Hey Ron, I watch all of your vids and had to comment on this one. Please don’t stop the game play coverage on the older mechs. I love it! As a kid in the late 1970’s I worked at a Radio Shack that had a Pizza Shop just across the way in a strip mall. A tiny little place. Don’s Pizza was a locally-owned shop that the owner worked exclusively. Don had something like four tables and two pinballs. Most of the business was carry out. I worked the afternoon shift, usually from 3PM to 9. Many nights, I ordered a Hot Ham and Cheese from Don’s and posted a sign on the door of the Shack saying “lunch, be back in 15 minutes”. This was acceptable in the ‘70’s. I’d walk the 100 feet or so to Don’s and plop a quarter into an EM. Aztec was one I distinctly remember. Thanks for the memories, sir! 40 years later, I’m quickly getting to the end of my career as a controls engineer. I’ve trouble shot electro mechanical logic because that’s all we had in the early 1980’s in the industrial world. While I love PLC’s, the equivalent of pinball solid state, the ingenuity and magic of electro mechanical logic still mesmerizes me. It was man working with what we had to do wondrous things. Thank you again. I love the game play on the old stuff. Newbies need to know what all their bells and whistles are standing heavy on the shoulders of what came before them!
Yeah I continue to find modern things that have their base in something they already did in the E.M. era! It's pretty amazing really. All digital logic is pretty much (well... kind of ) broken down to 0's and 1's which looks a lot like switches to me :) Thanks for watching!
Your channel, your rules. I'd well imagine MOST people enjoy you doing it exactly as you do. I know I do. Keep up good work. And don't let the terrorists win.
Come on, people. Ronnie is right again. The old EM machines are marvels of engineering. Fixing these things is tremendously satisfying. (Even if we aren’t all as good as Ronnie at fixing them.) another great video.
It is amazing! All EM machines are mechanical marvels in my book the people that pioneered the technology were outright genius. Thank you, Ron, for keeping another masterpiece machine in historical time working/functioning in all its glory as it was meant to be, every blinking or solid light bulb every cling clank dink of the chimes the clicky clack of the number reels counting and reset sequence the smack of the free game knocker, the spinner flying around and adding points the bumpers slinging the ball every which way all of it a fantastic treat for the senses. Some people just don't get it and I am not sure why they continue to come to your site? Other than to complain and ridicule you cannot compare the EM machines to the modern-day electronic machines they are two very different animals.
Love your videos Ron. Don’t ditch the gameplay portion of the video because of trolls. Those of us who enjoy your craft enjoy your gameplay. You’re an inspiration. I recently bought a Pinbot and High Speed that I’m learning and repairing thanks to you. Keep ‘em coming!!
Thanks for watching! Read around the comments a little bit and you'll see what I mean... lots of people who are pinball guys just like to complain this one isn't designed right, I currently have a guy in one of the comments telling me I'm not using my finger right, another is telling me the wire looks too skinny, etc. People have forgotten how to have a good time :) Thanks!
I've owned a couple tables in the past (both solid state) but watching your videos of you troubleshooting and repairing the old EMs has given me nothing but the upmost respect for that technology (and your repair skills, of course!). EMs are just such things of beauty, truly magnificent. Thanks for all the awesome vids!! BTW, I love watching you play any table you've just finished repairing.
Ha Ron. Well dune on a great repair. Love the em machines. As that’s what I remember most and enjoyed playing them. My wife likes seeing them play as well as she says they come alive when played. Keep up the great job you and Joe do. All the best. Bob.
I hope you don't change anything. These old games are works of art and engineering wonder. It's easy for a computer to tell this sound to play and these lights to flash and the score, but all these switches, wires, relays, reels and motors doing the same thing is amazing. Thanks for another awesome video.
I for one enjoy your pinball play videos for a sideways reason. It preserves history, and it provides 'ground truth' for virtual pinball emulators. I am interested in hearing the sounds, seeing the speed at which things score, hearing your reading of the score card... These days, even IPDB doesn't include the score cards for a certain manufacturer's games because of copyright infringement. But more importantly, I enjoy your enthusiasm for these games. It makes me want to play them so I can experience what you experienced. You bring these machines to life, and it is a life worth living.
Thank you, yeah I really like them but it really dampens my enjoyment of it when somebody feels it really important to tell me what they don't like. I don't even understand the logic behind it. If I'm having fun, why tell me what I'm doing isn't fun? Seems insane but people accept this as part of life, I refuse to play along.
Hi Professor Ron, I truly enjoyed the troubleshooting parts of the video. While I am not working on any machines the logic you presented was very clear and understandable. I guess I am odd that I do enjoy the EM videos the most along with the older chime boxes. I would say for 100% certain you are a better pinball player than I am, so I would never criticize your playing.
Great video Ronnie, That spinner was spinning really well. That shot on the right side is super cool. Keep playing on the video it makes you happy and a lot of other people happy too. The other people just do not get it they are just people who complain about everything. Thanks for filming and I will see you on the next video.
Thanks for this video! I really enjoy your sense of humor and your enthusiasm as you see these games come back to life, so hopefully, you can just ignore the annoying commenters and play these when you want.
Probably are a handful of people in the country that care about fixing these wondrous machines. It’s incredible the abuse they endured in the arcades and are still working. My hats off to the designers and the people that built them.
this was my first pin. 1989. still have it and plays perfect. i also have "bows and arrows" . can not get any better than that!!! thanks for the tips and info on these games!!!! love you're channel, i watch weekly. keep up the e.m. video's. thank you!!! you need to play them more often to get the hang of them dont worry;)
Very nicely done as always ron , personally i like watching you play them its mainly just because i like old stuff and i like knowing how things work , i have learned alot from watching your videos in fact i bought a 1959 gottlieb race time that ive been working on it sat in storage for 40 years so naturally its far from perfect but with the knowledge i aquired from watching your channel it is now playable and as i watch more n more of your videos il be able to make it work better over time , no complaints here , keep up the good work , forget what the whiners say ... keep on playing 👍
This was the first Williams Pinball game (It was at a bowling center) I ever played. I was 5 years old I remember the kicker on the upper right of the playfield. I had also seen this game at a couple bars and at a Holiday Inn about two years later. Also about 5 years ago, I saw this game at a bar, and had fun playing the game.
I've had my Aztec 42 years its the first game I saw, first one I played, and the first one I owned. Love this game it is my favorite pinball machine. Uou awesome Ron keep up the good work and @@#$ the !@#holes
Love watching you troubleshoot, it's right up my alley. Also enjoy watching the gameplay after you've fixed a machine, whether it's video game, pinball, or some other device. Doesn't matter to me your skill level, I just enjoy seeing the repaired machine working. Don't let the naysayers get you down 😉
Great job Ronnie and Joe. … I’ve been a pinball player for over 55 years. …I can honestly say that I’ve never cared at all if I beat someone else’s score, or they beat mine. …I only ever tried to beat the machine, so Icould win some replays and keep on playing. Your playing is more than fine with me, and probably about 95% of folks, so don’t worry at all about competition freaks, they’re just insecure.
I thought the point of this channel is to repair machines that were not working properly and make them as close to top condition as possible. If others don't like the content let them go someplace else. Keep doing what you do and i'll keep watching.
Those pinball nutters are kind of like audiophile nuts. So hooked on the way they feel the machine should be that they can't enjoy the machine for what it is . I always enjoy watching the game play at the end and seeing the particular machine come back to life again. A lot of these old EM's are just so much fun, but those complainers have forgotten these are for AMUSEMENT.
Those Audiophile guys are almost the worst, but the worst I've seen are electricians. If you go watch an electrican video, they will be arguing in the comments about what the code says or doesn't say, and both sides are right
Excellent videos. I like to see the intricacies of the original designs including the schematics and your top notch trouble-shooting skills. I also enjoy watching the play at the end. Its like when we used to play four-player pinball at the bowling alley, where you spend most of your time watching the other guys play. Tamiya makes translucent hobby paint that should work on the back glass, although the palette is pretty limited.
Ron, Thank You for all the work you do to fix these pinball games while trying to capture it all on camera for us to enjoy and learn from. The best part is watching you play these games, It is always so much fun so please don't change anything about your videos. Just ignore the sour comments and don't let them get you down.
That's one of my favorite parts too, then Bob or Rick or Dale who have been playing for 50 years say "Oh, I never liked these Ballys much. Looks boring." Because they haven't' had a hard on in 40 years
I would not mind owning this one. I enjoy the videos when you play the machine. It is hard to find these machines still in service at public locations.
I'll echo other comments, please don't let the haters get you down! I appreciate the gameplay video as much as the rest of anything you want to put on here! It's the only way I'll see some of these machines being played!
My top score on Aztec was 864,480 on Sept. 3, 1977. I only got to play it a few times in a college dorm that I was trespassing in while underage. I saw your first video and thought those pop bumpers need some serious fixing, and now I see that it has been done appropriately, thanks.
Thanks for the video Ron. You didn't have to film it. I enjoy seeing you play the game but you seem to have the worst bounces. I love old and modern pinball games. The chimes make the older games fun for me.
I don't see why the people that don't like gameplay don't just stop the video at that point. There will always be know-it-alls Your videos are very entertaining. What about doing the gameplay video as a separate video? Id' watch both videos. Also for those critical about the video. Why don't they do their own videos and find out the effort it takes before they criticize every little thing.
You have just as much right to criticize as the ones who criticize you. And you should. Eventually, they will go away. And the net result is a better environment for us all.
When people comment in a negative way about the game play sections you can use the new and improved Elon Reply...... Its your channel Ron and its FINE.
In real life I'd pull an Elon, but on youtube if you do that you get punished for it pretty severely. From time to time I'll tell somebody where to go but in general you have to ignore them and let them have their power. In real life of course nobody ever even looks at me funny, but online everybody has an opinion they like to share as caustically as they can...
I’ve said it once , and I’ll say it again . If you don’t have anything positive to say , keep your dam mouth shut . Why people go out of their way to diminish what other people are saying or doing I just don’t understand. Ron keep doing exactly what you’re doing , those people are idiots . We all think you’re awesome, myself and many others watch every single video you make and enjoy every minute!
Thanks Ron for the video. I hope like others you don't stop the gameplay, unless we go to some of the pinball museums it's probably one of the only chances we get to see this game in action. Liked the way you troubleshoot and you got the bottom of that player reset very nicely. I like these style of pinball and hark back to a simpler time, when it was just skill. A lot of modern pinball are terrible games imo, too many video modes and twizzles, but poor game play. This is just raw pinball and you have to play well to do well. Not just lucky.
You have a great voice. Now if you'd stop complaining that would be even better. hahahaha Thanks for the entertainment. Always love it when someone takes a total waste of time and learns to make a living out of it.
I think something that rotates and is off-center is a cam. A cam converts between linear and rotary motion. A pawl is much like a mechanical version of a diode. A gear can rotate one way only because a pawl and spring engage. So that's what you have in the units and maybe score reels. I don't know if the flat version is called that, though. I mean like if you have 2 gears with angled teeth that mesh because a spring holds them, but is weak enough to allow slippage the other way. I don't know if that would be called a clutch or what.
I repair my own solid state machines and I keep getting tempted to get an EM, but then I watch your videos on repair, which is fun, but I fear getting overwhelmed by the schematics. Any advice?
Can you explain how the open switches close on a wiring diagram? You keep saying (the switch closes on itself>> I don't follow. When you show with you finger you trace the diagram, then go a different direction :>>> A switch has many wires connected to it and realize more than one thing happens, folow the path with the diagram///
You'll probably have to watch some more of the videos to get it, but the machine is full of relays which are stacks of switches. If one of the relays gets turned on, it closes all the open switches, or it opens all the closed switches on that relay. If the score motor turns, it opens all the closed switches on the score motor, and closes all the open switches on the score motor... if the ball hits a closed switch it opens it, and if it hits an open switch it closes it...
Thanks for the reply. I have a 73 Hot shot em so I’m learning. It looks like you do reverse power flow. It just confusing because the power t off so much. Just would like to see each switch that closes upon itself more fully explained. Like how can a switch (open switch) do this. I’ve followed probably 90% of your video’s. You do an excellent job of explaining. Also can’t find out how to use Amazon from your channel. Buy quite a bit of stuff. I live in the Seattle area. Socialist’s area. Yuk
Hey Ron, I don't know if you saw this - At the very top of the play field, when you launch the ball, there are 3 lit lanes the ball can pass through. It looks like those lanes start out being lit then go dark if the ball goes through the lane. The lane lights appear to reset (all back on) whenever you start a new ball or when you start a new game. However, It looks like only 2 of the 3 lanes are resetting (lit) on a new game or new ball. Is that normal?
Do this for you.... not for the ass-hat that complains about how you play or that they don't like old games. Just start blocking all negative Nancy's, and eventually, it'll all just be positive comments.
overall it looks really nice, for this age i have seen worse playfields. anyway thanks again for your video i know how much time this costs. greets from the netherlands.
