Episode 350 - Multiple Plays for One Coin

For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast·podcast_episode·8m 47s·analyzed·Feb 24, 2016

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.016

TL;DR

Technical breakdown of multiplayer relays that enable multi-credit coin modifications in EM pinball machines.

Summary

Nick Baldridge explains the technical mechanics of multiplayer relays in EM and bingo pinball machines, which allow operators to modify machines to accept different coin denominations while providing multiple credits per coin. The episode covers how these modifications work in both bingo and flipper games, how Bally eventually shipped official multiplay relay kits, and how to identify and disable these aftermarket modifications.

Key Claims

Two of Nick's machines have come with multiplay relay modifications installed, and probably a half dozen more he's worked on have had one
high confidence · Nick Baldridge speaking from personal experience maintaining machines
In the 1970s, Valley realized operators wanted different denominations and started shipping kits to allow five replays for a quarter
medium confidence · Nick Baldridge's historical account of manufacturer response to operator demand
Most operator-installed multiplay relays were just screwed to the bottom of the cabinet or side with lamp cord wiring, not purpose-built
high confidence · Nick Baldridge from hands-on experience working on machines
Bally shipped flipper games with Jones plug style adjustments for denomination selection rather than relay-based solutions
high confidence · Nick Baldridge explaining technical specifications of Bally flipper games
Disabling multiplay relays on Bally bingo machines is as simple as removing one wire from the coin switch on the coin door and soldering a different one
high confidence · Nick Baldridge providing technical maintenance instruction

Notable Quotes

“Well, what you would do is modify the machine and trick it into putting extra replays up on the register.”
Nick Baldridge @ early episode — Defines the core concept of the episode — how operators modified machines for different denominations
“The most likely reason for this to happen is an aftermarket modification that the operator put in to take a quarter and give you five replays.”
Nick Baldridge @ mid-episode — Explains the practical application that prompted the episode topic (Pinside user's Roller Derby)
“In the 1970s Valley realized that operators started wanting different denominations... they started shipping kits that would allow you to put five replays for a quarter”
Nick Baldridge @ mid-episode — Documents manufacturer recognition and official support for common operator modification pattern
“You know, if it's a machine where replays are the bread and butter, you want to make sure that it's adding exactly five credits, no more, no less.”
Nick Baldridge @ late episode — Explains the precision required in bingo machine modifications vs. flipper games
“One of the things that I love about bingos is the interplay of all these complex systems and how they all work precisely together in order to make these super fun games function.”
Nick Baldridge @ closing — Expresses personal philosophy on EM bingo design complexity and appeal

Entities

Nick BaldridgepersonFor Amusement OnlyorganizationBallycompanyValleycompanyRoller Derbygame Pinsideorganization

Signals

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technology_signal: Documentation of widespread operator modifications using multiplay relays to enable multi-credit coin mechanisms, with varying quality of installation
high · Nick reports personal experience with multiple machines featuring multiplay modifications, ranging from professionally installed with cloth wiring and documentation to hastily added relays with scrap lamp cord
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design_philosophy: Bally and Valley's approach to addressing operator demand for denomination flexibility through both official kits (multiplay relays) and adjustment mechanisms (Jones plugs in flipper games)
high · Valley began shipping official multiplay relay kits in 1970s; Bally designed flipper games with Jones plug adjustments for denomination selection
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restoration_signal: Practical guidance for identifying and disabling multiplay relay modifications during restoration, including methods for both factory-installed and aftermarket versions
high · Nick provides specific technical steps for disabling multiplay relays by removing/soldering coin door wires or opening relay hold switches
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historical_signal: Documentation of how operators developed creative technical solutions to work around factory limitations in coin denomination flexibility
high · Nick notes that operators began hacking machines with extra relays before manufacturers officially recognized and accommodated the need
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design_innovation: Comparison of different mechanical approaches to multi-credit conversion: relay-based systems in bingo machines versus adjustment jack systems in flipper games

Topics

Multiplayer relay mechanics and designprimaryOperator modifications and coin denomination conversionprimaryBingo pinball machine technical systemsprimaryEM flipper game denomination adjustmentsecondaryMachine maintenance and modification identificationsecondaryManufacturer design philosophy and operator accommodationssecondaryTiming cam systems and relay coordinationmentionedCloth wiring and proper installation practicesmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.78)— Nick expresses genuine appreciation for the mechanical complexity and ingenuity of both manufacturer design and operator modifications, while maintaining a factual, educational tone. No criticism or complaint — enthusiasm for the technical subject matter.

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.026

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. Tonight, I spoke with a friend who asked if I could speak about more technical aspects about these machines. So, starting tonight, I'm going to talk about some units and relays that I haven't talked about previously. Tonight's topic is going to be multiplayer relays. My main experience with this is on Ballybingos. However, I will be speaking about flipper games as well. and the general idea is if you wanted to change the denomination that the machine accepted from the factory, how would you make that fair to the player? Let's say you didn't want to do a one-to-one conversion, but instead wanted to use a more common coin mechanism that was perhaps less expensive to purchase, would jam less frequently, or would just plain put more money in your pocket. Well, what you would do is modify the machine and trick it into putting extra replays up on the register. Now, I've worked on machines where this has been done a number of different ways, and what inspired me to speak about this topic in particular was a person on Pinside who is working on a roller derby, and all of a sudden the machine started putting extra replays on the register. Well, the most likely reason for this to happen is an aftermarket modification that the operator put in to take a quarter and give you five replays. The first replay is played off and then four are placed on the register As I say this was a fairly common modification Two of my machines have come with that modification installed and probably a half dozen more that I worked on have had one installed But I've seen several different methods, even in machines that I haven't worked on, but have had my head in, and I just wanted to give a little time to talk about those. So the most common way to do this is with an extra relay. This relay would be activated when a coin hits the coin switch, and it will pass through voltage to the start relay. It will also pass through voltage to a switch on specific cams, which will bump a certain number of times per revolution of the timing cams. Finding the modification is sometimes difficult. Some operators did a very good job of adding in extra relays and wiring, and used cloth wiring, and would even note schematics and manuals. However, this was the exception. Most of the time, added relays, such as a multi-play relay, were just screwed to the bottom of the cabinet or to the side, wherever the operator found space. And then several that I've worked on have had lamp cord or other wiring that was just lying around and not actually purpose-built for this. so in some instances the operators would even label the relays particularly where they used cloth wiring and did a very nice job of adding it in but more often it's just an extra coil sitting there with a few extra switches in the 1970s Valley realized that operators started wanting different denominations And pretty much all along they would ship you kits to accept either a single dime or a single quarter but it would only put a single replay up on the register. Well, they started shipping kits that would allow you to put five replays for a quarter, and the way they did this was with an added relay, the same way that the operators were hacking the games to do it. This relay was called the Multiplay Relay. And what it does is it activates a start relay for the first coin, and then we'll put four on the replay register. Of course, the trick with that timing cam's switch is it'll only do it if both timing cams are turning and the multiplayer relay is engaged. So in a flipper game, what would you do? Well, many of the flipper games offered adjustment jacks for different coin denominations, and it would allow you to choose the left or right side shoot, or if the game was a single shoot game, it would allow you to choose the number of plays per coin dropped. So in this way, the machine didn't care at all about the type of coin that went through it. All it cared about was how many replays to put up on the replay counter, or the credit wheel. So in flipper games, it was fairly simple. But bingos, it's a little more difficult. You know, if it's a machine where replays are the bread and butter, you want to make sure that it's adding exactly five credits, no more, no less. So if you're like me, you probably want your machines to operate at one coin per credit. That's the way they came from the factory, and that's kind of just the way I prefer to play them. It makes you think about each coin as you put it in, do I really need to do this or not? And so disabling these multi relays is fairly simple On games that actually shipped with a multi relay from Bally it as simple as removing one of the wires to the coin switch on the coin door and soldering a different one in its place. Bally shipped the games with two different wires, one which would jump to the multi-play relay and the other which just jumped straight to the start relay. now if you've got a game that's been hacked and another relay added that works in the same fashion as the multiplayer relay then you can either disable the relay hold switch which will do the same thing basically just open it up and that'll keep it from working or you can cut the relay out and repair the coin switch if it's needed. On a flipper game, you typically don't have this. As I say, you've got a Jones plug style adjustment. Well, you just change it to whatever you want. It's a lot more straightforward. But one of the things that I love about bingos is the interplay of all these complex systems and how they all work precisely together in order to make these super fun games function. It's just fascinating. And the fact that they designed these things and that operators would find ways around limitations in the mechanical design is also fascinating. Well, that's all for tonight. Thank you very much for joining me. My name again is Nick Baldrige. you can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com or you can call me on the bingos line that's 724 bingos 1 724-246-4671 you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter at bingopodcast you can follow me on Instagram also at bingopodcast or you can listen to us on our website which is 4amusementonly.libsyn.com thank you very much for listening and I'll talk to you next time.