Nintendo Cabinet Trivia

[Kevin Mullins]

What would an original Nintendo cab serial number with the designation - PAK - be?  ( 16989 PAK )

And no.... I won't say what color it is..... yet.
(but it is factory)

And yes... I'm really asking cuz I have no clue.
Any one wanna take an edumacated guess.

[Ken Layton]

PAK sounds like a VS Unisystem conversion to a Donkey Kong or Popeye cabinet.

[Kevin Mullins]

Did they have new cabinet metal ID tags to install for these conversion kits?

I ask because it is set-up with a vs. control panel now.
So it was defineately converted TO a vs. like you described.

I thought it might have been a Popeye because I found a dipswitch page for one inside this cab. Along with some vs. info. (Hogans Alley)
But the color of the cab is throwing me off. (which is why I haven't mentioned it yet)
That and according to http://www.mikesarcade.com/arcade/NintendoList.html it would have had a TPP2 serial.

[SirPeale]

Did they have new cabinet metal ID tags to install for these conversion kits?

Yep!  In fact, while cleaning out the shop, we found a Nintendo manual with an unapplied metal tag in the bag.

[Kevin Mullins]

You don't happen to recall any info off it do ya?

This one also had me curious on the model # which is also why I ask because it had in fact been converted to a vs.

Model : MGS-UP-US

MGS=multiple game system?
UP=Upright?
US=duh...US

Serial : 16989 PAK

[WTB]

Super Mario Brothers. The cab could be red or blue I suppose. I really want a red one at some point just because I would really like an authentic Donkey Kong. Here are pics of mine:
 

.

My gallery is here.

    -Matt

[Kevin Mullins]

So what color is that cab?

What is the part number on the top of the power transformer in the bottom of the cab? (I know....pull it out again.....damn)



Just a tid bit about your labels from what I've learned so far.

That TKG4-UP is for a Donkey Kong!!
If my homework is correct so far, the light blue cab is actually the "factory" DK cab.
http://www.arcadedocs.com/vidmanuals/D/dkong1.pdf

The MGS-UP-US is the label for the vs. Unisystem conversion.
Hence the Hogans Alley sticker.
Mine has the same metal labeland I found some Hogans Alley paperwork inside.

The red Donkey Kong cabs are more rare because they are actuall a conversion kit for another game cab...... the red Radar Scope cabinet..... which is older and harder to find. Radar Scope was Nintendo's first arcade cab.

Super Mario Bros. is generaly a conversion game also. (hmmm....your TKG4-UP)
Playchoice:
The dual monitor cabinet is a dedicated machine and the single monitor style was a kit (converting Popeye, Donkey Kong, etc) The main PCBs are different between the single and dual versions.

Those MGS labels are what kept throwing me off, and couldn't find much reference to them. But now I think it's coming together.
And I know now that the Playchoice countertop had a PCK tag number, so I would assume that an upright Playchoice had one similar. 

Ok..... I'll quit babbling now..... ut it helps.

[WTB]

Sorry, I can't get to the transformer right now. The cab is blue. I agree that mine probably started life as a Donkey Kong. I can't remember now how I came up with Mario Brothers being the Unisystem conversion. I'll have to dig through my paperwork to figure it out again. I actually have a lot of the original paperwork. And yes, I mispoke about the red Donkey Kongs. I just really like the way they look and the arcade I grew up in had one. More pics of the cab are on my website. (Link below the above pictures)

    -Matt

[Kevin Mullins]

No doubt... I too would rather have the red DK.
Just prefer the look of it as well.

I'm just trying to dig up some of these littler known conversion details that seem to be misunderstood alot.
So your cab example is a good one to show that as well.

According to most of the "kit" manuals, the techs should have left the original plates in place like yours. But that didn't seem to happen all that often.
They just took the originals off and replaced them.  (like mine)

So is your Super Mario Bros. the Playchoice boardset?

And if ya happen to get a chance on looking at that transformer...just pop it up here. I was investigating other identifiable parts and that may be one of them.
Mine was labeled clearly on the top.
No biggy though.....

[Kevin Mullins]

Just an update:

You'll never guess what I found amongst my small pile of  Nintendo
manuals......

An original Radar Scope manual.
I vaguely remember it coming with a stack of stuff that was in my red
Nintendo cab.
But had put it to the bottom of my "don't need" pile because I had no idea
what that game was.
This manual is for the dedicated Radar Scope machne.
I felt kinda dumb when I saw it, knowing what I know now anyways.
But it also puts some theory together.

So this is what I have come up with so far in the life of this cab:
1. Radar Scope - TRS
2. Popeye - TPP
3. vs. Unisystem - MGS         (Hogans Alley to be exact)
4. Jamma -

I know we've been talking a bunch about the red DK's. But from the document I found in mine, a dip setting sheet, I'm certain mine got the Popeye conversion. I have yet to find anything leading me to it having ever been a DK.

[rzgrip]

Howdy! I just received a package in the mail today that I recently bought. In it contains an original box from Nintendo! I believe it to be part of a conversion kit. In large letters is Nintendo VS-Unisystem, with MGSK DK stamped on it. It was shipped from Monroe Distributing Company in Cleveland, Ohio to Something Else Amusements in Tallahasee,Florida. This might explain the plastic tags on some PCB's with Monroe on them. There is also two check boxes to partially explain which kit is in the box. One is for Popeye ( must have additional transformer box) and the other is for DK,DK JR,DK3,Mario Bros. Inside I found a PCB marked DJR1-02 1982 Nintendo of America. A metal serial number plate, Model# MGS-UP-US #18745PAK. A FBI copyright sticker. A FCC sticker. A game PCB removal sticker. A monitor mounting holes template. A monitor black paper surround. And a brand (new  but dirty)  DK Junior Bezel. The PCB looks brand new. I do not think that it has ever been hooked up! I hope this information helps someone understand the "kit".

[Kevin Mullins]

Most defineately helps!!
In one paragraph you have verified several things I have had to figure out the hard way.
I may get back with you on a few more details if you don't mind.
As far as the metal cabinet tags it seems that both MGS and MDS designate a Unisystem "kit". MDS was for the "Dual System" cabinets, and was a different pcb all together. Whereas MGS was the more common conversion made like the kit you have for the "classic" Nintendo cabs.
I have yet to even investigate any plastic tags on the pcb's themselves.
(because I've never had an original pcb myself)
I am interested in knowing more about the difference in the Popeye conversion and what it required. (to better determine if mine was a Popeye at one time)
That serial number you have, 18745PAK, also makes me think that PAK was generically with all their kits. One manuals i read through called their kits "Nintendo-PAK's".  My cab also had the PAK type serial number.

Does that kit you have refer to what tthe cabs are before the kit is installed?
As in, what cabs are they converting to a DKJR?

My whole point of this is to put together enough information for someone to be able to backtrack any Nintendo cab as to what it originally was.....even if all the original metal tags are missing. (like mine was)

Thanks a bunch for the info....that's a great find.
Are ya putting together a DKJR?

[rzgrip]

Unfortunately there isn't any paperwork. However, I did find on the bottom a GO7 19"service and operators manual, and an operators manual for a Centuri - Vanguard game complete with separate diagrams and schematics! All like new. I always wondered about why my DK cab has bolt holes for both horizontal and vertical mounted monitors. In the "kit", the template lines up with the top and back of my cab and the marks for the holes lines up with all five holes. I guess that the kit was for Nintendo cabs that had come with a game that had a horizontal monitor. It still does not explain why my cab has five holes. My model cab is TKG4-UP-US. Oh well, I hope to finish my DK this weekend. I picked up this kit just to play with. However, while waiting to get it, I got another DK JR board at a flea market for $20. I put it in my machine to see if it works, and WOW, it's perfect! So now I have to figure out if I should keep both or try to make some money! I do not have room for a dedicated DK JR, but who knows, my daughter and I love playing it. Even thou I stink at it! Good luck figuring out your cab's history. It's another part of this wonderful but addicting hobby.

[WTB]

Its great to hear from you rzgrip! I still haven't finished moving in yet, so all my info is packed away... somewhere. I do have the original Hogan's Alley PCB so I'll do what I can to pull numbers off of it. Sorry this is taking me so long. I will also post more pictures of the documentation I can get to the first part of next week.

   -Matt

[Kevin Mullins]

Unfortunately there isn't any paperwork. However, I did find on the bottom a GO7 19"service and operators manual, and an operators manual for a Centuri - Vanguard game complete with separate diagrams and schematics! It still does not explain why my cab has five holes. My model cab is TKG4-UP-US.

hmmmmm.....couple more questions then.
 
Is your cab a clasisc Nintendo style cab? http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/D/cDonkey_Kong.gif
What color is yours?

That TKG4 is definately a DK tag. http://www.arcadedocs.com/vidmanuals/D/dkong1.pdf

I remember reading one of the "kit" manuals that mentioned having 5 holes in the side of the cab. I'll have to go back and look at it. My cab only had four in the sides. (where the monitor was relocated)

My next step is finding out how many factory colors the classic Nintendo cabs came in. There should only be a few.

[rzgrip]

Howdy! Kevin - thanks to you, I am now wandering about the history of MY cab! It is a classic Nintendo style cab, light blue. It does have five holes. Two for the vertical monitor and 3 for a horizontal one. It does not have side art but I can see the remains of it under all five holes, like the factory did it. It has the two board PCB set ( 1981 N. of A. Inc TKG4-11-CPU) but has slots for the four board one. There is a sticker on it from Cleveland Coin (a local vendor). The part number on the top of the power transformer is 3D0097-1 Model # PT821B Mfg No.18710. Could mine be a conversion? Never doughted it till YOU came along. Thank's Ron.

[Kevin Mullins]

Is the metal TKG4 tag dead center on the back of the cab?
With other metal tags off to the side? (like an MGS tag)

I have only found the PT-821B transformer listed in a few manuals.
Still researching that one a bit.
It is listed in the DK manual though.....
Being that yours is the light blue cab, I'm guessing so far that yours was a DK straight from the factory. I believe it's the red ones that were all actually conversions from a previous Nintendo game. (older)
The main questions that come up are due to the fact that so many of these Nintendo machines were actually "kits". Some never had a "factory" cab.
So more research is in the works.
I'm gonna flip through the kit manuals again and try to see what the "fifth" hole was for.

Haha... yeah I've had my cab almost three years now and never once even cared what it used to be. But after reading all this "rare" talk about the red DK cabs I was curious as to "why" they were so rare. I had a red Nintendo cab with no relevant signs of what it used to be. And of course that lead into more questions and curiosty than I had expected.

[Crowquill]

While I don't pretend to be an expert, I thought I'd try to sum up what I know in my limited experience with these cabs. Most I verified with scans of the original flyers (probably the most official source on the 'net). I've only included single-monitor cabs.

Radar Scope - Red
Donkey Kong - Typically Blue. The trivia for Radar Scope on KLOV states that out of the 3000 made, 2000 of them were converted to DK (at the factory).
Popeye - Blue (although I'm sure I've seen some in orange).
Donkey Kong Junior - Orange
DK3 and Mario Bros kits - sold as conversion kits for the previous games. Could be any color
Mario Bros Dedicated - Orange widebody cabinet
Vs Unisystem Dedicated- Grey cabinet, modified design from the previous cabs (no speaker grille on front, different coin door)
Vs Unisystem Conversion - conversion kits for DK, DK jr, and Popeye.
Playchoice-10 kit - Converts vs. unisystem to PC-10. The flyer shows the cabinet in black, though.
R-type - Appears to be the same cab as Unisystem dedicated but in black.

DK3 Nintendo-Pak flyer:
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=3148&image=4
CORRECT URL: http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=3142&image=1

Unisystem Flyer:
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=3148&image=4

When I read rzgrip's post, I assumed that it was a Vs Unisystem kit's box that had the pulled parts from a DK Jr conversion in it. If they didn't apply the new plate that would explain the serial too. DK Junior wasn't available as a kit was it? None of the flyers ever mention a kit for DK, Popeye, or DK junior. This isn't to say that over the years some op didn't swap boards around, though.

I also think there might be some confusion here between the Vs system and the Playchoice-10. The Vs. system had easily swappable roms for the operators to change out games. The Playchoice-10 had 10 seperate games that the player could switch between at any time as each quarter just gave them a pre-set time limit to play.

[hutch1980]

I recently aquired 2 nintendo cocktail cabs. space fever and an empty donkey kong cab. They both came with the metal nintendo ID tags and i believe the tag for space fever was TSF-HS-USG while the other tag for donkey kong is TKG2-US. Anyone know which boardset the donkey kong cab would use? I would like to restore it, but like i said, it's just a cab. missing everything else, hehe.

[Kevin Mullins]

Cool....that Space Fever is even older than all this other Nintendo crazy mess.
That one would be interesting to have up and running.
Does it work at all?

I've only seen manuals for the TKG2 in the upright version.
Not sure just yet if the cocktail used the same boardsets or not.
(another step in this little process)

DK had at least two if not more board versions for the uprights with different connector styles. Not including the revisions.(TKG2,TKG3,TKG4)

[Kevin Mullins]

Most I verified with scans of the original flyers (probably the most official source on the 'net).

When I read rzgrip's post, I assumed that it was a Vs Unisystem kit's box that had the pulled parts from a DK Jr conversion in it. If they didn't apply the new plate that would explain the serial too. DK Junior wasn't available as a kit was it? None of the flyers ever mention a kit for DK, Popeye, or DK junior. This isn't to say that over the years some op didn't swap boards around, though.

I also think there might be some confusion here between the Vs system and the Playchoice-10. The Vs. system had easily swappable roms for the operators to change out games. The Playchoice-10 had 10 seperate games that the player could switch between at any time as each quarter just gave them a pre-set time limit to play.

Very good point on finding the flyers for information. I'll check those out as well and see what pieces I can put together.
I also think you are correct in that rzgrip may have the original kit box containing the vs. kit, manuals and instructions etc, and the parts removed from the DKJR that was being converted.
There has been alot of confusion over the whole vs. Unisystem / Playchoice topic.
Defineately two different animals all together. But I still see people calling them all the same thing. Hope to clerify this better as well.
For instance: the double monitor, upper and lower, Playchoice was actually a conversion kit for the Punchout cabinet. Not a dedicated Playchoice cab.

[hutch1980]

Cool....that Space Fever is even older than all this other Nintendo crazy mess.
That one would be interesting to have up and running.
Does it work at all?

I've only seen manuals for the TKG2 in the upright version.
Not sure just yet if the cocktail used the same boardsets or not.
(another step in this little process)

DK had at least two if not more board versions for the uprights with different connector styles. Not including the revisions.(TKG2,TKG3,TKG4)

The Space Fever cab is in excellent condition, it just has a bad monitor, but everything else works. The guy i bought this from used a secondary nintendo sanyo monitor and booted the game up, and it played fine. So I just need a new Nintendo Sanyo 14" monitor for that cab (easier said than done).  As soon as i dump the pictures from my digital camera, i'll post pics of it in the appropiate forum.

Yeah, i've been looking for pretty much any info on trying to tell the difference between the TKG2,TKG3, TKG4 boardsets and which ones would work in the cab. Both cocktails have a metal base for the main part of the cab, then i believe MDF for the top thats painted a white color. Not sure if it would be of any help, but the serial number on the TKG2 metal tag is 20134.

[Crowquill]

Oops! Pasted in the wrong URL for the conversion pak flyer (also corrected above).

http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=3142&image=1

One other thing I found interesting on this flyer: "You don't even need to lift a finger to make the transformation. your authorized Nintendo distributor will take care of the whole business for you."

So Nintendo would actually send someone out to do the conversion for the operator?


The other one I thought was really interesting was the Playchoice conversion flyer. I've never seen a single-screen Playchoice and can't even fathom how that would work. Apparently it was available in 5 and 10-game versions.

http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=thumbs&id=3144

[Kevin Mullins]

I guess the local Nintendo "distrubutor" would come out and install the kit for you.

That Playchoice one does bring up a couple intersting points. If I'm reading it correctly it was designed to be a replacement kit for the vs. Unisystem cabs. Kinda odd that the one they show is black, not the typical gray Unisystem cab. (makes it look like an R-Type cab: http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=thumbs&id=921)

I know the boardset is different fromt he dual screen Playchoice. I think the singlecab shows the menu and then goes into game play mode. Where as the dual monitor (Punchout) kept the menu up on the top monitor. But the kits defineately had different boardsets because of the dual monitor output option.

I went and looked at an Eight-Ball cab today at a flea market. Typical blue DK cab conversion. But the nice thing to know is the Eight-Ball conversion was just a ROM swap, which means the original DK board is still in there. Also the monitor bezel seemed to have just been flipped around backwards, so it is probably original as well. It still has the TKG tag on the back. Guy was only asking $100.00.....might have to go back and grab that one. And it worked fine, good picture too.

[rzgrip]

I hope that you grabbed that Eight Ball! Sounds like a good deal. I am enclosing a picture of the box. My name plate is centered and is the only one there. Also, on the inside of the rear door on the instructions is TKG-UP 2 piece board type. There does not seem to have ever been any other plates or numbers. So, I will say that mine is NOT a conversion despite the additional monitor holes.

[Kevin Mullins]

That defineately explains where the DKjr parts came from then. That kit was designed to replace all of those listed by that checkbox that is marked.

The Popeye kit was slightly deifferent. (power supply or something)

Yup.....you have a genuine factory blue DK.
Sounds like yours has the right boardset as well. TKG4
Must have been a ROM swap for the Mario Bros game. (?)

[RayB]

< Stupid comment deleted >
(that's what I get for posting after a 10 hour drive!)

[Kevin Mullins]

Yeah... the thread is getting lengthy, but the details are coming out of the woodwork. (literally in some cases)

As far as my cab goes, which kinda got me on this whole Nintendo kick, there were no stickers, and the only tag ID on the cab was the MGS (Unisystem) tag.
So we've ventured into the realm of Nintendo history to find out how to tell the "Life of a Nintendo cab".
(when all typical original markings are missing)

For instance: Mine is red.....and has an original transformer in the bottom.....and an MGS tag.......that's it. (of course now we know a bit more)

I've been posting on rgvac as well getting some details.
I'm thinking of compiling everything together and making a single site for it. There's a couple decent ones out there, but still quite incomplete. And I see that this has all been discussed alot.....just not all at once.

[Kevin Mullins]

< Stupid comment deleted >
(that's what I get for posting after a 10 hour drive!)

Haha.... stupid comments welcome. "Come on in !!"

Here.... let me start off another leg of this trivia:
(keep in mind I have a red five slot cab doing this to me)

I've done plenty of reading and looking, so I figured I'd throw this
out there for questioning.
The question between 5 slot grill fronts and the more common 7 slot
grill fronts.

I was still doing some poking around and gathering information on the
Nintendo cabinet saga.
When I was researching the 5 slot speaker grill question, I came to
possible theory.
And it only seems to be found in some of the red cabinets.
Of course we know the red DK was originally a Radar Scope and all that.
But I think the five slot ones may be a little more rare than the
average red cab.
If you have any insight on this speaker slot issue I'd be happy to hear
some theories also.


Here is Mine.
This all seemed to happen sometime in 1980:
I believe the five slot front actually came from the last of the parts
used to build the previous sloped top style Radar Scope, Helifire, and
Space Firebird cabs. (which were all red)
And when they were transitioning to the "new" cab style....commonly
found now....they used those five slot speaker/cab fronts up first.
Also would be why you only find the five slot speaker on the red cabs
and none of the other colors. (and only some of those red ones at that)
The more common red Radar Scope/Donkey Kong cab is when they started
using the "new" cab design and also went and changed to the 7 slot
grill with the new design.
And from then on all you see is the seven slot cab.
The only ones that didn't were probably the first few # red Radar
Scope/DK's of the new style.
They had the 5 slot grill.


Ok....I'm just babbling now.
Any thoughts?


Some flyers I looked through also:


Old design- 5 slot
1980 Radar Scope -
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=3918&image=2

1980 Space Firebird -
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=1023&image=2

1980 HeliFire -
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=501&image=1


New design- 7 slot
1980 Radar Scope -
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=856&image=2

1981 DK - Blue -
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=316&image=2

1981 Sky Skipper -
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&id=2572&image=2