Back Lightning

Edit History

  1. By IPDB
    credit
    Harry Williams — Design
    credit
    Lyn Durant — Design
    ipdb.corporate_entity_name
    Exhibit Supply Company
    ipdb_id
    3211
    ipdb.image_urls
    ["https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/Overall_view.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-1.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-4.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-3.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-5.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-2.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-10.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-11.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-6.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-9.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-7.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-8.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-12.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/3211/image-13.png"]
    ipdb.manufacturer_trade_name
    ESCO
    ipdb.notable_features
    5-ball novelty play. The seven rollover buttons advance the score. Seven electromagnets beneath the playfield give action to the ball as it travels down the playfield. The electromagnets stay on continuously and never pulse off. The bottom 1000-point rollover also rings a bell. The playfield lists these patents: Patent 2,012,518 [GAME APPARATUS] filed Dec 5, 1934. Granted Aug 27, 1935 to J.W. Orcutt et al. Patent 2,101,201 [GAME APPARATUS] filed May 14, 1934. Granted December 7, 1937 to C.R. Simpkins.
    ipdb.notes
    We wanted to know if the buttons briefly pulsed the magnets off, to fling a ball away, or else how does a ball keep from getting stuck on a magnet? The owner replies: "Upon closer inspection of play with glass off, the magnets are always on. They are relatively weak and combined with playfield slope there is just not strong enough of a magnetic field to hold the ball there. These magnets aren't the powerful "Black Knight" type if that's what you were thinking. "The playfield slope and rubber posts near close proximity of the magnets give the ball back and forth action. In a recent game, I got the ball going over the same spot oscillating back and forth over one of the buttons and obtained a very high score because of precise nudging, good rubber, the magnets, and proper playfield slope to keep the oscillation going."
    month
    8
    player_count
    1
    reward_type
    Novelty
    technology_generation
    electromechanical
    year
    1938