Episode 32 - 1930s Innovation

For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast·podcast_episode·7m 42s·analyzed·Apr 12, 2015

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.023

TL;DR

1930s pinball innovations—kickbacks, ramps, lighted scoring—shaped modern machines through competition among early manufacturers.

Summary

Nick Baldridge presents a comprehensive history of 1930s pinball and pin game innovation, examining foundational technologies like kickbacks, ramps, bumpers, ball lifters, and lighted scoring. He traces the origins of major manufacturers (Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, Chicago Coin, Genco, Rockola) and explains the technical distinction between purely mechanical pin games and electromechanical pinball machines, including power systems and scoring mechanisms that laid the groundwork for modern pinball design.

Key Claims

The 1930s contained some of the most interesting pinball innovations ever conceived, including kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and ball lifters.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, opening statement of episode
Most 1930s innovations were forgotten during the war era when pinball factories were converted for war effort production.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, discussing post-war innovation recovery
Bingo, created by David Gottlieb, is largely credited as the first coin-operated pin game.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, on Gottlieb's Bingo
Gottlieb's company persisted through the 1970s and eventually became Premier, also changing name to Milstar at one point.
medium confidence · Nick Baldridge, company history segment
Multiple major manufacturers started in the 1930s: Bally Manufacturing Company, Genco, Williams, Rockola, Automatic, Chicago Coin.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, manufacturer origins discussion
A pin game is purely mechanical (like bingo with marbles), while electromechanical games with shooters, ball control, nudging, and automatic scoring are pinball machines.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, defining pin games vs. pinball machines
Early electromechanical pinball machines from the 1930s were powered by 12-volt dry cell battery packs, not standard AC outlet power.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, on power systems
Lighted scoring was one of the best innovations of the 1930s, providing score persistence and preventing fraud.
high confidence · Nick Baldridge, on lighted scoring innovation
Nick Baldridge owns a game from the late 1930s that uses several coils to control tilt and score stepping.
high confidence · Personal anecdote in power systems discussion

Notable Quotes

“The machines of the 1930s contained some of the most interesting pinball innovations ever conceived.”
Nick Baldridge @ 0:00-0:30 — Opening thesis establishing the episode's focus on 1930s innovation as foundational
“These innovations were largely forgotten during the war era. The only games being produced were conversion games, playfields, and backglasses for existing games, because all the pinball factories had been converted over for the war effort.”
Nick Baldridge @ 0:30-1:00 — Historical context explaining a gap in innovation continuity and industry disruption
“A pin game is one which is purely mechanical, such as bingo, which I described earlier. But electromechanical games are pinball machines.”
Nick Baldridge @ 2:30-3:00 — Establishes Baldridge's technical definition distinguishing pin games from pinball machines
“Lighted scoring is one of the best innovations of the 1930s in my opinion. A method for automatically keeping track of your score is a lot better than having a machine where the marbles have to fall in various trap holes in order to be counted towards your score.”
Nick Baldridge @ 4:00-5:00 — Highlights a key innovation and its practical advantage against fraud in bar/gambling settings
“The early pinball machines that were electromechanical were not powered by a typical outlet power. They were not 120 volts. Rather, they were powered by 12-volt battery packs. These were dry cell batteries and were incredibly, incredibly heavy.”
Nick Baldridge @ 5:30-6:30 — Technical detail revealing operational constraints of early machines, important for restoration context
“I have a game from the 30s which has been converted to use outlet power. This is a lot more convenient. And in order to do so, it only required the installation of a transformer and a bridge rectifier.”
Nick Baldridge @ 7:00-8:00 — Practical restoration advice; signals Baldridge's hands-on expertise with vintage machines
“The same DC that went on to power later EM coils was used to power the very first EM coils.”

Entities

Nick BaldridgepersonDavid Gottliebperson GottliebcompanyBally Manufacturing CompanycompanyWilliamscompany Chicago CoincompanyGencocompanyRockolacompanyAutomaticcompany

Signals

?
historical_signal: Comprehensive overview of 1930s pinball machine innovation and the founding of major manufacturers (Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, Chicago Coin, Genco, Rockola, Automatic)
high · Nick Baldridge detailed multiple founding companies and attributed them to the 1930s, including Gottlieb's creation of Bingo as the first coin-operated pin game
?
historical_signal: WWII caused suspension of pinball machine innovation and production; factories converted to war effort, only conversion/repair work continued
high · Baldridge stated: 'all the pinball factories had been converted over for the war effort. The jukebox factories, too.'
?
design_innovation: 1930s machines pioneered kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and ball lifters—foundational mechanical features
high · Opening list of innovations by Baldridge: 'innovations included things like kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and of course, the ball lifter'
?
design_innovation: Lighted scoring (automatic electronic scoring with persistence) was a major 1930s innovation that prevented fraud in bar/gambling settings by replacing trap-hole counting
high · Baldridge emphasized: 'Lighted scoring is one of the best innovations of the 1930s in my opinion... with lighted scoring, there was a method to have score persistence after the game had finished'
?
technology_signal: Early EM machines (1930s) used 12-volt dry cell batteries; later retrofitted with transformers and bridge rectifiers to run on AC outlet power

Topics

1930s pinball and pin game innovationprimaryElectromechanical pinball machine technology and designprimaryEarly pinball manufacturer history (Gottlieb, Bally, Williams, Chicago Coin, etc.)primaryDistinction between pin games and pinball machinesprimaryPower systems in early EM machines (battery vs. AC conversion)primaryVintage machine restoration and retrofit techniquessecondaryWar-era impact on pinball manufacturingsecondaryScoring innovations and anti-fraud mechanismssecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Baldridge speaks with enthusiasm and reverence for 1930s innovation, emphasizing its importance and ingenuity. Tone is educational and celebratory of early machine designers. No criticism or negative sentiment expressed; focus is on appreciation and technical admiration.

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.023

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 the machines of the 1930s contained some of the most interesting pinball innovations ever conceived These innovations included things like kickbacks, ramps, multi-level playfields, trap holes, bumpers, and of course, the ball lifter. These innovations were largely forgotten during the war era. The only games being produced were conversion games, playfields, and backglasses for existing games, because all the pinball factories had been converted over for the war effort. The jukebox factories, too. After the war, many of the innovations that were thought up in the 1930s were largely forgotten and left for many, many years. Some persisted, and some were improved upon. and eventually we've reached the state we're in today. However, none of that could have happened without the forward thinking and innovation of the 1930s. This innovation was largely caused by competition. A pin game known as bingo is largely contributed with being the first coin-operated pin game. Bingo was created and produced by David Gottlieb. His company persisted through the 70s and eventually became Premier. Along the way they also changed name to Milstar However their innovation continued long after Bingo This Bingo holds no relation to the Bally Bingoes of which have been a topic of discussion many times Rather, it's a pin game with no electromechanical component. The balls consist of marbles, and they function similar to a trade stimulator, or could be used for gambling purposes, much like a regular bingo. The pin games of the 30s, including the pinballs, were also used for these purposes. Bally Manufacturing Company also started in the 30s. Genco, Williams, Rockola, Automatic, many of the familiar names, Chicago Coin, the list goes on and on. Many, many, many companies were started in the 1930s charged with making pin games and pinball machines. So what's the difference between a pin game and a pinball machine? I've heard several different answers to this story. Some people say flippers make it a pinball machine. I don't believe so. That would discount all of the games from the 30s and early 40s, which were electromechanical. In my mind, a pin game is one which is purely mechanical, such as bingo, which I described earlier. But electromechanical games are pinball machines. and balls, a shooter rod, and a method of control, nudging, as well as automatic scoring in most instances. Lighted scoring is one of the best innovations of the 1930s in my opinion A method for automatically keeping track of your score is a lot better than having a machine where the marbles have to fall in various trap holes in order to be counted towards your score. So, if you're going to show the bar owner to get paid off, for example, if you're not wagering against your buddies. Some unscrupulous person could lift your machine and knock all the marbles out of their trap holes. Or just start a new game and suddenly all the marbles are back, ready to be shot. Whatever the case may be, with lighted scoring, there was a method to have score persistence after the game had finished. The early pinball machines that were electromechanical were not powered by a typical outlet power. They were not 120 volts. Rather, they were powered by 12-volt battery packs. These were dry cell batteries and were incredibly, incredibly heavy. I have a game from the 30s which has been converted to use outlet power. This is a lot more convenient. And in order to do so, it only required the installation of a transformer and a bridge rectifier. But I almost hear you crying through the internet ether. Bridge rectifiers are solid-state components. This is true. A bridge rectifier is actually four diodes arranged in a chain, which converts the AC to DC by means of smoothing the ripple in the AC current. Some ripple persists however it allows it to behave much more like DC than it does coming out of the wall certainly and a certain amount of ripple can be tolerated by most things computers are the exception but thankfully these are not computers they're pinball machines electromechanical pinball machines that is now why would I use DC when the whole purpose of this is to allow me to plug it into an AC source? Well, if you think about it for a moment, the battery that's being replaced is DC. And yes, the same DC that went on to power later EM coils was used to power the very first EM coils. My game from the late 30s uses several coils to control tilt, to control score stepping, and I think that's it. But you get the idea. Pretty fancy for something that's almost 100 years old, no? In a later episode, I'll detail some of those innovations in particular. However, for now, the takeaway should be that the 1930s games are not to be ignored when talking about electromechanical games. many of the things we take for granted today were born directly from the innovation of the 1930s thank you for joining me, my name again is Nicholas Baldridge my email address is you can find me online at and you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts via RSS and even on Facebook. That's all for tonight. Thank you very much. Talk to you next time.