# Episode 140 - Searching for a Winner (in all the wrong places) **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-07-29 **Duration:** 5m 35s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-140-searching-for-a-winner-in-all-the-wrong-places --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge provides a detailed technical deep-dive into the search disk mechanism and associated switches in a 1972 Bally Double Up bingo pinball machine, focusing on how the search disk rotates to find winning combinations and trigger payouts. He explains the role of the search magnet coil, search index coil, replay counter, and troubleshooting methods for scoring problems, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and proper wiper finger engagement. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The search disk in Double Up only moves when the search magnet coil is engaged, triggered briefly by pressing the R button on the foot rail. — _Nick Baldridge describing the mechanical operation of Double Up's search mechanism_ - [HIGH] When the search disk finds three winning combinations in a section, it engages the search index coil, which stops the disk rotation and allows payout to occur. — _Nick Baldridge explaining the winning condition logic_ - [HIGH] The replay counter steps based on the odds stepper position for the color in which you got a winner; for example, it steps six times if you have three in a row with 6:1 odds. — _Nick Baldridge describing replay counter functionality_ - [HIGH] Troubleshooting search disk issues requires checking for 50 volts at appropriate spots on the search disk, with positions shown in the machine manual. — _Nick Baldridge providing troubleshooting guidance_ - [HIGH] Broken solder joints or improper wiper finger engagement on the search disk will cause a game to never score or score very rarely. — _Nick Baldridge identifying common failure modes_ - [HIGH] Everything on the search disk must be very clean for the mechanism to function, as the process happens very quickly. — _Nick Baldridge emphasizing maintenance requirements_ ### Notable Quotes > "The search disc doesn't move in a double up unless the search magnet coil is engaged. Now this is engaged very briefly when you push the R button on the foot rail." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~2:00 > _Core explanation of how the search mechanism is activated_ > "as the search disk spins, as I've mentioned 47,000 times in previous podcasts, it will come across the various combinations of winners in the game, and when it stumbles across three in line, or in this case in a section, it will engage the search index coil" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~2:30 > _Humorous self-reference indicating this is a recurring theme in the podcast series; explains the winning condition_ > "One of the pieces that sits on top of the search disc are these little push wiper fingers, and if those are not properly engaged in the right places or there's a broken solder joint or any other malady that you can think of then your game will never score or at least it will very rarely score." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~6:00 > _Identifies a critical failure point for bingo machine scoring issues_ > "It has to do all this very, very quickly, so it's crucial that everything is clean." > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~5:30 > _Emphasizes the importance of maintenance for bingo machine reliability_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; expert in bingo pinball mechanics | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast focused on electromechanical and bingo pinball machine mechanics | | Double Up | game | 1972 Bally bingo pinball machine; subject of technical analysis in this episode | | Bally | company | Historic pinball and bingo machine manufacturer; manufacturer of Double Up | ### Topics - **Primary:** Bingo machine mechanics (search disk operation), Control unit design in 1970s Bally machines, Troubleshooting and maintenance of bingo pinball machines - **Secondary:** Electrical and mechanical integration in electromechanical machines, Payout mechanisms and replay counters ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Factual, educational content delivered in a straightforward technical manner with occasional light humor (the '47,000 times' reference). No strong positive or negative sentiment; the tone is informative and pedagogical. ### Signals - **[historical_signal]** Deep technical documentation of 1972 Bally Double Up bingo machine control unit design and operation (confidence: high) — Detailed episode focusing on search disk mechanism, control unit clutch plates, switches, and electrical troubleshooting specific to Double Up - **[restoration_signal]** Comprehensive troubleshooting guide for bingo machine scoring problems, including voltage checks, wiper finger inspection, and solder joint verification (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge provides specific troubleshooting steps: checking 50 volts at search disk, verifying wiper finger engagement, and identifying common failure modes - **[content_signal]** Episode 140 is part of an ongoing multi-episode series analyzing the control unit of Double Up; indicates sustained podcast focus on detailed electromechanical analysis (confidence: high) — Episode describes itself as 'the final clutch plate and final set of switches' and references 'last night podcast'; indicates part of sequential deep-dive into the control unit - **[community_signal]** Nick Baldridge actively sharing technical expertise about bingo pinball machines with the community through structured podcast series (confidence: high) — Podcast format with multiple contact methods (email, phone, social media), regular episodes, and detailed technical documentation provided to listeners --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's For Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to For Amusement Only, this is Nick Baldrige. Continuing our view of the control unit in a Bally Bingo, in our observation of the 1972 double up, we've made it to the end. This is the final clutch plate and the final set of switches, which control searching. So all the way to the right of the control unit, you have the search disk, my old friend and faithful nemesis. Then you have a variety of switches, all of which control the operation of searching. some are involved in halting the timer some are involved in stopping a portion of the control unit to allow for payout and the rest are in rotation to allow the payout to happen using the switches from last night podcast So, the biggest piece all the way over to the right is the search disk. The search disc doesn't move in a double up unless the search magnet coil is engaged. Now this is engaged very briefly when you push the R button on the foot rail. It will pull in that latch and allow the search disc to spin. Now, as the search disk spins, as I've mentioned 47,000 times in previous podcasts, it will come across the various combinations of winners in the game, and when it stumbles across three in line, or in this case in a section, it will engage the search index coil, which will stop the rotation of the search disk and allow for payout to happen. Now, when the payout happens, it's going to spin those cams that I mentioned last night, but it will also step up your replay counter This replay counter knows how many you supposed to get based on the position of the odds stepper for the color in which you got a winner and it will only step six wins for example if you have three in a row and your odds are six for three in a row, and 12 if you've got 12, etc. Verifying that you have voltage at the appropriate spots on the search disk is important if you're troubleshooting a winner. And to do that, you check for 50 volts on the spaces indicated in your manual. Most of the manuals show the position of the search disk and which wipers will be engaged when you have numbers lit in the corresponding holes. So basically you take the disc, it'll show you the home position, and as it rotates it's going to engage various rivets on the disc. When three or more are engaged the search index coil will pull which will push up a a little metal stopper which stops the teeth of the gear from turning which prevent the search disc from moving It has to do all this very, very quickly, so it's crucial that everything is clean. One of the pieces that sits on top of the search disc are these little push wiper fingers, and if those are not properly engaged in the right places or there's a broken solder joint or any other malady that you can think of then your game will never score or at least it will very rarely score. So if you're having scoring problems or search index problems, that's another place to check. 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 you can call us at 724-BINGOS1 that's 724-246-4671 you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Cast, VRSS on Facebook, on Twitter at bingopodcast and you can follow me on Instagram at nbaldridge you can listen to us on our website which is for amusement only dot libsyn dot 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: 6f2e8618-b25c-47e4-8a48-3c8881a06889*