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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: chiLLbiLLy on February 15, 2009, 04:57:12 pm

Title: Early Atari Coin Doors
Post by: chiLLbiLLy on February 15, 2009, 04:57:12 pm

Does anyone know anything about these early Atari coin doors, like the one pictured on Lunar Lander below?  These are the kind where you had to actually place the quarter sideways in the silver coin slot and then let it drop down to activate a credit.  I was thinking about picking one of these up and restoring, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them and knew about their reliabilty, etc., etc.

Unfortunately, I would need to pick up at least one new coin mech, maybe two, and I'm guessing that, due to their extreme age and uniqueness, mechs may be impossible to find, unless for some reason, they were more universal and something from Happ would work.  I really doubt that, though.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any info!

Title: Re: Early Atari Coin Doors
Post by: CheffoJeffo on February 15, 2009, 05:13:40 pm

I have a couple of Owl Eye (http://www.google.ca/search?q=atari+owl+eye) doors (Asteroids and Football) -- I've never had a problem with either (wish the same could be said for the game boards!) and standard mechs fit mine fine. ThisOldGame (http://www.thisoldgame.com) has repro inserts, but the site is still being rebuilt.

Now, if you are looking to put this in a non-Atari cab, then I would discourage you, simply because they belong in classic Atari cabs.

 :afro:

Title: Re: Early Atari Coin Doors
Post by: Ken Layton on February 15, 2009, 11:52:02 pm

Yes indeed standard coin mechs fit this door.

Title: Re: Early Atari Coin Doors
Post by: chiLLbiLLy on February 17, 2009, 04:00:43 am

Excellent!   I had guessed that they probably just used something that was discontinued ages ago, so I'm glad to hear that they just use standard mechs.  Btw, I haven't bought a coin mech in a really long time, would the one below be considered a standard (& compatible) mech?

http://www.happcontrols.com/coindoors/42305000.htm

Also, I didn't know they were referred to as "owl eye" doors, so that's good to know, as well.  I haven't actually seen one of them in person, well, since like the late 70's when I was just a kid, so I'm only going by photos and ancient memories.  There doesn't seem to be just a whole lot of info out there about these "owl eye" coin doors, but I'm assuming they are just standard size.

Anyway, again, thanks for the info, guys!