Author Topic: Giant Balls! (Read 5126 times)

MinerAl · « **on:** April 10, 2003, 12:58:09 am »

I've got these two Atari Football 4.5" track balls. The balls in them are made of what looks/feels very much like black bowling ball material (Ebonite). They weigh about what a 4.5" bowling ball would weigh too, I'd say at least 3 pounds (I don't have a precise scale handy).

The black balls are cool and all, but they have 20 years of wear on them and are a little dull looking.

So I was crusing eBay the other day and came across an auction for these.

I took a chance that an actual 4.5" bowling ball would be a close replacement for the 4.5" track ball that seemed to be made of bowling ball stuff, and bought 2 from them (via e-mail rather than bidding and waiting).

Two flame-swirled orange and yellow balls arrived today and they are exactly the same size and weight as the black originals. They fit perfectly and look AWESOME. (I'll post pics if anyone wants to see it).

I would go so far as to propose that the reason Atari went with 4.5" track balls on their first roller-controller games is because ebonite 4.5" bowling balls were readily available for old school electronic bowling machines.

Happs still sells 4.5" trackball mechanisms and translucent balls for them. I got both of these shipped to me for less than one translucent ball from Happs would cost me. They don't glow, but they're still pretty durn cool, I think.

I realize this will only be helpful if you have a giant track ball in your CP, but I was proud and wanted to share.

Frostillicus · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2003, 01:00:03 am »

looks cool - post pics!!! we wants ta see the big ball in the CP.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2003, 02:53:31 am »

You can see the originals in the Atari Football machine at klov.com

It says that Atari football was the first game to ever use a trackball...

SirPoonga · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2003, 03:23:37 am »

I want to see the trackball for hyperbowl...

nipsmg · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2003, 09:58:23 am »

OOH! Ever since I installed the Plus! Pack for Windows XP (which has Hyperbowl Plus! on it) I've wanted to make a hyperbowl trackball!

I'm just WAY too lazy to figure out how to make a trackball mechanism that'll handle a bowling ball :-/

Playing that in the arcade is wicked fun however!

The ball has got some serious spin.. it's even kinda hard to stop once you REALLY get it going..

MinerAl · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2003, 10:19:07 am »

Just weighed my balls...

Almost exactly 1 kg (2 lbs, 3.3oz.) each

I'll take the camera home tonight and get some installed shots.

NAH · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2003, 11:38:09 am »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3218030150&category=13718

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3218082568&category=13718

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3218155541&category=13718

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3218087127&category=13718

I haven't looked but I wonder if these big balls are cheaper from a bowling or duckpin distributor. probably

AlanS17 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2003, 12:38:22 pm »

Where do you even get a bowling ball without the holes drilled out?

(unless they're special-ordered)

I'm not a bowling expert so I don't know this stuff.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2003, 12:39:49 pm »

Quote from: SirPoonga on April 10, 2003, 03:23:37 am

I want to see the trackball for hyperbowl...

How new is Hyperbowl? I can't find it on klov.com

GearHead · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2003, 01:01:20 pm »

This company makes 4.5" balls that glow under a blacklight!
http://www.epcomfg.com/paramount.html

Check out the Glo Balls.

rampy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2003, 01:05:14 pm »

Quote from: AlanS17 on April 10, 2003, 12:38:22 pm

Where do you even get a bowling ball without the holes drilled out?

(unless they're special-ordered)

I'm not a bowling expert so I don't know this stuff.

these are smaller duckpin/candlestick pin bowling balls.. i.e. small ball bowling.

There are not holes in the ball because the ball is small enough.. to uh.. cup... comfortably in your hand...

FYI "big ball" 10 pin bowling balls come undrilled when you buy them new. The pro shop drills the holes for you to match your hand spread and type of ball thrown (i.e. fingertip/hook vs traditional)

*shrug* i just went bowling last weekend can ya tell?

rampy

MinerAl · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2003, 02:44:34 pm »

One of my intentions early on in my MAMEing these controls was to re configure one of them to work with my greatest garage saling treasure ever: an undrilled 1965 Brunswick "Black Beauty" 16 pounder.

I no longer intend to ruin either of these mechanisms for that, but I do have my metals-shop taking nephew looking into fabricating one the appropriate size.

If that reaches fruition, I'll fully document and post the URL here.

u_rebelscum · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2003, 08:33:18 pm »

Quote from: AlanS17 on April 10, 2003, 12:38:22 pm

Where do you even get a bowling ball without the holes drilled out?

(unless they're special-ordered)

I'm not a bowling expert so I don't know this stuff.

Pro quality bowling balls are often sold pre-drilled. You buy the ball, then get the holes drilled specifically to your hand size and method of holding the ball. Of course, $$$$. Bowling alleys sometimes buy batches of lower quality pre-drilled balls, too.
Not sure about were we can get them, though. (ie: cheap to the public)

Thenasty · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2003, 09:06:28 pm »

I got BIG BALLS, AC/DC got BIG BALLS

Snarbald · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2003, 09:17:44 pm »

Ever upperclass high society,
God's gift to ballroom notoriety,
I always fill my ballroom (the event is never small),
The social pages say I've got the biggest balls of all!
...

Generic Eric · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:07:06 am »

Quote from: AlanS17 on April 10, 2003, 12:39:49 pm

Quote from: SirPoonga on April 10, 2003, 03:23:37 am
I want to see the trackball for hyperbowl...

How new is Hyperbowl? I can't find it on klov.com

I don't know how new hyperbowl is, but you can find all the details at www.hyperbowl.com

Its run on a Pentium 2/windows based platform. You can download (read: buy) the exact same game from their website.

I got the winning bid on on of those big balls, so when I get it interfaced to an optic board, I'll try hyperbowl out.

I just wish I would have known about the glo balls listed above before I bid in the auction, I probably would have gotten one of those instead.

Special thanks to MinerAl, this is what I was looking for in this thread http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=6183;start=0

Thenasty · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2003, 08:38:54 am »

Some people come here to sit and think,
Some come here to ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- and stink,
but I come here to scratch my balls, and read ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- on this walls.

Lilwolf · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2003, 09:07:39 am »

How hard was it to hack the original Atari Football trackballs?

I almost got one AGES ago (when I was looking) but I was afraid the balls where too old and I couldn't get replacements.

If I had known, I would have bought one in a SEC!

SWEET! (and pictures... please!)

MinerAl · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:42:41 pm »

Lilwolf:

Not hard at all once Oscar helped me with the optic boards that were on it.

Here's the thread where I got schooled on interfacing giant balls with my Opti-pac.

Once again Oscar rocks.

MinerAl · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:47:37 pm »

GE:

The balls you won are paramounts by EPCO just like on the above link. They seem really proud of brand new 4.5" balls there too ($35+ each), so you probably got a good deal!

P.S. I got distracted yesterday, I'll (try to) post pictures tonight.

AX · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2003, 02:53:21 pm »

EPCO seems to have some realy ridiculous prices on stuff. also they told us here there is a minimum order of quantity 5 on everything. this true?

GearHead · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2003, 04:00:28 pm »

Epco's distributor, Paramount (actually owned by the same family), will sell you any quantity you'd like. They have a show room so if you're near Medway, MA you can check out lots of balls.

Here's what they quoted me on the 4.5" balls (prices do not include shipping.)

Solids: 31.23, Glo Balls/Marbleized: 34.76
Novelty Balls like the 8 ball or Eye Ball go for about 38 to 62 dollars each. This link has some pics - Http://www.5pinstuff.com/ProShop/cat2_1.htm They're made with different compounds and are available in different weights so the "feel" of the ball may not be 100% like the old Atari balls.

Pricing is pretty much what's on Epco's website but they're still cheaper than Happ's ($47).

This guy on sell.com is selling them for $29 but with a "negotiable" price. http://www.sell.com/2CXK9

Looks like most retailers are in Canada.

GearHead

Paramount Industries, Inc.
42 Milford Street
Medway, MA 02053
Tel: 1-800-343-6455 or 1-508-533-8480
(Fax: 1-508-533-5338)
Contact: Customer Service, Extension 9
E-Mail: pii@tiac.net

MinerAl · « **Reply #22 on:** April 12, 2003, 03:09:59 am »

As promised:

Before

and after.

I think it improves the look. The colors are quite complimentary to the rest of the artwork.

As for the rest of the CP, yeah, I know the buttons are really close to each other. Until I make metal CPs for these, I'll have to keep the buttons inside the rectangle that the old Atari Football play select screen previously occupied. It kind of restricts the ability to spread out. They are usable, just a little scrunched right now. When I get around to the metal CP, there'll be a sixth button as well as a black mouse button closer to the trackball.

Generic Eric · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2003, 04:02:21 am »

So MinerAl, how does the new ball feel compared to the old one?

Is the material its made out of different?

MinerAl · « **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2003, 11:33:53 am »

I'm very pleased with the feel of this set up. The weight of the new balls is so close to the originals that I can't tell the difference, so that hasn't changed.

The 25 year old trackballs have been through a lot. I've found a lot of (what I have euphemistically named) "bar wax" inside this machine, and the trackballs were pretty gunked up. The functioning trackball is very smooth now that I've thoroughly washed and re-greased it. The bearings didn't need replacing, just greasing, and the shafts of the rollers are steel and straight, so there isn't much reason to replace them.

The original balls had been waxed a number of times, I guess in an attempt to shine them, but the actual effect was to gunk up the mechanism and make the balls roll jerkily. I put the old balls in my dish washer, and they came out nice and smooth, and it improved their feel immensely. (Please never quote this paragraph out of context.)

These new balls are (as advertised) so shiny! But they are also well made as candle pin bowling balls; they aren't so slick that you will lose grip on them. The plastic they are made of is, as I've mentioned, very much like a regular bowling ball. These have the same "touch" as a bowling ball. It's not unlike glass. The combination of the smooth rolling and the "touch" of the new balls has marginally improved the feel to me.

The new balls are so similar to the originals, except in appearance, that I would call this a mostly cosmetic modification. I'm at the point in this project where it makes me feel good to spend $50 on making the trackballs prettier. That may be an indication that it's time to move on to another cab (or a less expensive hobby

).

If you had pits or scrapes or other deep defects in the original balls, this would be a more-than-cosmetic swap. The new balls work as well as, or better than, the originals.

Chris · « **Reply #25 on:** April 20, 2003, 02:38:06 pm »

Are you willing to part with one of your old balls?

paigeoliver · « **Reply #26 on:** August 08, 2004, 09:21:20 pm »

Yikes, forget my idea to sell my cocktail like that, I am maming it.

GameDork · « **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2004, 09:39:43 pm »

Quote from: paigeoliver on August 08, 2004, 09:21:20 pm

Yikes, forget my idea to sell my cocktail like that, I am maming it.

You really dug this thread up, huh?

Knoxximus · « **Reply #28 on:** August 08, 2004, 09:59:50 pm »

Paige, you without a pic of Phil Collins is like Corn Flakes without the milk. It seems you have been officially typecast.

And Gamedork, if you were to swing from Paige's "Balls" any harder, he might end up with a nasty case of testicular torsion.

SirPeale · « **Reply #29 on:** August 09, 2004, 09:07:45 am »

Heck with Phil, I want to see TBBK again.

Oh yeah Paige,why DID you resurrect this dead thead again?

Dexter · « **Reply #30 on:** August 09, 2004, 09:21:35 am »

Anybody know where I can find plans for an atari football style cab like pictured in this thread. I'm looking into building a cocktail style cab and would be able to stick more controls on it with this design.

Dexter

MinerAl · « **Reply #31 on:** August 09, 2004, 09:51:24 am »

Dexter, I can measure it up for you, but I'm no good at actual plans.

Look at my profile, the url there is to many pictures of that cab.

Dexter · « **Reply #32 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:16:09 am »

That would be brilliant, thank you!

Dexter

IG-88 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:50:50 am »

Quote from: MinerAl on August 09, 2004, 09:51:24 am

Dexter, I can measure it up for you, but I'm no good at actual plans.

Look at my profile, the url there is to many pictures of that cab.

MinerAl,

Send your measurements off too Jakobud. He does and excellent job with plans.


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