One common type (BA15s) is the Single Socket (SC) bayonet. For the larger lamps such as flashers, a larger base is used. The miniature bayonet (BA9s) is used for general illumination (GI) or indicator lamps. A lamp with this type of base is installed by inserting the base and giving the entire lamp assembly a 1/4 turn clock-wise. The Base of many lamps used in pinball games utilizes a miniature bayonet style. Let's see what we are talking about by starting with a little anatomy.

But what actually are those little lights? Well, technically, they are usually miniature incandescent lamps. I think you now know why lights became such an important part of pinball. Today's machines use miniature lamps in almost every conceivable spot on the playfield. The 1934 “Worlds Series”, made by Rock-ola, was a game with an example of such an innovation.īy 1935, Bally produced “Rocketlite” which is probably the first game to use a small, lit backglass, mounted in a backbox, to show the player's score. For instance the modern Backbox was originally just a small advertising or instruction card mounted away from the player on the far side of the game. Instead, there were more and more innovations. There were no standards to prove which game was best. Even though they are no longer in business, you probably recognize the Gottlieb name from above. Thus, the coin-op industry was born.Īs with any fledgling industry, the first one out of their door with a good product would probably, on name recognition alone, have the lion's share of the market. In turn, the owners of: drug stores, gas stations, and grocery stores, by purchasing these games, were trying to do the same by having their customers pay-to-play. Game manufactures were trying to, literally, cash in on the excitement that playing one of these, usually little counter-top, games provided. The title of a popular magazine from that time, “Ballyhoo”, is also a term meaning noise and excitement. To do this, they started building games with more colourful and complex playfields. They were each trying to draw attention to their game. And, it was a major step in moving away from the simple, flipper-less bagatelle towards what we now consider the modern pinball machine.ĭuring the 1930s and through the 1940s, there were at least a dozen different companies producing pin-games. With is single lamp, powered by a single dry-cell battery, this game helped distinguish itself from its competitor's games.

That game, produced in 1934, was “Skyscraper”. But, Bally probably produced the first game with a light on the playfield. In the 1930s, companies like: A.B.T, Lindstorm and Gottlieb were all significant contributors to the, then, fast moving world of pinball. In this article, Todd 'Pinted' Andersen, President of the TCFPA looks at the history of pinball lighting, when it was introduced, how it affected pinball and the various types of lamps in use today.

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