# Episode 242 - Replacing Score and Instruction Cards **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-11-08 **Duration:** 5m 15s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-242-replacing-score-and-instruction-cards --- ## Analysis Nicholas Baldrige discusses best practices for replacing worn score and instruction cards on vintage EM, Bingo, and solid-state pinball machines. He recommends finding quality scans online, printing on semi-gloss cardstock using an exacto knife for precision cutting, and securing cards with double-sided tape. He notes challenges with PDF print settings and Word document consistency across different machines. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Score and instruction cards from the 1950s and earlier have generally not survived well to the present day — _Nicholas Baldrige, introductory context-setting statement about condition of original cards_ - [HIGH] Phil Hooper's site (bingo.cdyn) contains images of score and instruction cards for most bingo machines — _Nicholas Baldrige, specific resource recommendation_ - [MEDIUM] Gottlieb game reproduction score and instruction cards are available online and have been created by one primary contributor and many others — _Nicholas Baldrige, describing availability of Gottlieb reproductions_ - [HIGH] Semi-gloss cardstock with thicker weight is preferable for score card replacements — _Nicholas Baldrige, personal printing methodology_ - [HIGH] Exacto knives with straight edges and cutting mats provide more accurate cutting than scissors — _Nicholas Baldrige, comparing cutting techniques_ - [HIGH] Word documents do not render consistently across different machines, making PDF format preferable for reproduction cards — _Nicholas Baldrige, technical observation about file format compatibility_ ### Notable Quotes > "I appreciate having a nice, legible, complete score and instruction card set on my games... It makes it a little easier to help you remember the various rules of whatever game we're talking about." > — **Nicholas Baldrige**, ~0:30-1:00 > _States the core motivation for card replacement and explains why it matters to players_ > "What I like to do is to find somebody that has a good scan of the scorecard if that possible. For example, on Phil Hooper's site, bingo.cdyn. For most every bingo that I have looked at, there is an image of the score and instruction cards that you can print off and cut out." > — **Nicholas Baldrige**, ~1:30-2:30 > _Recommends specific resource (Phil Hooper's bingo site) as primary source for card scans_ > "Don't use scissors. They're not accurate enough. I use a straight edge with an exacto knife and put it on a cutting mat and slice my way out of that predicament." > — **Nicholas Baldrige**, ~3:00-3:30 > _Provides specific tool recommendation for precision card cutting_ > "The only issue that I have with those is that it is hard to find the correct print settings which will make the PDF versions of those print at the appropriate size." > — **Nicholas Baldrige**, ~4:00-4:30 > _Identifies a practical challenge with PDF-based reproduction cards_ > "Word is not made for that type of use case... it's not going to look the same on your machine as it does on my machine and vice versa. So PDF is better, but you have to play around with the print settings." > — **Nicholas Baldrige**, ~4:30-5:30 > _Technical explanation of why PDF is superior to Word for reproduction card distribution_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nicholas Baldrige | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; shares personal restoration methodology and expertise | | Phil Hooper | person | Maintains bingo.cdyn website with extensive collection of score and instruction card scans for bingo machines | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; Nicholas Baldrige is host | | Gottlieb | company | Pinball manufacturer; reproduction score and instruction cards for Gottlieb games are available online | ### Topics - **Primary:** Restoration and Maintenance, Score Card Reproduction, EM Pinball Machines, Bingo Machines - **Secondary:** Printing and Design Techniques, Preservation Methodology ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Host is enthusiastic about restoration work and practical preservation. Tone is helpful and encouraging. Some frustration expressed about technical challenges with PDF/Word formatting, but presented as solvable problems rather than complaints. ### Signals - **[restoration_signal]** Detailed methodology for sourcing, printing, and installing replacement score and instruction cards on vintage machines (confidence: high) — Nicholas Baldrige provides specific recommendations: semi-gloss cardstock, exacto knife cutting, double-sided tape application, PDF over Word format - **[restoration_signal]** Identifies Phil Hooper's bingo.cdyn website as comprehensive archive of score and instruction card images for bingo machines (confidence: high) — Direct reference to Phil Hooper's site with URL; states 'For most every bingo that I have looked at, there is an image of the score and instruction cards' - **[technology_signal]** Discussion of challenges with PDF and Word document formats for reproducing and printing vintage card designs (confidence: high) — Extended discussion comparing PDF and Word rendering consistency across machines, print settings challenges - **[historical_signal]** Notes that original score and instruction cards from 1950s and earlier have generally deteriorated and require reproduction (confidence: high) — Opening claim: 'most of the time these cards have not survived very well from the 1950s or before up until now' --- ## 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. Today I wanted to talk about something very simple. Score and Instruction Card Replacement. Now, not everyone feels the same way that I do, but I appreciate having a nice, legible, complete score and Instruction card set in my games and most of the games that I like to play. It makes it a little easier to help you remember the various rules of whatever I'm a little bit of a fan of the game we're talking about. Be it Bingo or EM or even Solid State games. But most of the time these cards have not survived very well from the 1950s or before up until now. And so in some cases it becomes necessary to make a reproduction What I like to do is to find somebody that has a good scan of the scorecard if that possible For example, on Phil Hooper's site, bingo.cdyn.com, For most every bingo that I've looked at, there is an image of the score and Instruction cards that you can print off and cut out. Now when I print them off, I print them on semi-gloss cardstock and up to a certain point, really, the thicker the better. I'm from that You have to cut them out But don't use scissors. They're not accurate enough. I use a straight edge with an exacto knife and put it on a Cutting mat and sell those at craft stores and Slice my way out of that predicament And then I use double tape to affix them to the bingo aprons But depending on what kind of machine it is, you know, some of them have card holders and the like, so there are reproduction score and Instruction cards for say, Godleib games that are available online That one guy or that one guy and many contributors have put an awful lot of time and effort into. The only issue that I have with those is that it is hard to find the correct print settings Which will make the PDF versions of those print at the appropriate size. The other issue is for Word documents. They come in Word and PDF. But for the Word document versions, of course, Word is not going to render the same way on everybody's machine. Word is not made for that type of use case It have the same text and it print like you see it but it not going to look the same on your machine as it does on my machine and vice versa So PDF is better, but you have to play around with the print settings to make sure that it's printing it at the right size. Otherwise, you're going to see the border This Week in Pinball, Game of Thrones unintertained title or abbreviation for retro Sometimes the small techniques are the most helpful New score and instruction cards will definitely improve the appearance of your game, especially in an area where you're looking at all the time Well, thank you very much for listening. My name again is Nick Baldrige 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: 852459a1-7092-4362-a1fd-3788c88bb8ab*