# Episode 161 - Bingo Ball Lift Button **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-08-19 **Duration:** 6m 43s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-161-bingo-ball-lift-button --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge explains the purpose and mechanics of the manual ball lift button found on bingo pinball machines like Circus Queen. The button is a failsafe mechanism that allows players to manually lift a ball from the trough in rare cases where the machine's automatic lift system becomes confused due to timing issues or stuck switches, though Bally included safeguards to prevent misuse. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The manual ball lift button on bingo machines exists as a failsafe in case of trough jam or timing confusion where the machine doesn't automatically lift a ball when it should. — _Nick Baldridge, host of For Amusement Only, responding to caller Brandon's question about Circus Queen_ - [HIGH] Earlier bingo games with fewer trough switches are more prone to becoming confused about ball lifts, especially when multiple balls return simultaneously. — _Nick Baldridge explaining the technical conditions that warrant the manual lift feature_ - [HIGH] The machine prevents manual ball lift abuse by refusing to lift a ball if the game has extra balls features enabled and you've only shot four balls. — _Nick Baldridge describing the safeguards built into the manual lift button_ - [HIGH] A stuck switch on either the lifter relay or shooter lane switch can prevent the automatic ball lifter from running. — _Nick Baldridge detailing potential mechanical failures that necessitate the manual button_ - [HIGH] Nick has only personally encountered one situation in his extensive bingo machine experience where the machine allowed manual ball lift due to timing confusion. — _Nick Baldridge recounting his personal experience with the feature over many years of playing bingo machines_ - [HIGH] On six-ball bingo games, there are no timing restrictions preventing you from pushing the ball lift button immediately after the ball leaves the shooter lane switch. — _Nick Baldridge explaining the difference in six-ball machine behavior compared to other bingo formats_ ### Notable Quotes > "That is the manual ball lift switch. The reason it's there is in case there is a trough jam or a timing issue where the machine might be confused and not lift a ball when it should have." > — **Nick Baldridge**, Early in response > _Direct answer to caller's question about the button's purpose_ > "I can count on one finger out of all the bingo games that I've ever played that it's happened to me where the machine got confused enough with timing to allow me to do that." > — **Nick Baldridge**, Mid-response > _Emphasizes how rare the actual need for manual lift is in practice_ > "So, Bally included that feature similar to, say, a bowling alley or a ball bowler, where it's not going to necessarily automatically return your ball to you. It's there in case that automatic return malfunctions for whatever reason." > — **Nick Baldridge**, Mid-response > _Contextualizes the design philosophy by comparing to other mechanical games_ > "on a six bingo I have been able Those machines there nothing in the timing There are no features which are tripped out after shooting your fourth or fifth ball, except for the lockout for collect." > — **Nick Baldridge**, Late in response > _Explains variation in six-ball game behavior_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast, expert on bingo machine mechanics | | Brandon (BTW75) | person | Caller who asked about the manual ball lift button on Circus Queen | | Circus Queen | game | Bingo pinball machine that caller Brandon is working on, features the manual ball lift button | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast focused on electromechanical and bingo pinball machine history and mechanics | | Bally | company | Manufacturer of bingo pinball machines that included the manual ball lift button as a failsafe feature | ### Topics - **Primary:** Ball lift mechanism and automation, Bingo machine trough systems and switches, Failsafe design in electromechanical machines - **Secondary:** Timing issues in older pinball/bingo games, Differences between six-ball and other bingo formats, Machine maintenance and troubleshooting ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) ### Signals - **[educational_content]** Detailed technical explanation of the manual ball lift button's purpose, mechanics, and safeguards in bingo machines (confidence: high) — Nick's comprehensive answer covering failsafe mechanisms, stuck switch scenarios, and extra ball feature interactions - **[restoration_signal]** Caller Brandon is actively working on restoring/maintaining his Circus Queen bingo machine and learning about its features (confidence: high) — Brandon called to ask about a button he encountered while working on his machine - **[community_signal]** Active listener engagement with the podcast through the bingo line phone call feature, indicating healthy community participation (confidence: high) — Brandon's detailed caller question and the podcast's active phone line and multiple distribution channels - **[design_philosophy]** Bally's engineering approach included safeguard mechanisms in bingo machines to prevent player exploitation of manual controls while maintaining emergency functionality (confidence: high) — Nick's explanation of how the extra ball feature prevents unauthorized manual lifts and the comparison to bowling alley automatic returns --- ## 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. We got a call on the bingo line. Hey Nick, this is Brandon, or BTW75. While I was working on my Circus Queen last night, I realized there is a little button below the plunger, which I presume is the manual ball lips switch. Why is that there? Thank you. Brandon, thank you for calling in, and you are correct. That is the manual ball lips switch. The reason it's there is in case there is a trough jam or a timing issue where the machine might be confused and not lift a ball when it should have. This can be an issue in games where there are fewer trough switches. For example, earlier games may become confused if you shoot all five balls, get a ball return, and maybe free a ball that had somehow gotten stuck next to a lamp shield or something and both end up going back down into the ball return well the game lifts one and maybe something happens, and for some reason it doesn't lift the ball that it's supposed to. Well, the game actually knows that this has happened, and will allow you to push that ball lift button and lift the ball. but it will prevent you from doing that if you are locked out of doing it. For example, if the game has extra balls that feature and you push the ball lift button after shooting your fifth ball, the game is not going to lift another ball for you. The only time it'll do that is if you manage to get back down to the ball return. Now, that actuates a switch in the trough, which will cause the ball to be lifted, but it won't do it for you ordinarily. So, it's pretty intriguing. They included that just in case there was an issue. Things which can prevent the ball lifter from running are stuck switches on either the lifter relay or the shooter lane switch itself. Now, there's a switch in the lane which will sense that a ball is present. And basically all that does is turn off the ball lifter motor and prevent that ball lift relay from actuating until after the ball travels through the gate at the top There's a little switch under that gate. So, in that example where the shooter lane switch is stuck, the game's not going to automatically lift a ball for you. It's just going to sit there, waiting. So Bally included that feature similar to, say, a bowling alley or a ball bowler, where it's not going to necessarily automatically return your ball to you. It's there in case that automatic return malfunctions for whatever reason. It is rare, though. I can count on one finger out of all the bingo games that I've ever played that it's happened to me where the machine got confused enough with timing to allow me to do that. And I can't even remember the circumstance. It was while I was testing one of the machines I was working on when I was initially shopping it. So, I have a feeling that I had done something stupid, which allowed me to use that, but I have never had a situation where the machine allowed me to use it when I should not I will say though that on a six bingo I have been able Those machines there nothing in the timing There are no features which are tripped out after shooting your fourth or fifth ball, except for the lockout for collect. so there's nothing to prevent you from just pushing that immediately as soon as the ball leaves the shooter lane switch and lift up another ball if you want to now there's no advantage to doing that whatsoever but it gives you a little more interaction with the machine maybe well that's a really long answer to your question and i hope you're enjoying all the little nooks and crannies and hidden features of your new acquisition thanks very much for calling again brandon and thank you again for listening everybody my name again is nick Baldrige, you can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com or like Brandon, you can call us on the bingos line. That's 724-BINGOS1 724-246-4671 724-246-4671 You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at bingopodcast. You can follow me on Instagram at nbaldrige, or you can listen to us on our website, which is 4amusementonly.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: 391659a6-d8d9-44cb-a18d-5205c9114ebc*