Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: Havok on December 14, 2005, 12:02:58 pm
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Anyone out there know what those bowling machines are called that you found in bars all the time?
The ones that have the heavy metal puck, and you slide it down the "alley" where it runs over little metal sensors, and the pins flip up when the sensor is tripped?
I think I want to add that to my gameroom, but for the life of me can't find them...
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Shuffle alleys.
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That's called a "Shuffle Alley" and the most of them were made by Williams and Chicago Coin. Check out www.pinrepair.com/shuffle/
The gigantic ones that used a small 'bowling' ball were called simply "ball bowlers" and it used a ball similar to skee ball.
Shuffle alleys were manufactured up into the mid 1980's and at that time Williams was the sole manufacturer. Parts are still being made for these and are plentiful.
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I used to have one of the very first from about 1954... it should be noted these things take up a LOT of room.
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I've seen newer ones with a much shorter depth to them (circa 1997/98)
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Those ones are barely worth playing, though, since the distance is the only thing making it difficult.
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Sweet! Just what I was looking for. I think the newer ones with a 9ft length would be a good compromise with playability and still being able to fit in my house.
Thanks guys!