The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Arcade Collecting => Pinball => Topic started by: Ken Layton on February 17, 2012, 12:57:58 pm
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Other manufacturers made home pinball machines over the years. It was not just Bally making them. Brunswick (the bowling/billiards people) also was very prolific in 1977 to 1980 making home model pinballs (sometimes under their Briarwood name).
Brunswick's Circus, Cosmic Pinball, Demolition Classic, Rodeo, Skate King, and Super Star were all the same machine but with different artwork. This schematic should apply:
http://mirror2.ipdb.org/files/5466/Skate_King_Schematic1.pdf (http://mirror2.ipdb.org/files/5466/Skate_King_Schematic1.pdf)
They used 24 volt DC coils and most assemblies were classic Stern ones like the flipper units. Brunswick also made the Alive and Aspen machines which were improvements over their earlier machines.
Wico Corporation (the big amusement/vending industry parts supplier now sadly out of business) made a home model called "Big Top" which also used 24 volt DC coils and Stern flipper assemblies.
The Fischer "Skyhawk" and Mattel Electronics "Las Vegas" home pinballs are ones I have heard of, but never got to see any internal pictures of.
The Wonder Wizard/Sentinel/Philips Electronics home models were CB Charlie, Demolition Derby, Flying Aces, and Star Explorer. From what I've heard, all of these machines were manufactured in a Magnavox television plant in Tennessee in 1977.
The Henry W.T. Mali & Company made "Diamond Jim", "Wheeler Dealer", "Big Rig", "Snow Bird", and "Space Galaxy" all in 1977. They all appear to have the same playfield as the early Brunswick/Briarwood machines.
The newest home pinball machine is the Chicago Gaming "Vacation America" made in 2004 and is actually a decent machine from what I hear.
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Costco Batman "home" version.
Maybe debatable as home-only since it has a coin mech, but Stern boobytrapped it for op use. It comes defaulted to free play and even if that is turned off, you get 5 credits per coin.
http://www.pinballnews.com/news/batmanlite.html (http://www.pinballnews.com/news/batmanlite.html)
(edited post to better reflect how Ken is documenting)
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Here's a video of underneath the playfield of a Brunswick/Briarwood "Rodeo" home pinball machine:
Croooow's Pinball Update #4 (Under the Rodeo) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteJM5gs0Bk#ws)
This video shows the machine in general and the game play.
Croooow's Pinball Update #3 (Briarwood Rodeo) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2crQFqM3VGI#ws)
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I made an improved version of the Skate King schematic.
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I've now done a switch matrix chart for Brunswick "Alive".
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I've found out some interesting patents regarding these home model pinball machines.
The Brunswick/Briarwood machines, Wonder Wizard, Sentinel, and Phillips Electronics machines are using this patent (applies in particular to Brunswick Super Star machine):
Patent # 4,109,916
Title: "Pinball Game with Simultaneous Projectors" (one coil operating two or more devices)
Filed: May 17, 1976 ; Granted: August 29, 1978
Inventors: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Highland Park, ILL. and Eugene Jaworski, Park Ridge, ILL.
Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, ILL.
Licensed to Brunswick Bowling and Billiards
Application # 687,402
Status is expired.
The Mattel "Las Vegas" pinball uses this patent:
Patent # 4,162,793
Title: "Game Scoring System"
Filed: March 27, 1978 ; Granted: July 31, 1979
Inventor: Gary J. Cummings, Torrance, Calif.
Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.
Application # 890,143
Status is expired.
Patent # 4,203,602
Ball used as the switch.
The Wico "Big Top" pinball uses this patent:
Patent # 4,438,930
Title: "Rollover Switch Apparatus"
Filed: August 28, 1981 ; Granted: March 27, 1984
Inventor: Albin Peters, Chicago, ILL.
Assignee: Wico Corp., Niles, ILL.
Application # 297,117
Status is expired.
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Manuals, schematics, and some parts are available for the Fischer Skyhawk home pinball machine from John Robertson of John's Jukes in Canada (www.flippers.com (http://www.flippers.com) ). Marco Specialties sells just the owner's/assembly manual for it.
There is a little information and a manual posted on the Mattel "Las Vegas" home pinball at this site:
http://mattelhomepin.blogspot.com/ (http://mattelhomepin.blogspot.com/)
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Marco Specialties now stocks some of the Brunswick and Briarwood coils and manuals.
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I've found a youtube video of the underside of the playfield of a Wonder Wizard CB Charlie machine:
IMG 08761 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjHxLJ9wcE#)
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A picture (not mine) I found of the 702603 solenoid driver board for the Wonder Wizard/Sentinel machines. The larger transistors are the solenoid drivers which are type 2N6099 (might be house marked "RCA 393" ). The smaller transistors are 2N4401 (might be house marked "1482" ). Notice at the far left of the board there are empty places for an additional driver transistor and an additional pre-driver transistor. It would appear that the designers had thought about having a sixth coil on the playfield.
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I have now scanned the Brunswick/Briarwood "Aspen" pinball manual. Here is the schematic and a switch matrix chart.
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I have now scanned and cleaned up the playfield schematics of the Fischer "Skyhawk" home pinball machine.
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My son, 10 yrs old, was given 3 home model pinball machines by a friend of ours. None are in working condition. My son wants to use the parts to make his own machine.
1. Star Explorer (http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2345) - This one is the better shape of the 3. My son wants to use the cabinet for this one as the basis of his custom one.
2. Flying Aces (http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=4969) - playfield is the same layout as Star Explorer above just a different theme.
3. Not sure what the table name was - the playfield was the only thing we got from this machine. My son has already removed all the parts and tossed out the playfield.
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The Fischer "Skyhawk" home pinball service manual is now scanned and posted here:
http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/S/SkyhawkServiceParts.pdf (http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/S/SkyhawkServiceParts.pdf)
There are two versions of the Brunswick "Aspen" home pinball. Both manuals are now posted here:
Model 55-860200-2 (with chimebox for sounds):
http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/A/AspenUS_Version.pdf (http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/A/AspenUS_Version.pdf)
Model 55-860228-2 (with speaker for sounds):
http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/B/BrunswickASPENHomePinball.pdf (http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/B/BrunswickASPENHomePinball.pdf)
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Pinwiki has now setup a home model pinball section and I have started putting in information.
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thk-u ken
ed
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Ken, don't take this the wrong way because I'm ecstatic, but why have you taken such an interest in the home model pinballs? Rather, why has it taken this long for ANYONE to get interested in them?
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Because these machine have been neglected, written off, so to speak. Cast off like bastard children. There has been tons of stuff written to repair all the commercial machines and they are pretty much covered for repair information. However, there is a complete *void* of information regarding the home model machines. If you Google the home models you'll find that there is very very little information out there.
I think because of this lack of information, it causes these machines to be ignored and their value goes down to zero. I feel that getting some repair information out there these machines can be brought back to life and improved and get played again. Also, since there were many shortcuts taken during the manufacture of these machines to keep price down, I feel they are ripe for experimentation and mods!
Those early Brunswick machines like Rodeo, Skate King, Demolition Classic, and Super Star would make great machines for someone who wanted to design their own custom machine or wanted a machine to "soup up". The developer of the Pinball Mind replacement board has mentioned that he can make an adapter to connect it to the Brunswick Alive and Aspen machines and probably the Mattel Las Vegas machine too. With all the advanced features, sounds, and diagnostics of the Pinball Mind board, that would really jazz up those machines.
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Makes sense Ken, again, I wasn't prosecuting you, more just curious what makes you tick, I guess.
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Machines like the Fischer "Skyhawk" and the Sentinel/Wonder Wizard series could easily be modified with Gottlieb System 80 pop bumper driver boards like Steve Kulpa did with his Gottlieb Joker Poker.
I would like to develop these mods for the home model machines regardless of manufacturer:
Lighted start button.
Replace the existing ball shooter assembly with a Williams shooter assembly.
Install an access door (smaller than a coin door) so you can open up the door and toss in/grab a manual, etc.
Install normal plumb bob tilt assemblies in machines that had that stupid "ball-and-chain" tilt.
Install normal flipper coils in machines that did not have them (Skyhawk for example).
In machines that had those silly metal rings/springs to complete a circuit through the metal ball, replace those with conventional slingshot switches, pop bumper skirts & spoon switches.
Add light sockets and beef up the general illumination circuit. Many of these machines only have FOUR bulbs to light up the whole playfield!
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Ken, can you drop me an email at pinwiki (Att) pinwiki.com?
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ken i get your point
do a fav here
slap down some play feild shot >under of course<
and i woul be more then happy to go with u on this path
fully get your idea,and your quest,have book marked the wiki page
but post here when u update
as i said under the playfeild,i can and will tweak in the flipper's,coil's etc
ed
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The problem is that I don't have/own any of these machines. Without actually having a particular machine in front of me, it makes it a little hard to put together a comprehensive repair guide and cross reference the actual part numbers of the parts in the machine. I've only got a friend with a non-working Bally Captain Fantastic home model waiting for a Pinball Mind replacement cpu board that I can refer to.
If I had these machines in front of me then I could photograph it, add to the wiring information, draw schematics if needed, and figure out the mods/improvements.
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Hi Ken
a bud of mine has a elvis pinball made by brunswick
i am sure it's 24 volt colis
the mpu is rockwell >gottileb< system1 style >spider chip<.
A dealer i am repairing a nsm juke for also has a home pinball style game
if it is any use to u i could offer to them the chance to up-grade.??
so we could get requested pix's,on a side note here
i do believe i still have my adrmial home pinball machine manual's
which were of course were chopped down rockwell system1,if i do i may beable to upload them in pdf,i will chk tonight
ed
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well well pinballjim
u are in luck
guess what i am looking at ?
the complete service set manual's for bally home pinball game's
ie fireball
and guess what i was right there 24 volt coil's
the mpu is 3850 that chip was made by pelsey
u guy's want scan's ? it is in total 3 manual's
1 is game play setup etc
1 is part's
1 is service
if u want ring the bell
ed
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I've played a few of them. The only one I reasonably enjoyed was the Fireball home model. That's a borderline real game and it's already using real parts.
That is encouraging.... I have one of the Fireball home models, but the boards are toasted. Considered on a few occasions to build custom boards, but afraid of quality of gameplay.
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It would be interesting to see those other manuals.
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ok i will get them scaned
they are interesting
funy how bally went that way.? but is but
and i am glad as it think it will help alot
in these manual's are full scope print's >pic's< of the wave fourm to expect and what pin #.,
they use term's i forgot year's ago
ie cpu,>psu<,where psu dose not stand for power it stand's for program storage unit ,the chip is a 3851
these are 2 sided manual's so bare with me i will post them
the manual's even tell u the ref.ie source: preliminary f8 microprocessor data hand book,fairchip semiconductor,june 1975,rev a
if u want a head start i can post
the page that list's the coil#'s used ?
ed
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Those manuals will be helpful. I'm still trying to find someone with the Mattel Las Vegas SERVICE manual so i can start writing repair info on that machine.
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Pinwiki has now setup a home model pinball section and I have started putting in information.
I put in a bunch more information today, especially on the Vacation America by Chicago Gaming.
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Hi Ken
i put them in for scanning to pdf
will chk on them in the am
think i may have come across a few other odd ball's also
ed
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Might be picking up a Star Explorer tomorrow. Thanks for doing this Ken!
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I just got an email from Mattel. They state they no longer have any information, manuals, or parts for the Las Vegas pinball machine.
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Might be picking up a Star Explorer tomorrow. Thanks for doing this Ken!
I have been unable to locate any service/parts manuals for the Sentinel/Wonder Wizard machines. So that means there are no schematics. If I had one of those machines in front of me, I could draw some schematics for them.
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Might be picking up a Star Explorer tomorrow. Thanks for doing this Ken!
Please get some pictures of the underside of the playfield and the various assemblies that I can use on pinwiki.
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Might be picking up a Star Explorer tomorrow. Thanks for doing this Ken!
Please get some pictures of the underside of the playfield and the various assemblies that I can use on pinwiki.
If the deal goes through, I'll help out as much as I can. The seller's schedule and mine aren't working out for a pickup this week as of yet, I'll let you know when/if I get it.
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Where the hell are you finding all this cool crap, Neph?
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CL. But it's usually at least 200 mile round trip for me...
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Picked up the Star Explorer today. I'll be setting it up and fixing it this weekend.
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Picked up the Star Explorer today. I'll be setting it up and fixing it this weekend.
Look inside for manuals and schematics.
The available repair information I wrote on the Sentinel/Wonder Wizard Star Explorer is posted at pinwiki:
http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sentinel_/_Wonder_Wizard (http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sentinel_/_Wonder_Wizard)
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It's not very likely that the manuals are inside, but you never know. The seller said the flippers quit working after he took part of it apart and put it back together. Most likely a loose/improper connection somewhere. The plexi is cracked from someone sitting on it, the plunger is missing the proper nubbin', and the playfield art needs touched up in various places. Not terrible for $30 (if it's a simple fix).
I saw your posts on KLOV about this machine and saw that others offered to help with photos as well. If you still need specific pics, shoot me a PM with what you're wanting and I'll take 'em while I'm dinking around with this thing this weekend.
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No manuals. :-\
Seems to be a problem associated with the slingshot circuit. None of the solenoids will fire. When the breaker is pressed on the back, the slingshots fire momentarily. If a switch is made for another solenoid while the circuit breaker is pressed that solenoid then fires. Leads me to believe there is a short in the slingshot circuit, but nothing jumped out at me. I don't think it's with the slingshot switches, because the points count correctly when those switches are made and unmade. Q309 looks bent excessively on the driver board. Too bad schematics haven't been located...
Also, looks like you've found more pics! :applaud:
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You probably have a bad solenoid driver transistor.
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Q301, Q303, and Q304 all tested bad. I'll be replacing Q302 while I'm at it...
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Your pictures have helped and I've added some of them to the pinwiki. Thanks. :)
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Swapped out those transistors and she's fully working now. :)
Now she just needs cleaned. :P
Thanks again Ken!
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Glad my information was able to help get it running again!
:)
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Star Explorer for sale in 5...4...3....
It'll be a while. The kids think it's great. ...and I don't have room for the real deal yet. :P
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I have obtained an original Sentinel/Wonder Wizard home pinball owner's manual. I have scanned it and digitally cleaned up the pages. It is now posted on pinwiki under the Sentinel/Wonder Wizard home model pinball section.
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Ken, do you perhaps have any recordings of the Bally Fireball home pin, specifically the sounds in it? I know that they weren't much by any means, but I'm trying to see what came with it. I'm finally getting around to a project that will revive mine.
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Nope. sorry I don't have any recordings.
However, it might be an idea to check youtube to if there is anything there.
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The only thing on YouTube of any of the Bally home model pinball machines I could find was of the Pinball Mind. Not the end of the world, It was more a curiosity thing than anything.
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I have now located original manuals for the Mattel "Las Vegas" home model pinball machine. I've got the Service/Parts manual as well as the Owner's manual on their way to me now. They should arrive this weekend and I can start scanning them and filling in more repair information on the pinwiki for Mattel.
EDIT:
The Las Vegas "Owner's Manual" has now been scanned and cleaned up to pristine condition. Posted as a pdf file on pinwiki now.
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This thread is awesome. :cheers:
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From what I understand and much of what I have seen in similarities between them, the Mattel Las Vegas and the Sentinel/Wonder Wizard pinball machines were all manufactured at the same Magnavox television set plant in Tennessee in 1977 and 1978.
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The service manual and schematics of the Mattel "Las Vegas" home pinball machine are now posted on pinwiki.com
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Saw this on Pittsburgh C-list...
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tag/3425397531.html (http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tag/3425397531.html)
Looks like a home model... one I've never seen... Ad says 1970...IPDB says 1977... This is rare isn't it?
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Made in 1977. Here is the repair info for the Fischer Skyhawk home pinball:
http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fischer (http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fischer)
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The guy wants $250 or a fully working one (minus a flipper button).
How may of these were made and how many of them left still work?
Seems like an opportunity for someone into the classic home models... how often do these come up along for sale in working condition?
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I don't think there were very many Skyhawk games made. They don't turn up for sale much and when they do, they are usually broken.
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Hi! I just posted a question on the Mattel Las vegas Pinball machine. If someone can help I would appreciate it. :) Is this a good machine for a 14 year old?
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Hi
I need a repair/replacement for my super star model 55-860195-2. The score board (led squares) CB broke.....any ideas?
This is a one of a kind custom version of the super star.
thanks
Erik
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Glue batons onto the sides of that board so that it has some structural integrity again. Jump the broken traces with some wire. Resume playing pinball.
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I have now posted more information and a schematic on the Sentinel/Wonder Wizard section of pinwiki.
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I have now obtained an original owner's manual for the early Briarwood/Brunswick machines like Rodeo, Super Star, and Demolition Classic. I've scanned it and digitally cleaned it up. Now posted on pinwiki.com and here:
http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/B/Briarwood%20Pinball%20Owners%20Manual.pdf (http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/B/Briarwood%20Pinball%20Owners%20Manual.pdf)
It includes machine and playfield schematics, but no board schematic.
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Anyone watch Justified? And noticed the Star Explorer in Boyd Crowder's office?
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Ken,
Do you know where I might be able to get some parts for a Brunswick Circus Pinball Machine 1980 Model.
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Ken,
Do you know where I might be able to get some parts for a Brunswick Circus Pinball Machine 1980 Model.
Yes I do. Steve Young's Pinball Resource bought up the remaining stock of Brunswick pinball parts. Here is a link to some of them:
http://www.pbresource.com/special.html (http://www.pbresource.com/special.html)
If you don't see what you need, just ask them as they have tons more parts than what is on the website.
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Pinball Life is now stocking Brunswick / Briarwood / Mali home model pinball machine parts:
https://www.pinballlife.com/brunswick-store.html