| Thing / IPD No. 2531 / February, 1951 / 1 Player | [ Submit Changes ] |
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Sound: 2 bells, knocker.
The five T-H-I-N-G bumpers are lit at start of play, and each goes dark when hit. Hitting all five bumpers in any order causes the knocker to operate three times in sequence, the bumpers then reset, and the Thing Score in the lower playfield advances one time. Hitting either side rollover will complete the T-H-I-N-G bumpers, which then repeats the above actions (three knocks, reset, increment Thing Score).
The three knocks occur in a certain cadence as determined by the spacing of the teeth on a cam in the motor. One cycle of the motor, or 50,000 points, takes only one-quarter turn. Hence, this cam has twelve teeth on its perimeter to account for all four cycles.
The top cam of the motor has only one tooth on its entire perimeter and its purpose is to kick the center kick-out hole (inside the playfield box). When a ball drops into the hole, the motor runs and gives 50,000 points until the top cam operates its kick switch. Depending on where that cam happens to be positioned, the hole gives one through four cycles (50K through 200K) as a Mystery Score. Each 50,000-point cycle runs the knocker sequence. Therefore, at its optimal condition, the hole awards 200,000 points and four knocker sequences (twelve knocks). Each Mystery Score awarded will also increment the Thing Score, but only once, regardless of the number of cycles that occurred.
The T and G are the only pop bumpers and are marked with the "Boom Boom Boom" text on the playfield, but they do not operate the knocker sequence. Incidentally, neither of them have an end-of-stroke switch.
The two side rollovers light briefly for special when the player’s score is at specific thresholds as set by the operator on the score unit. The "liberal" setting turns on the specials at 2,000,000 points, turns them off at 2,100,000 points, turns then on again at 3,000,000 points, and turns them off again at 3,100,000 points. We do not know the "conservative" setting point values.
The V-shaped blocking gate between the flippers, in its raised position, allows balls to pas
The two passive bumpers in the lower playfield light for 100,000 points when the 10,000 unit is at 50,000 and/or 100,000, depending upon an operator adjustment. The "conservative" setting makes the bumpers light only at each 50,000 point level. Regardless of the setting, the bumpers stay on once the blocking gate rises to open the flipper gap.
Replays can be earned from high scores, from the Thing Score, and from the side rollover specials. The knocker does not sound when replays are awarded.
Phil Harris released a song called "The Thing" in October 1950 which became a novelty hit for many weeks. It's the story of someone who finds a box on the beach and is vehemently shunned by anyone to whom he tries to show its contents. The actual contents of the box were never identified, as far as we know, but NBC-TV had a Christmas 1950 promotion to give it a different meaning, suggesting it represented the seasonal desire to help the needy. Harris was slated to appear on numerous TV shows during the month prior to Christmas Eve, to provide a clue as to the song's meaning.
Arcade Treasures
, page 45Encyclopedia of Pinball Volume 2
, page 181Slot Machines and Coin-Op Games
, page 51The Pinball Compendium Electro-mechanical Era, page 47
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book S-Z
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