Relay Logic PinBall Machine

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Chetlaham

Chetlaham

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For those who don't know me I love relay logic and switching. Elevator controls, rail signaling, subway control systems, traffic lights, process equipment, automatic transfer switches, telephone cross bar, telephone Strowger switches and substation relaying, control, communication and automation. Basically anything that has ever used relay logic, solenoids or electromechanical relays I love. Vacuum tubes are not far behind either. 

 

Today I think I just found my new favorite YouTube video. Probably over 100 relays, close if not over 1000 contacts and not a single semiconductor excluding a single full wave bridge rectifier for the bumper solenoids. Absolute eye candy. Breath-taking work of art internally. Ingenious simplicity for the required logic. This belongs in a museum for all to see.

 

 

 
>> Basically anything that has ever used relay logic, solenoids or electromechanical relays I love.

You would love old pipe organs. Over a thousand years of history, the same basic principles but spanning every major jump in technological advancement along the way. Just such a masterful combination of tens of thousands of electromechanical and pneumatic logic elements - some legitimately digital far before the "computer" we think of, and some remaining in the analog space even to this day.
 
For a number of years I had the hobby job of managing a large (60+ table) pool hall. I became friends with our vending service repair technician, he would come in every other week and clean and service all the video games and pinball machines.

It was always interesting to get a look under the hood of those electro mechanical wonders. There are sure a lot of switches, sense wires and mechanical actuators to keep humming along happily. Modern microprocessor electronics have greatly simplified and enhanced the reliability and functionality of the system. The old mechanical rotary switches for the chasing lights etc were neat, but an expensive and limiting way to accomplish that task (see also mechanical appliance timers...).

One time I handed our tech a can of DeOxit D5 and he curtly replied "I already have contact cleaner". I took his double AA Mini Maglight and treated all the contacts inside with DeOxit and he was impressed with how it changed the performance of his flashlight. I gave him the can and said try it. Next time he came in he immediately asked me where he could buy more. It was a godsend product in the pinball machines.
 
There used to be a fellow that worked with me here at the then VOA transmitter plant that owned and managed a shop that repaired these pinball games and jukeboxes.After watching thes film learned more what Herman used to work with.Makes the relay control ladders in the transmitters to be nothing.3 of the transmitters use the solid state logic to control contactors for filaments,time delay for fil warm up to LV plates,grids,screen then to HV for the PA tubes.Anything out of this the transmitter won't come up.So you have tpo look over the schematics for the dead part and fix or replace it.That person has long retired and moved away.He elso repaired older radios.
 
Glad you enjoyed them- I love everything about the relays and motor driven cams.

 

Kb0nes and Tolivac- sounds like both of you were lucky enough to at least get a glimpse of the arcade world.

 

According to the vid their are machines even more complex than this! I'd love to have moon lighted a tech like that for a few weeks to get a sense of what is really out there. Whole other world I have yet to discover. 
 
Pin ball Wizard

That was a great presentation. During my high school and college years, I worked summers in an amusement arcade. Over time I learned how pinball machines and other amusement games worked and could repair them That lead to an interest in computers resulting my career in the IT field.
Pinball and other mechanical arcade games are truly amazing electro-mechanical devices for their time.

Harry
 

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