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A few years ago, I found an old electromechanical pinball machine out for the trash. At some point, the back box connector (the part that connects the square t
by hahamrfunnyguy 3y ago
A few years ago, I found an old electromechanical pinball machine out for the trash. At some point, the back box connector (the part that connects the square top part with the scoreboard to the table) was severed.
I spent a couple of days tracing out the schematic and wiring everything up again, cleaning contacts and doing some basic repairs like changing lightbulbs and rubbers. By the end of the process, I had a playable pinball machine.
What was really an eye-opener for me was how the game was "programmed". Timing was handled by flashing lightbulbs and game state was maintained by relays and wheels that triggered stacks of switches. Really a different way of thinking about how to build up a game.
I didn't play game enough and want to spend the time to keep it running, so I donated it. It was really enjoyable to fix it up (once) and figure out how everything worked. I might do it again some time!
- icoder 3y agoSlightly related but I once got a 'behind the scenes' of a bowling alley, I was amazed to see (not sure if still the case, could very well be) how 'analog' the whole machinery was, with a big wheel and lots of mechanical entrapments to pick/collect/replace pins. I think the technical constraints demanded a lot of ingenuity back then. If I remember correctly they added digital score keeping as an afterthought using camera's (+ software + screens).
- ProjectArcturis 3y agoIt was like this, right? https://youtu.be/-DKCFjm0DvE https://youtu.be/-DKCFjm0DvE
- bombcar 3y agoI was watching a hacking video on elevators, and some of them are still run entirely analog with no real computers, it's all relays and miles and miles of wire.
- cdr 3y agoUnfortunately, traditional pinsetters are well on their way out. All of the chains now use new models with strings that are much cheaper to operate. Non-chain bowling alleys with traditional pinsetters almost all get displaced by competition from chains and other issues. https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-bowling-is-in-a-knock-down-fight-over-new-high-tech-pins-11673367332 https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-bowling-is-in-a-knock-...