofitted with transformers and bridge rectifiers to run on AC outlet power (confidence: high) — Baldridge detailed: 'They were powered by 12-volt battery packs. These were dry cell batteries and were incredibly, incredibly heavy' and described his own retrofit conversion
- **[restoration_signal]** Practical restoration method: installing a transformer and bridge rectifier to convert 1930s battery-powered machines to standard AC outlet power (confidence: high) — Baldridge stated: 'I have a game from the 30s which has been converted to use outlet power. This is a lot more convenient. And in order to do so, it only required the installation of a transformer and a bridge rectifier'
- **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast focuses on electromechanical and bingo pinball machine history and technology; Episode 32 on 1930s innovation indicates series depth on historical topics (confidence: high) — Podcast title and episode content; Baldridge promised future episodes detailing specific innovations: 'In a later episode, I'll detail some of those innovations in particular'
- **[industry_signal]** Gottlieb company persisted through 1970s and underwent name changes/restructuring (became Premier, also operated as Milstar) (confidence: medium) — Baldridge stated: 'His company persisted through the 70s and eventually became Premier. Along the way they also changed name to Milstar'
- **[community_signal]** Podcast format focused on educating and preserving knowledge about early pinball history and technology for enthusiast community (confidence: high) — Baldridge's educational approach and promise of future episodes suggest systematic knowledge preservation and community engagement

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## 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 the machines of the 1930s contained some of the most interesting pinball innovations ever conceived These innovations included things like kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and of course, the ball lifter. These innovations were largely forgotten during the war era. The only games being produced were conversion games, playfields, and backglasses for existing games, because all the pinball factories had been converted over for the war effort. The jukebox factories, too. After the war, many of the innovations that were thought up in the 1930s were largely forgotten and left for many, many years. Some persisted, and some were improved upon. and eventually we've reached the state we're in today. However, none of that could have happened without the forward thinking and innovation of the 1930s. This innovation was largely caused by competition. A pin game known as bingo is largely contributed with being the first coin-operated pin game. Bingo was created and produced by David Gottlieb. His company persisted through the 70s and eventually became Premier. Along the way they also changed name to Milstar However their innovation continued long after Bingo This Bingo holds no relation to the Bally Bingoes of which have been a topic of discussion many times Rather, it's a pin game with no electromechanical component. The balls consist of marbles, and they function similar to a trade stimulator, or could be used for gambling purposes, much like a regular bingo. The pin games of the 30s, including the pinballs, were also used for these purposes. Bally Manufacturing Company also started in the 30s. Genco, Williams, Rockola, Automatic, many of the familiar names, Chicago Coin, the list goes on and on. Many, many, many companies were started in the 1930s charged with making pin games and pinball machines. So what's the difference between a pin game and a pinball machine? I've heard several different answers to this story. Some people say flippers make it a pinball machine. I don't believe so. That would discount all of the games from the 30s and early 40s, which were electromechanical. In my mind, a pin game is one which is purely mechanical, such as bingo, which I described earlier. But electromechanical games are pinball machines. and balls, a shooter rod, and a method of control, nudging, as well as automatic scoring in most instances. Lighted scoring is one of the best innovations of the 1930s in my opinion A method for automatically keeping track of your score is a lot better than having a machine where the marbles have to fall in various trap holes in order to be counted towards your score. So, if you're going to show the bar owner to get paid off, for example, if you're not wagering against your buddies. Some unscrupulous person could lift your machine and knock all the marbles out of their trap holes. Or just start a new game and suddenly all the marbles are back, ready to be shot. Whatever the case may be, with lighted scoring, there was a method to have score persistence after the game had finished. The early pinball machines that were electromechanical were not powered by a typical outlet power. They were not 120 volts. Rather, they were powered by 12-volt battery packs. These were dry cell batteries and were incredibly, incredibly heavy. I have a game from the 30s which has been converted to use outlet power. This is a lot more convenient. And in order to do so, it only required the installation of a transformer and a bridge rectifier. But I almost hear you crying through the internet ether. Bridge rectifiers are solid-state components. This is true. A bridge rectifier is actually four diodes arranged in a chain, which converts the AC to DC by means of smoothing the ripple in the AC current. Some ripple persists however it allows it to behave much more like DC than it does coming out of the wall certainly and a certain amount of ripple can be tolerated by most things computers are the exception but thankfully these are not computers they're pinball machines electromechanical pinball machines that is now why would I use DC when the whole purpose of this is to allow me to plug it into an AC source? Well, if you think about it for a moment, the battery that's being replaced is DC. And yes, the same DC that went on to power later EM coils was used to power the very first EM coils. My game from the late 30s uses several coils to control tilt, to control score stepping, and I think that's it. But you get the idea. Pretty fancy for something that's almost 100 years old, no? In a later episode, I'll detail some of those innovations in particular. However, for now, the takeaway should be that the 1930s games are not to be ignored when talking about electromechanical games. many of the things we take for granted today were born directly from the innovation of the 1930s thank you for joining me, my name again is Nicholas Baldridge my email address is you can find me online at and you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts via RSS and even on Facebook. That's all for tonight. Thank you very much. Talk to you next time.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 336d9ef3-b5b5-40d4-8dfa-5d1c602aed14*