Another Signature Series pinball restoration. Only by Action Pinball.
Bally Medusa
Price:$5,195.00- SOLD -
# of Players: 1 to 4
Manufacturer: Bally
Date Produced: September, 1981
Units Produced: 3,250 units
Design: Wally Welch
Art: Kevin O'Connor
TRIVIA:Medusa features FOUR flippers, two of which are the "old school" Zipper Flippers. Medusa was the only solid-state pinball game to feature Zipper Flippers- a feature not seen since the electro-mechanical pinball days of the late 1960's and early 1970's.
Medusa was produced by Bally at the height of arcade pinball popularity in the early 1980's. One of the benefits of games being produced during this time of record pinball revenue earnings was that designers and factories had the budgets to put a lot of high-tech features and gadgets in their games. Medusa was no exception- this game boasted FOUR flippers, FOUR pop bumpers, several different bonus point accumulating systems, a wild "light bar" across the top of the playfield, a SIXTH score display unit mounted beneath the playfield surface, awesome sound effects and computer generated speech, a player-controlled rebound post between the lower flippers, and many other fun gadgets and features. Manufacturers had the budget to pack these games full of "pinball punch" during this wild heyday time in the arcades, but only a few years later they scaled back on features and technological add-ons when pinball earnings wained in the overtaking wake of video games.
Aside from all it's gadgets and features, this particular Medusa game is rather unique in that it is the very first Medusa machine to roll off the Bally assembly line. Bearing serial number "EME1001", it is considered a prototype, or 'test model' game, and even has a few minor details that are different on it than later, regular-production games. During the restoration, we even found a few "changes" in this game that were clearly made by Bally engineers while designing this game from scratch and bringing it to full production.
We've actually had this Medusa machine for many years- we ran across and picked it up in the late 1990's- and were fortunate many years ago to be able to acquire a brand new NOS (new old stock) original playfield for it, and NOS backglass as well. We gathered many other original and high-quality reproduction parts for it over the years as well, and while on our backburner many times, we finally found enough time this year to devote to finishing the restoration of this milestone of pinball history, and are now proud to offer it to our pinball collector community as a marquis piece, worthy of "first place" in any pinball lineup.
We honestly have never had a game that we've put more time, labor, and cost into, than this game. It has been a very intense project that has taken many years to properly restore and bring back to life, but we have made sure not to cut any corners and give extreme focus to detail and originality on this game as much as practically possible, while making several choice upgrades to modernize and make more reliable the inner workings and cosmetic beauty of this landmark pinball machine, in order to ensure that it continues to look and play great for many more years to come.
This game brings to life the legend of "Medusa" and The Greek Gods of Olympus as you battle your way through pinball mythology! This game features two sections on the playfield- the lower for "mortals" and the upper being the Gods on Olympus. This unique layout is a single-level playfield, but the two areas are "separated"- both with their own sets of flippers (FOUR flippers total). The two upper flippers are actually the famous Bally "Zipper Flippers" that were used on a handful of electro-mechanical games in the late 1960's and early 1970's (Bally's well-known "Fireball" was famous for these). The Zipper Flippers are the older-style "short" flippers (2 inches in length, instead of the standard 3 inch flippers) and are mounted on a unique mechanism under the playfield which allows them to be pulled together (closed) at times during play, so that the ball cannot escape between the flippers. The mechanism can also be opened to let the flippers return to their original positions, restoring the "gap" between them, and allowing balls to be "lost" between the flippers. Medusa was the only electronic Bally game that used Zipper Flippers- a feature not seen since about a decade earlier in the electro-mechanical pinball days.
Medusa features an overwhelming number of lights- it has the standard "lamp driver board" which runs about 64 "computer controlled" lights- but also has the "auxillary lamp driver" which was used in a few games during the early 1980's and can run a few dozen more lamps in addition to all of the others. So it is one wild machine when it comes to lights, and lighting effects! And backed by the famous "Squawk & Talk" computer-generated sound and speech system, the audio/visual aspects of this game will really blow you away! This game not only has great sound effects and background sound during play, but also narrates and guides you through play with speech clips, prompting you on what shots to go for as you progress in the game.
We've completely gone through and rebuilt/upgraded the Squawk & Talk sound/speech board in this game to restore it's original operating characteristics and eliminate noise, static, squelching, and other effects that are commonly seen in these games after years of use and neglect. The sounds and speech in this game are clear, clean, and robust- just like when it was brand new!
Medusa was also designed to use custom flipper bats at the lower position on the playfield. They were made with a translucent ("see-through") red plastic, and lights mounted under the playfield, beneath the flippers, shine up through the translucent red flipper bats when they are in the "at rest" position. This gives an effect of making the flippers look like they are "glowing". The lights are designed to shut off when the flippers are activated. A unique feature not found on any other Bally game. Many years ago, we were able to find and acquire an original NOS set of the red translucent flipper bats from a game operator in Australia. They have since been reproduced, but we have retained and installed the original NOS flippers on this game for a "like new" original look.
This game was also one of the first to feature an actual "skill shot". At game start, the game announces, "Time Your Shot!". Time your plunger shot to coincide with the lit lights in the plunger lane for maximum score!
Other features this machine boasts are multiple bonus scoring systems- a feature Bally liked to use on it's more complex games in the early 1990's (Xenon, Embryon, Flash Gordon, etc). Several different bonuses can be accumulated during play- the standard bonus based on targets hit/completed, and two other cumulative bonus systems- one on the lower, and one on the upper area of the playfield.
This game also features two drop target banks- a standard 4-target bank on the lower right of the playfield, and a 7-target bank along the top center. The top bank features both reset and drop coils, allowing it to control which targets are lowered or raised for you to shoot at, based on what's going on during the game at that point.
Behind the top drop targets are three round standup targets. The two outer green targets will add to your upper playfield bonus, while hitting the center red target will actually TAKE BONUS POINTS AWAY! So precision and accuracy are required for your shots in the top area of the playfield to really maximize your scoring potential!
The upper area of the playfield is accessed from the lower by two lanes leading up the sides of the playfield, and by a center spinner shot right up the middle. The game also features four lively pop bumpers located just below the upper playfield area. Three standup targets are located on the lower left side of the playfield, and a saucer at the top left corner of the playfield accumulates rewards and leads up to extra ball.
The lanes behind the slingshot bumpers at the bottom of the playfield have a unique layout as well- each has only one entrance, but several mini-post bumpers in these areas bounce the ball around and determine it's salvation or fate- sending it either to the flipper, or dropping it down and out of play. These areas will test your nudging skills as a player!
Medusa also features a player-controlled rebound post located just below the two lower flippers. Known as the "Shield of the Gods", this feature can be used a certain number of times to "save" the ball and bounce it back into play, after being lost between the flippers. An additional flipper button on the right side of the game controls The Shield. Completing targets and awards on the playfield adds Shield of the Gods "credits", allowing the player more opportunities to use The Shield. This was also a very unique feature that Bally used on only a few games in the early 1980's.
An "extended play" feature was also included in Medusa, allowing the player to accumulate "time units" during play. If the player qualifies for "extended play", an additional ball is served after the game is completed, and the player can continue play for as long as accumulated "time units" allow.
An additional 6-digit score display is used on the playfield in this game. Mounted beneath a clear lens in the lower center area of the playfield, this display is used to show a tally of various features including extended play Time Units, Extra Ball match numbers, and Shield of the Gods "credits". The extra ball match system cycles two numbers at different speeds during play, and if the two numbers match at the time the ball is drained, an extra ball is awarded to the player.
Exciting fast-paced play, incredible artwork and colors, lots of unique playfield features, and incredible audio/visual effects will remind you of how incredible and cutting-edge these games were in the golden age of solid-state pinball in the early 1980's, and with the high quality restoration work invested in this game inside and out, you'll feel like you were standing in the arcade again in 1981, playing a brand new Bally pinball!
A brand new scratch-free sheet of playfield glass has been installed (tempered safety glass) and the lockdown bar that holds the glass in place has been restored and features a new foam rubber seal to keep out debris.
The backbox interior features brand new reproduction instruction cards stapled in place of the old worn originals. These cards provide technical information and adjustments/settings info and are commonly missing, damaged, stained, or otherwise worn in most used games. We've painstakingly reproduced these cards from originals, having them printed on matching manilla card stock just like original cards, cut to size, and stapled in place just like the originals were at the factory- a nice finishing touch!
All circuit boards inside the backbox have been overhauled, upgraded, inspected, and tested for proper operation and good looks. The old original MPU board has been replaced with a brand new modern Alltek Systems board, providing better operation, quality, maintainability, and reliability. Solenoid driver/voltage regulator board has had upgrade modifications done to it for added performance and reliability, and many components have been replaced with new ones to ensure healthy operation for many years to come. The Squawk & Talk sound/speech board has also been overhauled, having all of it's electrolytic capacitors replaced with new ones (16 caps total), new ROM chips installed, and upgrades/testing done to ensure proper reliable operation. All boards and displays have had solder reflowed on connector pins to ensure that no intermittent connections are present, and all connector pins have been coated with DeoxIT anti-oxidation compound to provide better connections, increase reliability, and lubricate pins for extended life of boards and connector pins/housings. All original boards used in this game are in excellent condition, showing no signs of past damage or past poor repair work.
Power supply assembly in main cabinet has been overhauled and rebuilt as well, with several components replaced/upgraded, including worn fuse mounting clips replaced with new, and new heavy-duty power rectifiers installed for added reliability. The power supply board in the main cabinet also features the original clear plexiglass protective shield over the fuses, and original mounting clips- all parts that are very rarely ever found in most used Bally games anymore.
The five score display assemblies in the backbox and the single unit mounted under the playfield are all original Bally displays and are in great operational and cosmetic condition. New modern LED display assemblies are now available in the aftermarket, which we have installed on some other restored games in the past, but in an effort to retain the originality and genuine condition of this unique "first Medusa", we have opted to restore and continue using the original Bally displays (this also keeps costs down by several hundred dollars!)
A new original style ball shooter has been installed on this game along with chrome external spring, and all internal parts rebuilt or replaced as well.
Backglass on this game is a brand new NOS glass. We were fortunate to acquire the very last NOS Medusa glass from a supplier in the late 1990's and have retained it for use on this unique game. Glass has a brand new chrome lift channel installed on the bottom edge (with correct black "friction" cloth tape to hold it in place), and brand new black plastic trim pieces on the sides and top edge.
Playfield on this game is a brand new NOS playfield. We acquired this playfield from an operator in California in the late 1990's. This field was professionally fully clearcoated using DuPont ChromaClear clearcoat and catalyst/hardener (automotive grade materials)- not the cheap "brush on" stuff that many hobbiests buy at hardware stores. All components from the original playfield were either replaced with new (where available) or restored, and installed on the new playfield, one at a time.
The playfield features scores of brand new parts- both aftermarket reproduction and NOS original. All new drop targets were installed on this game (11 total)- correct new reproductions featuring correct hot-stamped gold artwork. We installed new Mylar protectors on all the drop targets to protect the gold hot-stamp artwork from premature wear (common problem on Bally drop targets). Both drop target assemblies were fully restored and rebuilt for proper looks and operation.
Flippers were all fully rebuilt with many original and brand new parts, including new flipper bats, flipper coils (lower flippers), new plungers, springs, cranks, switches, coil stops, coil sleeves, bushings, wiring, and hardware. They once again are strong, crisp, and look/play just like brand new!
All four pop bumpers were fully rebuilt and restored and feature brand new white plastic bodies and skirts. Original red translucent cap rings were retained, restored, and re-used. Brand new reproduction pop bumper caps have been installed. We also installed a set of the elusive "retainer rings" under the caps- these are a thin nylon ring that sits atop the pop bumper body and keeps the tabs in place that secure the cap ring. These retainer rings are often missing or were never installed on many Bally games. They help keep the pop bumper ring and cap in place during play- keeping them from either rotating on the bumper, or coming free from the bumper body.
Most target and rollover switches on the playfield had brand new disc capacitors installed on them to ensure proper operation. These small capacitors commonly short out and go bad over the years and are critical for not only proper operation, but for the game to be able to detect very rapid switch closures (from fast moving balls). They also give more life and "pep" to the pop bumpers, and are essential for replacement in most all Bally pinball overhauls.
As a final finishing touch, we acquired and installed a brand new officially-licenced reproduction set of playfield plastics (light shields) to replace the worn, warped, and faded originals. New white nylon cap nuts have been installed to secure the plastics and give a "day one" new look.
New score and instruction cards adorn the lower playfield card holder (or "apron"). New hardware (screws, nuts, washers, etc) have been used throughout the playfield, as required.
All other mechanisms on the playfield (including kickers, bumpers, flippers, and more) have all been removed, painstakingly overhauled and reconditioned/restored to new condition, reinstalled and adjusted for proper functionality, good looks, and reliable operation. All coils feature brand new nylon coil sleeves for added performance and reliability.
Design Changes Found on this Prototype Game:
During the restoration on this game we ran across a few interesting modifications that were clearly made by engineers at the factory. Being the first Medusa game made, engineers naturally had some re-fitting to do for some parts and functions used along the way during the game's design, and some tell-tale signs of some of these changes were left behind when the game left the factory:
Pre-Restoration Photo
Rear Playfield Supports: When we removed the playfield in this game, we found that there had clearly been some wood pieces glued to the internal walls near the back of the main cabinet- an "L" shape- typically used to hold the back end of the playfield when it is raised to the upright position. Most games of this era used these, along with thin wood strips down either side of the cabinet walls, high up, to support the playfield when it was in the lowered position.
It appeared to us that designers either had a different original design for the playfield mounting in this game, or were using a cabinet previously designed for an earlier model game, and had to remove these wood pieces to accomodate the playfield used for Medusa.
The boards that were clearly originally fixed to the interior cabinet walls had been pried off, leaving behind some glue residue, a few splinters and divots, and an area where paint hadn't covered. Since these were gone and there was no use for replacing them, we cleaned up these areas, repaired the wood around them, and painted over them as part of the cabinet interior/exterior paint job. But it was interesting to see how some changes had been made in this prototype, or "test" game, before it was sent out from the factory.
Pre-Restoration Photo
Playfield Mounting: Due to the light bar used across the top of the playfield on Medusa, the playfield had to be set down lower in the main cabinet. This was common to see on many double-level playfield games made by Bally, including Flash Gordon, Elektra, and others. As a result, the ball shooter assembly, mounted to the front of the cabinet, has to be lowered as well, so that it is on the same horizontal plane as the playfield surface.
After stripping the paint from the cabinet exterior, we found that the cabinet on this game had had a diamond-shaped hole routed out for the ball shooter in the standard position (higher up). The cabinet shop had apparently cut a wood "plug" to fit this opening, installed it and secured with glue, then routed another mounting hole a bit further down, to properly accomodate the lower mounting of the ball shooter used in Medusa.
Another requirement for doing this was that there was adequate room for the ball shooter mounting plate on the inside wall of the cabinet. To mount the plate lower required removing some of the wood at the top of the corner brace in the front right corner of the cabinet. This appears to have been done manually with a drill- you can still see some of the marks from the drill that was used to remove a portion of the wood on this brace to make room for the ball shooter mounting bracket.
Pre-Restoration Photo
Playfield Pivot Brackets Positioning: The playfield support system in Medusa is different than most games of the same era. Most games used thin wood strips attached to the inside upper edge of the cabinet sides. Medusa does not use these- possibly due to the unusually high amount of hardware and parts installed on the underside of the playfield- there just isn't any room left to allow support rails to hold up the playfield.
Engineers did not use the wood support strips in the cabinet of Medusa, and instead used a system from the electro-mechanical days of the late 1960's which uses two brackets with a pivot pin, mounted on either side of the cabinet interior sidewalls. A corresponding slotted bracket attached to the either side of the underside of the playfield, near the back, fits over these pins that are mounted on the brackets on the cabinet sidewalls (imagine a later-model game like Addams Family or Funhouse- similar setup). So the playfield actually pivots on these pins when raised/lowered, and never is in contact with any supporting rails on the inside of the cabinet. This makes playfield raising/lowering easier, and provides more room for wiring, hardware, etc., on the playfield underside.
Another set of the same brackets mounted further forward in the cabinet help provide a small point of support to the playfield underside when it is in the lowered position (these have rubber stoppers installed that cushion the playfield underside).
One thing we discovered when stripping the cabinet on this game was that the engineers had apparently originally mounted the rear pivot brackets about 1 inch forward in the cabinet. This made the playfield sit too far forward in the cabinet. They drilled some new holes and moved the brackets back about 1 inch to properly mount the playfield. The old holes were left in the cabinet but filled with small carriage bolts and nuts. These were removed and the holes properly filled with wood filler and refinished as part of the cabinet repair during the restoration we performed.
Minor Differences Found Between Prototype and Standard Production Medusa Games:
We noted a few minor differences between this prototype Medusa game, and later standard-production-run Medusa games. Possible there may be more, but these are what we have found thus far:
Center Display Lens Artwork/Lettering: The prototype plastic lens used over the score display in the lower center of the playfield has slightly different wording and uses a different font than lenses used on later "standard production" games. The prototype lens in this game also does not have the Bally part number present in the artwork near the lower right corner (later lenses did). Differences in the wording are as follows:
Game Type:
Position 1:
Position 2:
Position 3:
Standard:
"Extended Play / Time Units"
"Like Numbers / Award Extra Ball"
"Shield of the Gods / Bonus"
Prototype:
"Extended Play / Time Units"
"Extra Ball Match / Match Numbers"
"Shield of the Gods / Credits"
Playfield Game Name & Part Number: One difference we noticed between the original used prototype playfield and the NOS replacement field we installed was that there was no game name or Bally part number printed on the replacement NOS field. The original field we removed from the game had the game's name "MEDUSA" and the Bally part number printed underneath the ball ramp below the score card holder/apron.
Lower Flippers: When we acquired this particular game, it had standard white flippers mounted in the lower position. We aren't sure if these were original to this particular game or not- it is very likely that as a prototype game, the translucent red flippers may not have been ready/available at the time this model was built, and it may have actually gone out with white flippers on it (part readiness issues like this were fairly common on the first units of many games over the years). Or it is just as likely that if it had red flippers, they may have been replaced by a previous owner at some point, if they had worn out or were otherwise damaged (the translucent red flippers were unavailable and very hard to find for many years after this game was produced). In any case, we were able to find a new, unused, original pair of the red translucent flipper bats from an operator in Australia in the late 1990's, and had them shipped to us for use in the restoration of this particular game. Aftermarket reproductions have since been made, but we're a bit proud to know we've got originals on this unique game!
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 between 150 and 200 hours of work in the restoration of this game.
Cabinet and backbox fully restored and repainted including original factory colors and artwork design.
Cabinet and backbox hardware restored/replaced as required, including all bolts, twist nails, stainless steel side rails, and other interior/exterior cabinet hardware.
New white nylon cabinet gliders installed on back of main cabinet.
New retaining rubber ring installed for playfield prop rod, in main cabinet (used to keep rod secured in the down position).
All wiring harnesses removed/cleaned/restored throughout game. These all look and feel like new again!
Power supply in main cabinet fully restored including cleaning of transformer and wiring harnesses, and rebuilding of the fuse/rectifier circuit board with installation of heavy-duty power rectifiers. Worn/scorched fuse clips replaced on circuit board as required. Original protective plexiglass installed over circuit board.
Coin door assembly fully restored including all parts removed, cleaned, refinished, and reassembled. Original coin mechanisms installed and adjusted for proper operation.
New S.B.A. Dollar coin price tag installed. (5 plays / coin)
New Bally logo coin door decal installed.
New coin door lock and keys installed.
Original coin box cleaned/overhauled including lid and correct plastic trays inside box.
Legs refinished and repainted in original style paint color (professional auto-body paint used for durability and great looks).
New leg protector pads installed on all four legs.
Original correct leg bolts restored and installed on all four legs.
New heavy-duty leg levelers installed.
New Alltek Systems MPU board installed.
Solenoid/regulator board upgraded and modified for added performance and reliability.
New filter capacitor installed for 5v regulator circuitry on solenoid board.
New regulator transistor installed for 5v regulator circuitry.
New filter capacitor installed for score display voltage regulator circuitry on solenoid board.
Sound/speech board fully reconditioned including new ROM chips and capacitor kit installed. Sound/speech are now cleaned up and once again sound clear, robust, and just like new!
All score displays fully cleaned and tested for proper operation. No burned or flickering digits or segments.
Solder reflowed on connector pins on all displays and original circuit boards throughout game for added strength and reliable connections. DeoxIt anti-oxidation compound applied to all circuit board connector pins for more reliable connections and lubrication- easier "on/off" of connector housings, which saves stress on circuit boards and components.
New adjustments/settings cards installed inside backbox top- detailed reproductions of original cards.
NOS backglass installed.
New chrome lift channel installed on backglass bottom edge.
New black plastic trim installed on backglass side and top edges.
New backbox mounting bolts and washers installed.
NOS playfield professionally clearcoated and installed.
All playfield parts individually removed, cleaned, restored or replaced with new where necessary or available, and installed on new playfield.
New playfield plastics set installed - a licensed reproduction set from Illinois Pin Ball Co.
New white nylon cap nuts installed to secure playfield plastics.
Light bar along playfield top fully disassembled, cleaned, restored/rebuilt.
All FOUR flippers fully rebuilt including both Zipper Flippers at the top of playfield and entire Zipper Flipper mechanism. Worn mechanical parts replaced on all flipper assemblies, including coil plungers, flipper cranks, coil stops, coils, coil sleeves, flipper shaft bushings, nyliner bushings, springs, hardware, and new electrical parts and wiring, as required. Flippers adjusted for proper operation and optimum performance.
NOS red flippers installed for both lower flippers. Correct red transcucent flippers for Medusa.
New white flipper caps installed for both upper flippers. Correct white caps with black lettering.
Zipper Flipper mechanism modified to reduce lateral "play" in both flippers- this makes them more stable and firm during operation- an improvement to the original factory design.
New lamp sockets installed for lower flippers. We opted to install new modern sockets in place of originals here, which allow the flipper parts more room to move, avoiding interference problems.
All metal parts removed from playfield have been hand cleaned and polished to remove unsightly ball marks and restore original bright shiny finish, including refinishing of stainless steel parts using our own proprietary in-house metal restoration process.
Metal posts polished/shined.
Both slingshot bumper assemblies have had their detector switches removed and hand-cleaned with tarnish remover, and polished to restore finish.
All playfield plastic posts removed and cleaned by hand with detergent and brush to remove any wax, dirt, grime, or leftover cleaner. Damaged posts replaced with new, where necessary.
All new light bulbs installed throughout game.
Ball shooter fully rebuilt including installation of new parts such as vintage-style plunger rod, chrome external spring, and rubber tip.
Both drop target banks fully rebuilt with all mechanical parts disassembled, cleaned, restored, and reassembled. Adjusted and tested for proper operation.
New drop targets installed on both target banks (11 targets total).
New protective drop target Mylars installed on all drop targets, helping to protect the artwork on them from premature wear/tear.
New standup targets installed behind top drop target bank. All correct round translucent targets installed, just like original factory design.
New lamp sockets installed for standup targets at top of playfield.
Spinner target fully restored including repainting and new artwork decal installed (with protective Mylar).
All four pop bumpers fully restored including many new parts such as ring/rod units, bumper skirts, bodies, caps, cap screws, and cap retainer rings. Adjusted for proper operation.
New protective Mylar rings installed on playfield around pop bumpers.
New disc capacitors installed on many playfield switches, increasing performance of the switches and extending reliability.
New coil sleeves installed in all restored solenoid devices on playfield (flippers, bumpers, kickers, etc.)
New rubber ring kit installed replacing all rubber parts in the game with correct new ones.
New chrome steel pin ball installed.
Score/instruction card holder reconditioned including paint touch-up and detailing.
New score/instruction cards installed- new reproductions, hard-laminated for good looks and protection (original-style non-laminated new white cardstock cards also included).
New playfield glass installed. Brand new scratch-free tempered safety glass.
Glass lockdown bar and latch restored.
New foam-rubber seal strip installed on lockdown bar.
All playfield devices tested after final assembly for proper adjustment and operation.
List of New Parts on This Game:
A lot of large and small parts are typically replaced anytime a game is fully restored like this one, and this list may not reflect all of the actual parts used in the process, so should be considered an incomplete or "partial" list. Shipping/freight costs for obtaining many of the parts listed below may also not be included, so would be considered additional costs invested.
NOTE: ("NOS" means "New Old Stock", and indicates a part that is of original manufacture, new (never used), and authentic (not a reproduction, look-alike, or "aftermarket" part). Most "NOS" parts are discontinued and no longer available from the manufacturer, and can consequently be very hard to find, or expensive if they can be found.)
$1,200.00 value: NOS original playfield, clearcoated.
$300.00 value: NOS original backglass.
$115.00 value: New playfield plastic set (licensed reproduction from Illinois Pin Ball Co.)
$200.00 value: New Alltek Systems MPU board with manual/documentation.
'Zipper Flipper' mechanism modified for better lateral stability of each individual flipper.
Later-model lamp sockets installed for lower flipper illumination (adds clearance to nearby flipper parts).
Solder reflowed/added to connector pins on PC boards and score displays for added reliability.
Anti-oxidant compound added to connector pins on circuit boards and displays for improved connections and reliability.
New leg protector pad set installed to protect cabinet from scuffs/scratches from leg mounting.
New score and instruction cards hard-laminated for good looks and protection.
Medusa also used flipper bats on the Zipper Flippers which were white plastic with black lettering. Most games of this era that had one or two extra "short" flippers (such as Flash Gordon, Paragon, Power Play, Kings of Steel, etc.) used blue lettering on the short flipper bats. Years ago, we were able to find some original bats with the black lettering to use in the restoration of this game, so it now has brand new Zipper Flipper bats with the correct color lettering on them.
Detail- lower playfield area, flippers. Note the illuminated red translucent flippers and 'Shield of the Gods' rebound post between the flippers.
New score and instruction cards are present on the score card holder (apron) at bottom of playfield. Apron is original to this game and has accumulated a few tiny nicks/scuffs from use over the years. We have done some touch-up to the paint on this apron to make it look much better, but it is an original used part and is not perfect. We have also been searching for a better-condition original replacement apron, if one can be found, but so far we have not been able to locate one.
Detail- lower playfield area, looking toward right slingshot and 4-bank drop targets.
Note the brand new plastics installed- these are licensed reproductions from Illinois Pin Ball Co., done from the original Bally artwork. Drop targets are brand new reproductions with correct gold hot-stamped artwork. We have added protective Mylar films over the artwork on the drop targets to protect against premature wear.
Note that some of the inserts in the playfield have some "crazing" to them. This is in the original factory polyurethane coating that was applied when the playfield was manufactured, and the crazing is an affect of age. Its' not possible to remove this (the layer of polyurethane) without damaging the artwork underneath, so we simply left this as original and applied protective modern clearcoat over the top.
Detail- shot across lower section of playfield to the left side. Note the restored finish on the brass switches on the slingshot bumpers.
Detail- in-playfield display, lower center area of playfield. This is the prototype version of the lens that mounts over the display, and has a different text font, and slightly different wording than the lens used on regular production games (see notes above). The two left corners on this plastic lens, behind the mounting screws, were cracked when we received this game. In an effort to preserve this unique prototype part, we repaired the lens with epoxy. The repair is barely noticeable except on close inspection.
Pop bumpers are fully restored including brand new skirts, bodies, and new reproduction caps. New disc capacitors were installed on the detector switches for each bumper to make them more responsive and reliable. And new protective clear Mylar rings were installed on the playfield around each bumper to protect the playfield finish. These bumpers also include the elusive nylon "retainer rings" installed under the caps. These small thin rings are used to keep the bumper cap ring in place, and to help prevent it from rotating during play. These rings are hard to find and often missing from most games. A nice completing touch to this restoration!
Note also the restored spinner target above the bumpers, and just below the upper Zipper Flippers. Target has been repainted in matching original color, and a new reproduction decal was installed with protective Mylar film to help prevent wear/tear.
Detail- left pop bumpers and left upper lane area.
Detail- right pop bumpers, right upper lane, and upper plunger lane areas.
Upper playfield area. Note the cool "light bar" along the top of the playfield, which keeps track of the "Olympus Bonus". Targets in top area of playfield advance lights in the red light bar- try to light the entire bar! Strategically-placed standup targets behind the drop targets at the top of playfield add or detract from the Olympus Bonus, so watch your shots!
Detail- shot looking right at top of playfield.
Detail- right side of upper playfield area.
Zipper Flippers in action! Small flippers at top of playfield will close, to prevent the ball from being lost between them. Closed flippers are timed and will re-open after a short while.
Shot looking back toward lower flippers.
Under-playfield shot of lower flippers and rebound post assembly. Note the cleanliness of the new playfield underside and all restored components including wiring harness/cabling. We tried to retain and use original Bally coils wherever possible in this game for a genuine restoration, but had to use new replacement coils for the lower flippers.
Under-playfield shot of mid-playfield area. Note under-playfield score display assembly seen here.
Under-playfield shot of upper playfield section. Note fully restored Zipper Flipper mechanism here. Zipper Flipper unit was modified to make each individual pivoting flipper assembly more stable, laterally. These normally have some "floppiness" to them by design, but we were able to make some mods to tighten up the unit and make it more firm, while still working and playing great.
Zipper Flippers have been rebuilt with new mechanical parts including coil plungers, springs, bushings, coil stops, hardware, and EOS switches.
Cabinet/Backbox:
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Description
Overall view.
Main cabinet- left side. Note the professionally repainted original legs- repainted in original style charcoal metallic acrylic enamel (hardened/catalyzed)- basically an automotive paint, used for great looks and durabilty. Stainless steel side rails on the cabinet sides are original- this game uses a unique rail on the right side with holes for 2 flipper buttons (one used for the Shield of the Gods rebound post between flippers). Rails were reconditioned and restored to like-new condition, and feature brand new chrome twist-nails for mounting to the cabinet. New carriage bolts were also used on the playfield sides, as pictured.
Legs feature brand new leg protector pads, to keep scuffs/scratches off the cabinet, and new heavy-duty leg levelers and original restored leg bolts in excellent condition.
Main cabinet- right side.
Front of game, coin door. Coin door has been fully overhauled and restored including full disassembly of all parts and components, cleaning/restoring, and reassembly. A new Bally logo decal, SBA coin tag, and lock/keys were installed.
Note also the brand new vintage ball shooter rod/knob and chrome external spring. Stainless steel lockdown bar has been restored and includes a brand new foam rubber seal strip on the underside to keep dust/debris out of the game.
Coin door interior. Note original metal coin box, complete with lid and correct plastic trays inside to catch quarters and dollar coins.
New reproduction certificate tag installed behind coin box in main cabinet. The certificate tag gives the game's name, serial number, and other general manufacturing info.
Backbox- left side. Note brand new NOS backglass, chrome lift channel, and black plastic trim on top and sides.
Backbox- right side.
Front view of backglass.
Back of backglass. Glass is an original NOS unit. It is a 28 year-old glass, so is not microscopically perfect- a few tiny nicks are present on the back of the glass, but are not apparent when viewed from the front side. Image #2 at left shows one tiny fleck near the top edge- only the back gray coating is chipped off here. Image #3 at left shows some small superficial scratches near lower center of glass. And Image #4 shows a small fleck and likely some dust specs that got in the ink when the glass was silkscreened at the factory.
Again, these imperfections are tiny and mentioned only for accuracy, and are not apparent when viewing glass from the front side.
Backglass detail. One small spot near the top left corner looks like the ink hasn't adhered to the back of the glass (note lighter colored area in image at left). There are no signs of bubbling or lifting in this area when inspecting the back side of the glass, so it is not a readily apparent problem, but mentioned here for accuracy.
Backbox insert panel. Insert panel is fully restored and in excellent condition. All displays have been overhauled and are in great shape with no flickering or burned digits or segments. All light bulbs are new.
Backbox interior. Note brand new Alltek MPU board with modernized components and high reliability. All original circuit boards have been overhauled and upgraded/modified where necessary. A new capacitor kit has been installed on the sound/speech board for healthy, robust audio. Solenoid/regulator board has been upgraded and features many new heavy-duty components for added performance and reliability.
Note also the brand new reproduction settings/adjustment cards installed along backbox top and left sidewall.
Main cabinet interior. Note fully restored and upgraded transformer/power-supply assembly, complete with original plexiglass protective cover and mounting clips (often missing/damaged on most Bally games).
Note also the restored lockdown bar latch assembly, all internal parts and components, and new game manual with schematics included.
Cabinet interior- front left corner, including tilt mech. panel, coin box, etc.
Cabinet interior- front left side, including ball shooter, replay knocker, etc.
Restoration Pictures:
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Description
Shot of serial number stamped on side of backbox before cabinet restoration. We left serial number stampings in the wood and painted over them so that they are still visible when viewed closely.
Playfield in the shop during the re-wiring process.
Cabinet in the shop just after repainting and just starting the re-assembly process.
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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