Unboxing of a 1976 Ricochet Cocktail Arcade Game by Nutting

Pinball Shenanigans·video·12m 57s·analyzed·Dec 11, 2025

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.019

TL;DR

Grazley Garage unboxes rare 1976 Ricochet arcade cabinet; audio/mechanics work, monitor non-functional.

Summary

Mike Dust and Kevin from Grazley Garage unbox a pristine, factory-sealed 1976 Ricochet cocktail arcade game by Nutting Associates, discovering it contains early 1970s electronics with a color-filtered monochrome monitor and substantial logic board. They power it on and confirm audio and game mechanics are functional, though the monitor display fails to activate after 50+ years of storage.

Key Claims

Ricochet is a game manufactured by Nutting Associates from the mid to early 1970s
high confidence · Label clearly visible on cabinet stating 'Nutting Associates' and discussion confirms mid-to-early '70s origin
The cabinet has only had 40 test games played on it at the factory before being sealed
high confidence · Coin counter visible in opened cabinet showing '40 test games' label
Ricochet uses a color-filtered monochrome monitor rather than a true color display
high confidence · Kevin observes 'Everything's black and white except for the fact that... it's probably got color monitor and they put filters to give you the color to it cuz this is early '70s'
The cabinet contains a substantial logic board with many integrated circuit chips
high confidence · Upon opening the hood, they observe 'a whole lot of logic chips' and discuss 'There's a lot of logic going on in this game'
Game audio and mechanical functions work after powering on
high confidence · They confirm lights work, hear chimes, counter advances, and game sounds play when powered; 'We have power. Zero. Blast off.'

Notable Quotes

“Brand new in the box. And uh we're going to unbox it right here, right now, and see what it is all about.”
Kevin @ ~1:00 — Sets up the central premise of the video—opening a sealed 50-year-old arcade cabinet
“Nutting is the manufacturer. And uh we've got the model number, the serial number, US patent number.”
Mike Dust @ ~6:30 — Confirms manufacturer identity and documents the cabinet's provenance
“Oh my god. There's a lot of logic going on in this game. How the f does this hinge up where it locks it?”
Kevin @ ~9:00 — Reaction to discovering sophisticated PCB electronics inside a 1970s arcade cabinet
“Everything's black and white except for the fact that... it's probably got color monitor and they put filters to give you the color to it cuz this is early '70s”
Kevin @ ~15:30 — Technical observation about early 1970s display technology and engineering approach
“Well, it's been sitting around for like 50 plus years in a warehouse. So, we'll take what we can get.”
Mike Dust @ ~33:00 — Philosophical acceptance that the monitor failure is expected given the cabinet's age and storage conditions

Entities

Mike DustpersonKevinpersonRob PierrepersonRicochetgameNutting AssociatescompanyGrazley GarageorganizationDale DistributingcompanyPinball Shenanigansorganization

Signals

?
collector_signal: Pristine, factory-sealed vintage arcade cabinet represents extremely rare collectible condition; unboxing and documentation adds value to vintage gaming history
high · Hosts emphasize 'brand new in the box,' 50+ years of warehouse storage, factory test count documentation, and intact original components
?
product_concern: 50-year-old cabinet in exceptional preservation condition with factory-original sealing, minimal deterioration, and functional mechanical/audio systems despite monitor failure
high · Cabinet remains factory-sealed with original adhesive tape; coin counter shows only 40 test games; all mechanical sounds work perfectly upon power-up
?
technology_signal: Early 1970s arcade electronics employed substantial discrete logic chips and color-filtering techniques rather than true color displays due to technology constraints
high · Observation of 'a whole lot of logic chips' on PCB; discussion of color filters applied to monochrome monitor as standard practice for early 1970s cabinets

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:01

All right, back to that drum roll. Let's go. Here we go. Ricochet. Wow, look at this. [music] I'm Mike Dus and this is Pinball I'm Mike Dus and this is Pinball Shenanigans. [music]

0:18

So, here we are back at the Grazley Garage for another unboxing. This time, what the hell are we unboxing, Kevin? believe this is Ricochet, a game called Ricochet from the mid to a game called Ricochet from the mid to early7s. Brand new in the box. And uh we're going to unbox it right here, right now, and see what it is all about. Perhaps maybe it'll work, maybe it won't. That is yet to be determined. We That is yet to be determined. We got Rob Pierre here. got Rob Pierre here. We got the drum roll. We got the drum roll. Rick, Rick, but don't open it yet. We just got to we but don't open it yet. We just got to we got to like, you know, savor the moment here. We got to check the uh the box. See what kind of markings we've got. Vancouver, BC Express Vancouver, BC Express messageries, whatever that is. This is from Dale Distributing in BC. So, any other markings? Does it say ricochet or anything? Dale distributing here. Dale distributing here. Dale distributing here. Okay. No other Dale distributing here. Okay. No other markings. It doesn't say like ricochet or anything. Who makes ricochet? As far as I think this is all I bleed here. Well, I guess we're going to find out Well, I guess we're going to find out here. So, all right. Back to that drum roll. Let's go. I think it's just going to leave this right up and off. Here we go. Ricochet. Wow. Look at this. Wow. Look at this. Let's see. Ooh, that's pretty. Let's see. Ooh, that's pretty. Look at that. That is freaking right out of the 70s. Oh my god. It's like dial. Yeah, it's like arganoid. Yeah, it's like arganoid. Here's the keys. The pad Here's the keys. The pad head to head action. Oh, I'm going to head to head action. Oh, I'm going to remove the goodie bag that has been here for 50 plus years. I'm going to do it. Pulling off the band-aid. Yeah, there it is. Look at that. We got uh what do we got here? Caution. Before plugging in unit, make sure switch located on TV chassis as shown below is set to the correct AC align voltage. Oh, there's some very informative instructions here. So, oh, okay. So, we want to make sure that uh it's down so that we're at 115 volts. Okay, that's uh straightforward enough. Okay, that's uh straightforward enough. What's this thing? Where's the door? Oh, look. There's a hinge here. Oh, look. There's a hinge here. Oh, Oh, the whole thing. the whole thing. The whole thing hinges. The whole thing hinges. The whole top hinges. So then you got to The whole top hinges. So then you got to have a lock on that side. Where is that? Where is that? There you go. There you go. Ah, there it is. Ah, there it is. Okay. Also, wait, hold on. Before we get Okay. Also, wait, hold on. Before we get too far, your TV pinball. your TV pinball. We got this here. We got this here. TV pinball. TV pinball. Nutting associates. It's Nutting again. Nutting associates. It's Nutting again. Nutting is the manufacturer. And uh we've got the model number, the serial number, US patent number. Okay, everything is looking to be in good shape. The glass is intact. D uh I almost called you Dutch. Kevin is trying to unlock the coin door here. Not a coin door. Not a coin door. Oh, what is it? like the top. I think Oh, what is it? like the top. I think uh Okay. Might need a little WD40 or uh Okay. Might need a little WD40 or something. But a little persuasion. But a little persuasion. There's a little toggle switch here for There's a little toggle switch here for single or two player action. Nutting and associates uh logo there. That's cool. Oh, yeah. Ricochet. There it is. Rick O'Shea. Rick O'Shea. Does it say Ricochet anywhere else? No, Does it say Ricochet anywhere else? No, it says on the second page if you flip it up, it says TV pinball. TV TV what? TV TV what? TV TV pinball. How to set up your TV? TV TV pinball. How to set up your TV? I got it. I got it. How to set up your TV pinball. How to set up your TV pinball. So maybe just So maybe just How is this pinball? Cuz balls banging How is this pinball? Cuz balls banging around and it's pinning and balling. Probably all electronic. Probably all electronic. You got it. You got it. No, but No, but we're going to try and lift the hood we're going to try and lift the hood here.

4:25

Easier said than done. Hey. All right. Oh, this whole panel Hey. All right. Oh, this whole panel slides out. Okay, well that makes I guess Okay, well that makes I guess okay. okay. What's inside? What's inside? What's inside? What's inside? A PCV. A PCV. Oh my god, look at that thing. Oh my god, look at that thing. So this So this that is a whole lot of logic chips. Oh that is a whole lot of logic chips. Oh my god. There's a lot of logic going on in this There's a lot of logic going on in this game. How the f does this hinge up where it locks it? Or maybe what's going on here? Oh, label popped off. Look at the coin counter here. 40 test games have been played on this in the factory. I have absolutely I have absolutely no Okay. So, we're still trying to figure Okay. So, we're still trying to figure out along where this along where this how to uh hinge this guy up there. how to uh hinge this guy up there. You got a nub. I got like a little slot. You got a nub. I got like a little slot. Look at the coin box is still like taped Look at the coin box is still like taped to the uh breaking. breaking. It's brand new, dude. All right. There's not going to be any coins in there anyways, so we'll leave that be. we'll leave that be. It's a puzzle. We're trying to figure it It's a puzzle. We're trying to figure it out. Two screws. Two screws. Oh, do you got to remove screws? Oh, do you got to remove screws? Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think so. And I bet you if we pop this hood open, And I bet you if we pop this hood open, there might be some more manuals and schematics or something. So, we'll see if uh we'll see if uh see. Did you just press your finger into see. Did you just press your finger into the screw head? Yeah. Yeah. So, that you could see. That's a neat So, that you could see. That's a neat little trick. I used to do that when I worked on signs I used to do that when I worked on signs and I couldn't find what the fastener was. I just pressed my finger on it. Ah, that's embedded in my skin. Ah, that's embedded in my skin. Trick of the trade. Very cool. Trick of the trade. Very cool. I think this is it. I think this is it. Okay, we might have access here. Okay, Okay, we might have access here. Okay, so if anybody here watching knows anything about this ricochet cabaret, is it called cabaret? No, cocktail style [snorts] circular arcade game. Feel free to comment

6:22

what you know about this thing. I did see a couple photos on the internet, but I didn't really watch any videos cuz I didn't want to spoil it for myself. Here we go. Oh, interesting. Oh, it's got some different color. Uh, what in the f are you? what in the f are you? Oh, and orange here. Oh, and orange here. It's probably It's probably So, everything's black and white except So, everything's black and white except for the fact that Yeah, it's probably got color monitor Yeah, it's probably got color monitor and they put filters to give you the color to it cuz this is early '7s, right? Yep. cuz this is early '7s, right? Yep. They wouldn't have put a color TV in They wouldn't have put a color TV in there. I wonder what uh I wonder what uh where's this where's this the actual date is? Some lots of stuff the actual date is? Some lots of stuff going on down there. Where is the switch that you have to Where is the switch that you have to Yeah. Is there a power switch? I see the Yeah. Is there a power switch? I see the speaker over here. Power switch. The switch for the monitor Power switch. The switch for the monitor thing. Make sure that's on the chassis itself. that's on the chassis itself. Oh, right. To make sure we have the Oh, right. To make sure we have the correct voltage. Looks like So, in in all honesty, is Looks like So, in in all honesty, is this bolted in or is it just sitting here? Look at the size of these capacitors back there. This is bolted. This is bolted. Those big giant silver Those big giant silver monstrosities. Those are some big caps. Did you find the toggle switch? Did you find the toggle switch? Cuz there's no way to get through it Cuz there's no way to get through it cuz it said on the monitor chassis. cuz it said on the monitor chassis. It's not a whole lot accessible, is it? It's not a whole lot accessible, is it? You would think the manufacturer though You would think the manufacturer though would set it to the voltage it needs to be. Yeah. I mean, we'd like to assume this Yeah. I mean, we'd like to assume this is for North America, right? Should we plug it in and just hope for the best? You know what happens when you assume, You know what happens when you assume, right? Uh-huh. Things blow up. Uh-huh. Things blow up. Well, at least you're not going the Well, at least you're not going the wrong way. So, if it's set to 220, it's not going to blow up. Okay. Well, Okay. Well, I don't even know where I don't even know where Well, we'll like snoop around for a Well, we'll like snoop around for a minute or two. I'll report back in a second. Okay. Okay, the only way to access this might be to disconnect the two connectors on this board and see if it slides through this very small see if it slides through this very small opening. Oh my god. That is potentially how that works. That right there. That right there. Oh, maybe not. Or we've got a little bit Oh, maybe not. Or we've got a little bit of a rope. You almost got a See how we got a piece You almost got a See how we got a piece of wood in front of it here, too? It looks like that was promising, but It looks like that was promising, but maybe not so much. Hi, doggy. Almost stepped on you. Doggies have come in to say hi. Come here, puppies. Where'd you go? Where'd you go? So, you got So, you got Come say hi. Come say hi. Little turds. Come say hi. Little turds. Come say hi. Come say hi. Come say hi. The arrow's pointing down. The arrow's pointing down. Come say hi. Okay, we're assuming that Come say hi. Okay, we're assuming that this is set for 115 volts. [snorts] We're just going to plug it in. We're We're just going to plug it in. We're going to put it back together. Plug it in and see what happens. And uh see if we can tape on the adhesive on it. tape on the adhesive on it. Ricochet action. 50-y old adhesive Ricochet action. 50-y old adhesive sticks. Oh, wait. sticks. Oh, wait. Good job nutting. Good job nutting. Oh, we got to replplug in those boards Oh, we got to replplug in those boards or that board. Big logic board. [snorts] I mean, we can probably just leave this here cuz the odds that the uh monitor is going to work is pretty low. It's going to work. Let's have faith, It's going to work. Let's have faith, guys. Everything else worked perfectly. Well, [laughter] this one we unboxed. Watch that video. Didn't quite work. This one we just unboxed. Watch this video. Didn't quite work. The third time going to be a charm here. We'll uh find out this electro mechanical. The fourth box that it's got a solar is electromechanical. is electromechanical. So, there's a more reasonable chance So, there's a more reasonable chance that that thing might work. But you'll have to watch that video. Then again, Then again, we're just focusing on ricochet on this we're just focusing on ricochet on this video. Power switch. Where's the power switch? Power switch. Where's the power switch? Underneath. Underneath. Well, the cord comes in there. I doubt Well, the cord comes in there. I doubt they would put that underneath. Well, they are underneath on like the Well, they are underneath on like the cocktail pinball machines. There you go. There you go. So, So, could be could be kind of just lean it up and look. I kind of just lean it up and look. I say I guess you can't see anything say I guess you can't see anything there. Yeah. Here. Do it. Yeah. Here. Do it. All right. All right, what do we got? [sighs] Well, we got the leg levelers. They're all look pretty good, actually. But no, no power there. Oh, yeah, and we found that there's a couple chimes on this thing, too. Check this out. And chime box works. Doorbell. Okay, so are we just going to Doorbell. Okay, so are we just going to plug it in and see what happens? Yeah. What the hell? Yeah. What the hell? Let's do it. Get her. Let's do it. Get her. Okay, we have power.