TRIVIA:Firepower was the first solid-state (electronic) pinball game made that featured Multiball™, where players could play up to 3 balls at the same time. Firepower was also the only Williams game using the Level 6 MPU system that used all six ROM chip locations on the MPU board, in order to accomodate all the extra software used by the game.
Interested Buyers Please Note:
Thank you for your interest in this classic and professionally restored pinball game. Even if you are "just looking" and not necessarily in the market for a game such as this, we appreciate your stopping by for a look! We hope you enjoy what you see here!
As is common on higher-end games and restorations such as this one, we typically get a tremendous amount of interest and questions from our customers on fine details about game condition- amid many other general inquiries. Interested buyers are respectfully reminded that this game is, and always will be, a used pinball game, and while it does look and play fantastically in every way, it is in no way a brand new unused machine and may not necessarily exhibit all of the inherent characteristics commonly found in a brand new unused machine- cosmetically, mechanically, or electronically. Just like a classic antique car may be restored to "like new condition", it will never ever again be "brand new". The same truths apply to a restored pinball machine as well.
If you are looking for "absolute mint condition" or basically something that is 100% flawless and never had any use or wear/tear of any kind, we kindly invite you to peruse the selection of brand new pinball machines for sale that we have listed on our website.
While this game has been extensively restored and reconditioned to not only look and play like new, but to be as reliable as possible in it's use, it is a known fact that all pinball machines- old or new- will require some adjustment, maintenance, service, and repair as time goes on. There simply is no such thing as a "zero maintenance" pinball machine- anywhere. And vintage pinball games such as this one that not only have many moving parts, but also have the inherent aspect of older age on their side, may tend to require a bit more upkeep in their day-to-day operation simply due to their age and previous use. This game is offered for sale under these conditions and based on these considerations.
We ask any interested buyers to please carefully consider the aspects and responsibility of owning and maintaining a used, restored pinball game, understanding that occasional repairs, adjustments, maintenance, and service will more-or-less be an integral part of owning and using a vintage game such as this one, as time goes on.
Repairs and adjustments of this type are not covered under warranty for non-local customers (customers outside the local Salt Lake City, Utah, area), so any such interested customers are advised to take the above information into consideration before making a decision to purchase or not to purchase this game. If you need any further information, please e-mail us. Thank You! - Action Pinball & Amusement Management & Staff
Overall: Over 100 hours have been invested in the excruciatingly detailed restoration of this legendary classic Williams pinball game. It easily meets our criteria for a "Collector Condition" rating, which is our top rating for a used, reconditioned, restored game.
Cabinet and Backbox on this game (entire cabinet) have been professionally fully repainted from top to bottom in original factory paint colors and style with original factory design faithfully reproduced. The whole cabinet has a fresh, brand-new appearance. All signs of use over the years have been erased from the cabinet on this game with the repaint work that has been done, so the entire cabinet- inside and out- is essentially again in "brand new" condition- absolutely gorgeous. Brand new white nylon gliders have been installed in original locations on the back of the main cabinet, and on the underside corners of the backbox, replacing the factory original used parts in these locations. Brand new leg protector pads have also been supplied with this game to help prevent against any damage (scratches, scuffs) from the normal mounting of the metal legs on the corners of the main cabinet- this will help preserve the newly-repainted artwork
All hardware (nuts, bolts, screws) on the cabinet on this game have been reconditioned or replaced with new parts as required, for a brand new appearance. Backbox interior has been stripped, including the removal of the metal shields inside for proper cleaning and reconditioning before reassembly.
Backglass on this game is a brand professional reproduction and is in "mint" condition in every aspect. Original stainless steel lift channel and black plastic side and top moldings have been retained and are in excellent condition- attached to the new backglass with original style black "friction tape" as originally used at the factory.
Playfield on this game is in excellent condition from top to bottom. It is the original playfield that this game came with when built in 1980 and has been preserved very well over the years. Some signs of past use are present on this field, as should naturally be expected on any older vintage used pinball game. Even with extensive time and work, some signs of past use and age simply cannot be "reversed", but we have done our best to restore and recondition this original playfield to the best condition practially possible. Only a few very tiny minor touch-ups were done to the playfield after it was stripped and cleaned, and the field was then fully reconditioned and polished to preserve it's finish and protect for years to come. Some small pieces of protective Mylar were added to high-traffic locations for added protection, including spot mylars strategic areas and protectors in front of the slingshot bumpers near the bottom of the playfield.
All standup targets on this game have had new target decals installed, and foam backing pieces to restore them to original condition.
Plastics on the playfield on this game are original and in excellent condition with no cracks or breaks and no unsightly wear spots or other damage. All have been cleaned- top and bottom sides- and installed and secured with brand new white nylon cap nuts, just like original design.
All mechanisms on the playfield (including kickers, bumpers, flippers, and more) have all been painstakingly overhauled and reconditioned/restored to new condition for good looks and proper reliable operation. Flipper assemblies have been upgraded to late-model units which function better and are easier to maintain and repair/replace than older obsolete units.
Here is a detailed list of work that has been done on this game, followed by more details on parts and game modifications:
We have invested just over 100 hours of work in the restoration of this game.
Entire cabinet and backbox have been stripped, refinished, and fully repainted in original factory colors with original factory design faithfully reproduced.
Playfield top and bottom surfaces stripped of parts and assemblies for proper cleaning and rebuilding- right down to the bare surfaces.
Playfield surface has been fully polished to restore original look, shine, and feel.
All playfield parts & assemblies have been removed and hand cleaned, or replaced with brand new parts where necessary. This includes light bulbs, posts, wireform ball guides, flipper assemblies, pop bumpers, slingshot bumper assemblies, ball trough and associated parts, and any other parts that are installed on the playfield.
All metal parts removed from playfield have been hand cleaned and polished for original bright shiny finish, including refinishing of stainless steel ball guides using our own proprietary in-house process.
All playfield plastic posts removed and cleaned by hand with detergent and brush to remove any wax, dirt, grime, or leftover cleaner. They once again look like new!
Playfield plastics all removed, cleaned, polished, and re-installed with new white nylon cap nuts.
All four pop bumper assemblies removed from playfield, disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled/reinstalled. Switches adjusted for proper reliable operation. New bumper skirts (wafers) installed on all bumpers.
New nylon coil sleeves installed in all coil mechanisms- flippers, bumpers, kickers, etc.
Both flipper assemblies have been upgraded to modern baseplate and mechanical part designs. New parts installed include flipper coil stops, coil plungers, nylon plunger sleeves, plunger links and roll pins, springs, EOS switches, screws, coils, and nylon flipper bushings. Flippers tuned and adjusted for optimum performance. They once again work like new!
New flipper button switches installed in main cabinet for improved flipper operation.
New rubber ring kit installed on playfield, replacing all rubber parts with new pieces.
All light bulbs on top and bottom of playfield, and elsewhere in game, have been replaced with new bulbs.
Brand new chrome steel pinballs installed in game (game uses 3 total).
New score and instruction cards installed.
Brand new nuts/screws installed on many assemblies and brackets under playfield. Hex-head screws (standard and oversize) used to replace some original worn out phillips head screws for added reliability and performance.
New coin door and backbox locks installed- original style- with new keys.
New plunger (ball shooter) assembly installed, featuring gorgeous chrome-plated shooter housing and all other new parts. Looks, works, and plays like new again!
Inside and outside of main cabinet and backbox completely stripped of parts/hardware, cleaned, parts individually hand cleaned, refinished, and reassembled.
Coin door has been completely removed and 100% disassembled and restored including all internal and external parts and hardware.
Internal coin door parts (including wiring harness and switches) individually cleaned and detailed by hand and reassembled. Coin door metal parts cleaned and refinished for that brand new "day one" look. Fully working original coin mechanisms (25¢ and $1) installed in coin door and tested for proper operation/adjustment.
Playfield glass lockdown bar and latch assembly completely removed, cleaned, refinished, and reassembled. New lithograph decals installed on latch assembly.
Brand new chrome legs installed on all 4 corners of game.
Lithograph labels throughout game (the majority of them) have been replaced with new high-quality labels to restore and retain original factory look. Everything from the yellow "Inspected by #20" label to the sound board test switch label in the backbox have been replaced with new high-quality reproduction lithographs.
New white nylon gliders installed on "skids" on back of main cabinet and under corners of backbox for fresh new look.
Brand new playfield glass installed- new tempered scratch-free safety glass.
New chrome twist-nails installed in side rails to secure them to cabinet side.
New white flipper buttons installed.
New spinner target decals installed to restore finish to front and back side of spinner target.
New standup target decals installed on all targets.
New pop bumper skirts installed on all four bumpers.
MPU board upgraded with new "combo" ROM chip which eliminates troublesome original bipolar PROM chips and increases reliability.
Connector pins resoldered on all circuit boards in backbox to ensure good firm connections and reduce possibility for problems resulting from intermittent connections due to old age.
New score displays installed- brand new PinScore display system featuring new master display driver and 4 "slave" displays (for each of the 1-4 player positions). These modern replacements replace the old high-voltage glass tube displays which are obsolete and no longer available, and use low-voltage orange LEDs which look just like original display numbers. The PinScore system carries a 5-year warranty and will last indefinitely!
List of New Parts Installed on This Game:
A lot of large and small parts are typically replaced anytime a game is fully restored like this one. This list consists of parts only- it does not include any shipping/freight costs for obtaining many of the parts listed below, nor the costs for labor to install them.
$200.00 value: New PinScore display set (includes 5 year warranty!)
$270.00 value: New high-quality reproduction backglass.
Playfield- restoration complete and fully reassembled/working.
Detail- lower section of playfield- score card holder, flippers, and slingshot bumpers area.
Playfield in this game is original and is in excellent condition for a vintage used machine (especially a very popular one that commonly saw a lot of play in the arcades). Naturally some signs of past use/play can be seen upon close inspection, and a few minor spots have been touched-up to restore original look on this game, but the playfield in this game still retains a fantastic look to it, especially after being reconditioned and polished.
Detail- lower section of playfield- slingshot bumpers area. A thumbnail size wear spot was present in front of each of the slingshot bumpers when we received this game, but these spots were restored and brand new clear die-cut Mylar protectors were added in front of each slingshot bumper to protect the playfield surface in these high-traffic areas.
Detail- left side of playfield. Left ball lock saucer and 3-bank standup targets seen here.
Note the restored finish on the stainless steel ball guides/rails, including the one in the left outlane seen here. All stainless rails on this game have been refinished, removing the old unsightly ball marks and wear/tear from past use. They once again look factory-new!
Note also the new white nylon cap nuts installed to hold down all the plastics on the playfield. And the new decals installed on all the targets.
Detail- shot across playfield to right side. Right and side 3-bank standup targets seen here with brand new target decals installed. Targets have also had brand new black foam backing pieces installed.
Detail- top center playfield area. Both center target banks and all four pop bumpers seen here. Bumper caps are also original to this game and still in fantastic condition. Pop bumpers have been fully rebuilt and adjusted, including new coil sleeves and white bumper skirts. Bumpers also have original factory protective Mylar rings around them to help protect and preserve the playfield finish.
Note new decals on the standup targets, and the spinner target in the left orbit lane as well.
Detail- upper playfield - rollover lanes area. Center two red rollover lane guides are original and still in great condition (this style of red guide is VERY hard to find- most are damaged or faded from years of use). The outer guides were replaced- right guide is a NOS original part, and left guide (tall one) is an aftermarket unit that very closely matches the original type.
Top area above rollover lanes had a few small spots touched up in areas where the ball frequently travels, and more signs of past used/play can be more easily seen in this area, since the ball travels through this area very fast and very frequently during play, especially from the opening plunger-lane shot. But still in overall great shape for a vintage original game. We also installed some protective Mylar to help avoid wear in a few spots on the playfield including one small spot in this area.
Pop bumpers and rollover lanes areas as seen from the right. One wear spot was touched-up in front of the ball lock saucer seen here (solid black area) and some protective Mylar added to help prevent wear in the future.
Under-playfield view- flippers area. Note the cleanliness of the under-side surface of the playfield which only comes with a true full restoration. Flipper mechanisms are 100% brand new featuring new modern Williams flipper baseplates and supporting parts, including all mechanical and electrical parts- even new coils (solenoids). The updated modern design is a big improvement over the original assemblies designed in 1980 and are much more reliable, better performing, easier to maintain and repair, and easy to acquire replacement parts for.
The right flipper assembly has a brand new reproduction lithograph decal on the end plate. This decal was placed on games that used the Lane-Change™ feature, to describe the function of the additional switch on the flipper assembly, which was used to trigger Lane-Change™. Another nice finishing touch.
Under-playfield view- upper playfield area. Again here, everything you see has been fully removed from the game, disassembled, cleaned, rebuilt/restored, and reinstalled and adjusted for proper operation- no stone left unturned.
Cabinet/Backbox:
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Description
Overall view.
Main cabinet, left side. Note brand new chrome "twist nails" installed in the stainless steel side rails to secure them. Also brand new white flipper buttons installed, new legs, leg protector pads, leg bolts, levelers, etc.
Main cabinet- right side.
Backbox- left side, and backglass. Backglass is brand new and features original stainless steel lift channel at the bottom, and black plastic side and top moldings, secured with brand new friction tape (as originally used by factory).
Backbox- right side.
Front of main cabinet / coin door. Note brand new legs and bolts, and fully restored coin door, as well as the brand new complete ball shooter assembly, including brand new chrome plated metal housing. Another gorgeous finishing touch on this classic game.
Coin door is complete and fully functional, featuring original U.S. 25¢ and Dollar Coin acceptor mechanisms. Game can be run on coins, or operated by "free play"- your choice. All parts on this door (inside and out) have been removed, disassembled, and individually restored by hand, then reassembled to factory specs. Door has brand new reproduction decals installed on the interior side, including the price tag and coin mechanism changing decals (left, inside door panel), new "press for credits" decal on right coin chute switch cover, and new decal for diagnostic/test button panel.
Main cabinet interior. Interior has been stripped of all parts and cleaned, with everything cleaned and restored before being reassembled. Cabinet features brand new heavy-duty leg bolt mounting plates in each of the corners which help prevent stripping of the leg bolts and add to the strength/durability of the cabinet.
Lockdown bar latch assembly has also been fully restored. It is typically a "catch-all" for dirt, grime, liquids, and other debris from years of use and usually is the dirtiest and most worn part on the game. This latch assembly was no exception, but we have diassembled and cleaned it, and restored it's finish to original condition. And have topped it off with some new reproduction lithograph decals including the "caution" decal in center, and "tested by" decal at right. Brass adjustment screws have also been refinished- the entire assembly looks new again.
Cabinet interior- right front corner. A brand new reproduction Instruction Booklet and envelope have been installed to restore original factory design. Note also the original hook for the backbox key (on front wall below ball shooter), new coin box and metal lid, and "battery change" reminder tag stapled in place.
Main cabinet interior- front left corner including restored coin door interior & parts, replay knocker, and tilt mechanisms & wiring.
Back side of game. Note new white nylon gliders installed on back of main cabinet, and brand new electrical ground warning decal- nice finishing touches to this high-end restoration.
Insert panel behind backglass. Note the cleanliness of this panel. All lamps are new. Old worn out and obsolete glass tube score displays have been replaced by modern aftermarket LED displays which consume less power, produce virtually no heat, and last indefinitely- will not burn out over time like old obsolete glass plasma tubes did. Display brightness is also adjustable and does not use dangerous high voltage like original tubes. The new aftermarket display system is a PinScore system which carries a 5-year warranty.
Backbox interior. All parts you see here have been removed from the game, restored, and reassembled from the bare wood on up. Note the cleanliness of the interior- both backbox and back of the insert panel. No stone left unturned here.
Connector pin solder joints have been reflowed with fresh solder on all circuit boards to eliminate hairline cracks from vibration/age, and to improve reliability. Power supply board has been upgraded with new regulator and filter capacitor for cleaner, more reliable power. MPU board has had new combo ROM chip kit installed for Firepower, with necesary modifications done (reversible). New remote-mount battery kit has also been added to get the batteries off the valuable MPU board, and help prevent damage should they go neglected and leak (common problem in most older games). Kit has a quick-disconnect connector for easy removal of board from game should it ever need service.
Restoration Pictures:
By popular request, here are some rarely-seen shots of the restoration process that this particular game went through. Hope you enjoy!
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Playfield top side reassembly just starting.
Playfield bottom side- reassembly just starting. Still a LONG WAY to go. This is a very detailed, slow, "inch by inch" process. All mechanisms/assemblies have to be overhauled, cleaned, restored, and rebuilt. Every lamp socket, screw, solder lug, and wire has to be reconditioned and properly attached. One at a time.
Ray busy at work wiring the under-side of the playfield during reassembly.
Main cabinet during repainting process. Black basecoat applied.
Main cabinet fully repainted and prepped for reassembly.
Ground braid installating being started in main cabinet. Braid was installed in the same direction, and with same routing and staple location, as originally done at the factory.
Backbox interior. Metal shielding all cleaned and re-installed. Awaiting circuit board mounting brackets and other hardware.
Backbox during repainting process. Left side ready for red paint.
Like all pinballs we sell, this machine also comes complete with fully functional coin door & mechanisms with all parts present and working, and game manual and schematics (wiring diagrams) for this game.
For our local customers, this game also includes delivery, setup, and a full warranty on parts and labor, at no additional charge. For out-of-town customers, we offer our Limited Warranty.
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