# Episode 193 - 1956 United Caravan **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-09-20 **Duration:** 10m 0s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-193-1956-united-caravan --- ## Analysis Nicholas Baldridge discusses the 1956 United Caravan pinball machine, highlighting its sophisticated gameplay mechanics including the light-a-name feature, red diagonals with multiplier scoring, roto moving numbers system, extended time trees, corner scoring, and skill-based number spotting. He expresses excitement about playing the machine at the York show and potentially acquiring it for Rain City Free Play, praising its attractive backglass artwork and complex ruleset that differentiates it from Bally bingo machines. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] United Caravan features red diagonals that score four points for three-in-a-line and five points for four-in-a-line, making them 'ridiculously powerful' — _Nicholas Baldridge describing the game's scoring mechanics on the episode_ - [HIGH] The red diagonals feature allows multiple winning lines across different sections of the back glass, enabling double scoring on separate three-in-a-line combinations — _Nicholas Baldridge explaining advanced red diagonal mechanics_ - [HIGH] United Caravan has a roto feature with moving numbers that rotate around a center number (16) in a circle, moving eight numbers at once — _Nicholas Baldridge describing the moving numbers system_ - [HIGH] The game features extended time trees with 'before fourth and before fifth' options for the roto feature and select spot feature — _Nicholas Baldridge explaining extended time tree mechanics_ - [HIGH] Caravan has a special pocket feature similar to the Ballyhole that awards three extra balls as a carryover feature for the next game — _Nicholas Baldridge describing special pocket mechanics_ - [HIGH] Nicholas Baldridge is currently negotiating to pick up United Caravan at the York show for placement at Rain City Free Play — _Direct statement by Nicholas Baldridge at episode end_ - [HIGH] United Caravan uses single deck scoring rather than triple deck scoring — _Nicholas Baldridge explaining the game's scoring architecture_ - [HIGH] Nicholas Baldridge has never worked on a United machine before — _Direct statement by Nicholas Baldridge_ ### Notable Quotes > "I lied to you yesterday I forgot One of the machines I'm most excited about Is coming to the York show and that's a United Caravan" > — **Nicholas Baldridge**, opening > _Sets up the episode's primary focus and expresses genuine enthusiasm for the subject machine_ > "United's red diagonals are special in that they work kind of like a super section. If you get three in line in the red diagonals, it scores as four, and if you get four in line, it scores as five. That ridiculously powerful" > — **Nicholas Baldridge**, mid-episode > _Core explanation of a distinctive and powerful game mechanic unique to United's red diagonal system_ > "This game does not have triple deck scoring. It's got single deck scoring. So it's got to keep track of each individual Way that a particular number can win" > — **Nicholas Baldridge**, mid-episode > _Technical detail about the game's scoring architecture that distinguishes it from other machines_ > "I think this game is going to be very fun both to work on, since it's so incredibly different from the PallyBingos and I've never worked on a United" > — **Nicholas Baldridge**, near end > _Personal perspective on the machine's novelty and appeal as both collector and technician_ > "The look on this backglass is very nice... I think it's the most attractive of any of the roto feature back glasses that united produced" > — **Nicholas Baldridge**, mid-episode > _Aesthetic appreciation and comparative assessment of United's roto feature cabinet designs_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nicholas Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast, pinball enthusiast, collector, and technician; operator/curator at Rain City Free Play | | United | company | Historic pinball manufacturer that competed with Bally during the 1950s; known for roto feature games and moving numbers machines | | Bally | company | Major pinball manufacturer competitor to United during the 1950s; referenced for comparison on game mechanics and features | | United Caravan | game | 1956 United pinball machine featuring roto moving numbers, red diagonals, special pocket, extended time trees, and corner scoring; considered by Baldridge to be a beautiful and mechanically complex game | | Rain City Free Play | venue | Pinball arcade venue operated by Nicholas Baldridge where he intends to place United Caravan if acquisition is successful | | York show | event | Upcoming pinball show/convention where United Caravan will be displayed and where Baldridge is negotiating to acquire the machine | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and bingo pinball podcast hosted by Nicholas Baldridge, focused on electromechanical and bingo-era pinball machines | | Nightclub | game | Bally pinball machine referenced for its 'Ballyhole' feature, similar to the special pocket feature on United Caravan | | Dixieland | game | Pinball machine referenced in comparison to red diagonal features discussed on 'Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show' | | Nashville | game | Pinball machine referenced in comparison to red diagonal features discussed on 'Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show' | | High Flyer | game | Pinball machine referenced in comparison to red diagonal features discussed on 'Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show' | | Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show | content | Pinball podcast series discussed by Nicholas Baldridge that covered red diagonals in various games | ### Topics - **Primary:** EM/Bingo Pinball Gameplay Mechanics, United Caravan Game Design and Features, Pinball Machine Scoring Systems, Roto Feature and Moving Numbers, Red Diagonals and Multiplier Scoring - **Secondary:** Historic Pinball Manufacturers (United vs Bally), Backglass Artwork and Aesthetic Design, Pinball Show and Acquisition Negotiations ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.92) — Nicholas Baldridge expresses genuine enthusiasm and excitement about United Caravan throughout the episode. He praises the machine's mechanical complexity, scoring potential, aesthetic design, and gameplay depth. Language is consistently appreciative ('beautiful,' 'gorgeous,' 'fantastic,' 'ridiculously powerful'). Minor uncertainty about one specific mechanic (light-a-name feature effect) does not substantially diminish positive tone. ### Signals - **[product_launch]** Nicholas Baldridge is negotiating to acquire the 1956 United Caravan at the York show for placement at Rain City Free Play (confidence: high) — Direct statement: 'I'm currently in negotiations to pick this up at the Orc Show. So hopefully that all goes well and that will be placed right into the Rain City Free Play.' - **[design_innovation]** United Caravan features a sophisticated roto moving numbers system with eight numbers rotating around a center number (16), distinct from four-number magic squares (confidence: high) — Detailed mechanical explanation of roto feature and comparison to magic squares technology - **[design_innovation]** United's red diagonals system uses multiplier scoring (3-in-a-line = 4 points, 4-in-a-line = 5 points) with potential for multiple independent three-in-a-line scores on same turn (confidence: high) — Detailed explanation: 'If you get three in line in the red diagonals, it scores as four, and if you get four in line, it scores as five' - **[design_philosophy]** United Caravan emphasizes skill-based play through feature interactions (spot selection, rollover button strategy, timing decisions) that affect replay-winning potential (confidence: high) — Discussion of extended time trees, spot selection mechanics, and rollover button usage enabling player skill expression - **[gameplay_signal]** Machine designed with multiple powerful replay-generating features (red diagonals, moving numbers, special pocket carryover, light-a-name) that reward skilled play (confidence: high) — Baldridge repeatedly emphasizes ability to 'rack up some serious replays' and describes features as 'ridiculously powerful' and 'insane' - **[venue_signal]** Rain City Free Play is expanding its collection with acquisition of premium vintage EM machines like United Caravan (confidence: high) — Statement about placing Caravan at Rain City Free Play following successful acquisition at York show - **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only Episode 193 provides detailed technical and aesthetic analysis of a single historic pinball machine, demonstrating podcast's expertise in EM/bingo era design (confidence: high) — Comprehensive episode dedicated entirely to single machine's mechanics, scoring systems, artwork, and collector appeal - **[historical_signal]** Episode contextualizes United as a significant competitor to Bally during the 1950s, with distinctive design approaches (roto features, red diagonals) differentiating its products (confidence: medium) — Opening describes United as 'the famous competitor to Bally during the 50s' and discusses unique mechanical features not found on Bally games - **[restoration_signal]** Nicholas Baldridge expresses interest in learning United machine maintenance, noting this is his first opportunity to work on a United product (confidence: medium) — Quote: 'I think this game is going to be very fun both to work on, since it's so incredibly different from the PallyBingos and I've never worked on a United' --- ## Transcript The The The 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 So I lied to you yesterday I forgot One of the machines I'm most excited about Is coming to the York show and that's a United Caravan United was the famous competitor to Bally during the 50s and Caravan is a gorgeous game. It has beautiful artwork but we'll get to that. Let's talk about gameplay first and some of the reasons why I'm so excited about it. This game has United's light a name feature which when lit all the way will award you all kinds of goodies in the gameplay. The game has a special pocket feature which is similar to the Ballyhole if you've listened to the nightclub podcast you heard about the Ballyhole. The uh... hole that you try to make the ball into and when you do when the features lit it will award you something special in this case awards you all three extra balls uh... if you make that in on your next game so it's a carryover feature which is cool it has red diagonals Now, you've heard all about red diagonals as far as Dixieland goes and Nashville and High Flyer over the course of the show, but you haven't heard about United's red diagonals. United's red diagonals are special in that they work kind of like a super section. If you get three in line in the red diagonals, it scores as four, and if you get four in line, it scores as five. That ridiculously powerful What a great feature from the player perspective because you can rack up some serious replays I assuming that the way that the mixers or whatever comparable randomizer units are installed in this game like that feature only rarely There's also another section of the back glass and this may be an extra feature or it may automatically come on as part of the red diagonals that red diagonals score separately. So you can get different three in lines on two different red diagonals and it'll Score Twice, which is Also insane this game does not have triple deck scoring. It's got single deck scoring. So it's got to keep track of each individual Way that a particular number can win on top of that. This is a moving numbers game now United only made a couple of types of moving numbers This one has what's called the roto feature andare A R N T A Tonino's, and those do move. And then you have the center number which also does not move. Now that second ring of numbers moves in a circle similarly to the way that the magic squares work. But it's moving eight numbers at once instead of four. This is also very powerful. And the numbers rotate around the center, 16. Which is pretty helpful. So you can position the numbers into a regular inline win or red diagonal pretty cool now it a moving numbers game and many of those have extended time trees this is no exception this United game has an extended time tree with before fourth and before fifth now it also got corner scoring if you if you land a ball in all four corners it gonna score as if you got five in a line then if that and that wasn't enough. It's got a feature where you can spot a number and you can actually choose which number it spots. Now you have to choose before shooting your fourth ball or your fifth ball depending on where the time tree falls so the time tree extends in the same way for the roto feature and for the select spot. That's pretty fantastic. So, let's talk a bit about rollover buttons. This game's got them, but they're not for the extended time tree like you might expect. Instead, the spots light on the left hand side, if you rollover the button, it will spot the numbers five and eight Are African SidneyNapkalOYR accessedName OO Recallingooo x3 Listed spreadsheets PRT Schwe ly Jasmine Download an app online from managementblerx.com UvHard Export��enty Pidelah The Win an awful lot of replays very quickly On top of that there's the light a name which I mentioned and In order to light the name you have to hit the rollovers But they have to be lit for either feature either the spot or the light a name So there's lots of skill involved in Increasing your wins to the max here Now here the unfortunate thing I don know exactly what that light and name feature does in this game In several of the games it will award you a five in a line but I not sure what it does for Caravan So that yet another powerful way to win replays if in fact it does actually give you a five in a line The look on this backglass is very nice. The objects and things which are set out in front of a tent are very nicely integrated with the odds. You have a couple of ladies dancing and they've got some fabric that is hooked onto bracelets and that swirls around them and also contains odds you've got some camels crossing in the background uh... palm trees it's a very attractive back glass in fact i think it's the most attractive of any of the roto feature back glasses that united produced on the sides of the cabinet the stencil are more ladies dancing in silhouette and palm trees. And then the playfield is, you guessed it, yet more ladies. I think this game is going to be very fun both to work on, since it's so incredibly different from the PallyBingos and I've never worked on a United, but also to play because there is so much to do. Now I'm currently in negotiations to pick this up at the Orc Show. So hopefully that all goes well and that will be placed right into the free play. Well, that's all for tonight. Thank you again 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-BINGOS1. 724-246-4671. You can listen to us on iTunes, stitcher, pocketcasts,via RSS, on facebook, on twitter, at bingopodcast, you can follow me on instagram at nbaldridge, or you can listen to us on our website which is forumusementonly.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: 79c8dfee-e11d-4ef7-8636-dfd6a958d5cd*