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8 Ball


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8 Ball / IPD No. 764 / January 17, 1966 / 2 Players
 
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Average Fun Rating: [ 8 stars - Click for comments ]    7.7/10  (15 ratings/14 comments)        [ Add Your Rating! ]
Manufacturer: Williams Electronic Manufacturing Corporation (1958-1967) [Trade Name: Williams]
Date Of Manufacture: January 17, 1966
Model Number: 317
Type: Electro-mechanical (EM) [?]
Production: 3,250 units   (confirmed)
Serial Number Database:View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme: Billiards
Notable Features: Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (4), Passive bumpers (2), Slingshots (2), Kick-out holes (2), Standup target (1), Horseshoe lane (1). One pop bumper is between the flippers. Illuminated backglass marquee. Drop-down cabinet. Backglass light animation tracks balls earned by each player. Player 1 shoots to light all solid balls. Player 2 shoots to light all striped balls. Lighting all balls for the player will light "Shoot for 8 ball" on backglass and lights horseshoe lane for the 8 ball. Getting the 8 ball awards an extra ball. This is a carry-over feature from ball to ball. Unlike the game of billiards, achieving the 8-ball does not end the game.

Maximum displayed point score is 9,999 points per player.

Point score threshold award: Replay or Extra Ball (operator option). Only 1 extra ball per ball in play, including one earned via the horseshoe lane award.

Replay wheel maximum: 27

Sounds: 2 bells, knocker.

Tilt penalty: ball in play or game over (operator option).

On the backglass, the billiard players have cufflinks showing the initials "N.C." and "S.K.", a probable reference to Norm Clark and Steve Kordek. Cufflinks with identical initials are also found on the backglasses of Williams' 1971 'Planets' and Williams' 1971 'Zodiac'.

Design by: Norm Clark
Notes: The 1988 book Pinball The Lure of the Silver Ball stated that a "split bank" was invented by Norm Clark for '8 Ball' and reused again on Williams' 1971 'Solids N Stripes'. However, 'Solids N Stripes' is his first game to employ the "split bank" method of ball-to-ball carry-over for multi-player games.

For '8 Ball', instead of relay banks a standard step-up unit was used for each player to count the billiard balls earned by that player. A standard Player Relay alternated between players to select which of the two playfield step-up units is active for the player who is being served. In this way, the Player Relay dedicated a step-up unit for each player, allowing for each player a separate accounting of earned billiard balls to appear on both the backglass and the playfield. This is an example of playfield "memory" for multi-player EM games.

On '8 Ball', the billiard balls have to be earned in numerical sequence so it made sense for this game to use for each player a sequential mechanism such as a stepper unit with reset coil. In contrast, because the billiard balls on 'Solids N Stripes' can be earned in any random order, it makes sense for that game to have relay banks which will track them in any order in which they are earned.

'8 Ball' is not the only Williams 2-player EM game that had playfield "memory" using alternating step-up units. An earlier game is Williams' 1956 'Piccadilly'. A subsequent game is Williams' 1968 'Pit Stop'.

Manufacturer data for 8 Ball:
Quantity produced for USA/Canada: 1501*
Quantity produced for export: 1749*
Total quantity produced: 3250*
Price to Distributor: $430.00
*These quantities may be sales estimates.

Photos in: The Pinball Compendium Electro-mechanical Era, page 152
Cash Box, Mar-5-1966, page 73
Pinball Machines (Eiden-Lukas)External Link, page 42
The Pinball Compendium 1930s - 1960sExternal Link, page 184
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book A-F
Owners List URL:http://www.pinballowners.com/owners/764  (External site)
Documentation: 13 MB PDF Adjustment Sheet, Coil Chart, and Parts List [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
  2 MB PDF Schematic Diagram (continuous) [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
Files: 3 MB PDF Converting Slug Rejectors to 2 Coin Play or 1 Coin Play [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
  7 MB PDF Manufacturer Warranty [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
  3 MB PDF On/Off Instructions for Location [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
  1 MB PDF Promotional Photo - Large Size [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
  44 KB PDF Reproduction Instruction Card [Richard Rominger]
  61 KB PDF Reproduction Score Cards (3 & 5 Ball) [Richard Rominger]
  7 MB PDF Score Card Inserts [Williams Electronic Mfg. Co.]
Images:
(click to zoom)
Image # 741: 8 Ball Playfield
Playfield

444x540
[Russ Jensen]
Image # 742: 8 Ball Backglass
Backglass

498x436
[Russ Jensen]
Image # 4470: 8 Ball Flyer
Flyer

831x1074
 
Image # 9965: 8 Ball Backglass
Backglass

832x794
 
Image # 11757: 8 Ball Backglass
Backglass

485x470
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11758: 8 Ball Backglass - Detail
Backglass - Detail

637x477
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11759: 8 Ball Playfield
Playfield

474x639
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11760: 8 Ball Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

632x479
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11761: 8 Ball Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

636x474
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11762: 8 Ball Middle Playfield
Middle Playfield

638x461
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11763: 8 Ball Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

626x465
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11764: 8 Ball Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

392x634
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11765: 8 Ball Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

391x612
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11766: 8 Ball Backglass - Reverse
Backglass - Reverse

570x479
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 11767: 8 Ball Backbox Insert - Front
Backbox Insert - Front

636x470
[Joe Iozzia]
Image # 31104: 8 Ball Playfield
Playfield

600x800
 
Image # 31105: 8 Ball Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

539x800
 
Image # 31106: 8 Ball Cabinet - Right
Cabinet - Right

578x800
 
Image # 31107: 8 Ball Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

736x600
 
Image # 31108: 8 Ball Inside Front Door
Inside Front Door

800x600
 
Image # 31109: 8 Ball Inside Backbox
Inside Backbox

800x608
 
Image # 40621: 8 Ball Cash Box Ad 
(Cash Box, Mar-5-1966, page 73)
Cash Box Ad*

1200x1365
[Rob Hawkins]
Image # 53765: 8 Ball Illuminated Backglass
Illuminated Backglass

1157x1363
[Steve Conklin]
Image # 53766: 8 Ball Cabinet - Front View
Cabinet - Front View

1116x1512
[Steve Conklin]
Image # 57537: 8 Ball Illuminated Marquee 
(Serial number 38610.)
Illuminated Marquee*

855x899
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57538: 8 Ball Playfield 
(Serial number 38610.)
Playfield*

1112x1600
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57539: 8 Ball Illuminated Playfield 
(Serial number 38610.)
Illuminated Playfield*

1088x1600
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57540: 8 Ball 8 Ball Is Lit 
(Serial number 38610.)
8 Ball Is Lit*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57541: 8 Ball Backbox - Right 
(Serial number 38610.)
Backbox - Right*

943x1598
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57542: 8 Ball Cabinet - Left 
(Serial number 38610.)
Cabinet - Left*

932x885
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57543: 8 Ball Coin Door 
(The front of this cabinet appears to have been repainted. Serial number 38610.)
Coin Door*

1086x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57544: 8 Ball Inside Coin Door 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Coin Door*

1175x899
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57545: 8 Ball Inside Coin Door - Coin Mech Removed 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Coin Door - Coin Mech Removed*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57546: 8 Ball Backglass - Reverse 
(Serial number 38610.)
Backglass - Reverse*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57547: 8 Ball Behind Backglass 
(The insert has seven large holes to allow #455 flasher bulbs to light the '8'. Serial number 38610.)
Behind Backglass*

1200x847
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57548: 8 Ball Backbox Door 
(The metal door measures 27 11/16 inches wide and 21 3/16 inches high. Backbox is tagged with serial number 38418.)
Backbox Door*

1020x851
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57549: 8 Ball Inside Backbox 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Backbox*

1186x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57550: 8 Ball Serial Number Tag 
(Serial number 38610.)
Serial Number Tag*

1132x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57551: 8 Ball Match Unit 
(Serial number 38610.)
Match Unit*

1200x1600
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57552: 8 Ball Operator Option 
(Serial number 38610.)
Operator Option*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57553: 8 Ball Operator Options 
(Serial number 38610.)
Operator Options*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57554: 8 Ball Operator Options 
(Serial number 38610.)
Operator Options*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57555: 8 Ball Operator Option 
(Serial number 38610.)
Operator Option*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57556: 8 Ball Replay Adjustment Chart 
(Serial number 38610.)
Replay Adjustment Chart*

1200x2128
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57557: 8 Ball Under Playfield 
(Serial number 38610.)
Under Playfield*

1200x1600
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57558: 8 Ball Under Upper Playfield 
(Serial number 38610.)
Under Upper Playfield*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57559: 8 Ball Under Middle Playfield 
(Serial number 38610.)
Under Middle Playfield*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57560: 8 Ball Under Lower Playfield 
(Serial number 38610.)
Under Lower Playfield*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57561: 8 Ball Inside Cabinet 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Cabinet*

1200x1600
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57562: 8 Ball Inside Cabinet 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Cabinet*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57563: 8 Ball Inside Cabinet - Detail 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Cabinet - Detail*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57564: 8 Ball Inside Cabinet - Detail 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Cabinet - Detail*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57565: 8 Ball Inside Cabinet - Detail 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Cabinet - Detail*

1200x1600
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57566: 8 Ball Inside Cabinet - Detail 
(Serial number 38610.)
Inside Cabinet - Detail*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57567: 8 Ball Operator Options 
(Serial number 38610.)
Operator Options*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 57568: 8 Ball Notice To Operator 
(Serial number 38610.)
Notice To Operator*

1200x900
[Jay Stafford]
Image # 68057: 8 Ball Promotional Photo
Promotional Photo

1200x1479
[Duncan Brown]
Image # 83669: 8 Ball Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter N
Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter "N"

900x1200
[Ronald Blom]
Image # 83670: 8 Ball Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter C
Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter "C"

900x1200
[Ronald Blom]
Image # 83671: 8 Ball Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter S
Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter "S"

900x1200
[Ronald Blom]
Image # 83672: 8 Ball Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter K
Illuminated Backglass - Cufflink Letter "K"

900x1200
[Ronald Blom]
 

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