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Fireball


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Fireball / IPD No. 852 / February, 1972 / 4 Players
 
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Average Fun Rating: [ 8 stars - Click for comments ]    7.8/10  (101 ratings/77 comments)        [ Add Your Rating! ]
Manufacturer: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (1931-1983) [Trade Name: Bally]
Project Date: August 24, 1971
Date Of Manufacture: February, 1972
Model Number: 926
Common Abbreviations: FB
Type: Electro-mechanical (EM) [?]
Production: 3,815 units   (confirmed)
Serial Number Database:View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme: Fantasy
Specialty: Zipper Flippers [?]
Notable Features: Zipper flippers (2), Pop bumpers (3), Mushroom bumpers (3), Slingshots (2), Captive ball kick-out holes (2), Messenger ball (1), Standup target (1), Spinning disk (1), Multiball (2 or 3), Left outlane kickback, Right-side ball return gate, Ramp skill shot.
Design by: Ted Zale
Art by: Dave Christensen
Notes: The spinning disk was promoted in the flyer as a whirlwind spinner. To our knowledge, this is the only flyer to use that term. Fireball was not the first pinball machine to have this feature. An earlier example is Electro-Ball Company, Inc.'s 1932 'Jig-alo Electro-Ball'.

'Fireball' sold new for $895. A German version was also produced. Our example of the German version pictured here has a backbox with a Later Production serial number 5099 and a lower cabinet with serial number 5094. Because the production run for 'Fireball' began at number 1001, we would expect the final number to be 4815. These "Later Production" serial numbers point to a larger quantity made than what Bally documentation shows.

Per a Play Meter article dated November 1977 (shown here), Chip Carter, son of President Jimmy Carter, bought a 'Fireball' pinball and had it delivered to his home in Plains, Georgia which was also the home of his father. An article in The Cash Box, Oct-15-1977, page 49 (not shown here) corroborates this.

Marketing Slogans: "A lightning storm of scoring action and profit power in a 4-player flipper"
Photos in: Newsweek May 30, 1977, pp. 54.
Time October 31, 1977, pp. 80,81. pp. (Backglass)
The Complete Pinball BookExternal Link pp. 45, 122, 198, 208, 246, 248.
Collector's Guide to Vintage Coin Machines 2nd EditionExternal Link, page 4
Pinball An Illustrated HistoryExternal Link, pages 9 and 32
Pinball! (Sharpe) page 15
Pinball 1External Link Illustrated Historical Guide to Pinball Machines Volume 1, page 237
Arcade TreasuresExternal Link, pages 8 and 84
Pinball Machines (Eiden-Lukas)External Link, pages 27 and 144
The Pinball Compendium 1970-1981External Link, page 38
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book A-F
Pinball PortfolioExternal Link, pages 135-137
Pinball The Lure of the Silverball, page 105
The Pinball Compendium Electro-mechanical Era, page 189
Playboy, December 1972, pages 160-161
Play Meter, Vol 3, No. 21, November 1977, page 14
The Cash Box, Oct-15-1977, page 49
Owners List URL:http://www.pinballowners.com/owners/852  (External site)
Documentation: 550 KB PDF Playfield Chart from 1973 Parts Catalog [Bally Manufacturing Corp.]
  2 MB PDF Schematic Diagram (continuous) [Bally Manufacturing Corp.]
Files: 991 KB PDF Installation and General Game Operation Instructions [Bally Manufacturing Corp.]
  288 KB ZIP Reproduction Artwork for Printed Cards [David Gersic]
Images:
(click to zoom)
Image # 806: Fireball Cabinet - Front View
Cabinet - Front View

302x544
[Russ Jensen]
Image # 807: Fireball Cabinet - Front View
Cabinet - Front View

369x598
[Daina Petit]
Image # 4017: Fireball Flyer - Front
Flyer - Front

822x992
 
Image # 4018: Fireball Flyer - Back
Flyer - Back

862x1005
 
Image # 14303: Fireball German Backglass
German Backglass

687x599
[Bill Burns]
Image # 15601: Fireball Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

640x480
 
Image # 15602: Fireball Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

442x348
 
Image # 15603: Fireball Cabinet - Right 
(This US version was exported to Europe.)
Cabinet - Right*

525x401
 
Image # 15604: Fireball Backbox - Left
Backbox - Left

368x532
 
Image # 15605: Fireball Backbox - Right
Backbox - Right

333x469
 
Image # 15606: Fireball Cabinet - Front 
(This US version was exported to Europe.)
Cabinet - Front*

500x455
 
Image # 15608: Fireball Inside Backbox
Inside Backbox

445x399
 
Image # 16684: Fireball Cabinet - Full View
Cabinet - Full View

718x863
[RPJ.Philippen]
Image # 16767: Fireball Playfield
Playfield

696x1152
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16768: Fireball Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

896x704
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16769: Fireball Middle Playfield
Middle Playfield

832x696
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16770: Fireball Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

1024x720
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16771: Fireball Playfield - Ball View
Playfield - Ball View

1024x616
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16772: Fireball Backglass - Reverse
Backglass - Reverse

896x760
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16773: Fireball Stripped Upper Playfield
Stripped Upper Playfield

618x591
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16774: Fireball Stripped Playfield
Stripped Playfield

520x768
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16775: Fireball Under Playfield
Under Playfield

784x1104
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 16776: Fireball Inside Cabinet
Inside Cabinet

792x1184
[Matty Kluge]
Image # 18469: Fireball Backglass
Backglass

558x466
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18470: Fireball Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18471: Fireball Middle Playfield
Middle Playfield

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18472: Fireball Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18473: Fireball Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18474: Fireball Cabinet - Right
Cabinet - Right

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18475: Fireball Cabinet - Right
Cabinet - Right

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18476: Fireball Backbox - Right
Backbox - Right

480x575
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18477: Fireball Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18478: Fireball Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18479: Fireball Backbox - Left
Backbox - Left

480x587
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18480: Fireball Pop Bumper Area
Pop Bumper Area

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18481: Fireball Whirlwind Spinner
Whirlwind Spinner

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 18482: Fireball Ramp Skill Shot
Ramp Skill Shot

640x480
[Bob Borden]
Image # 23918: Fireball Backglass
Backglass

1024x768
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 24885: Fireball German Ad 
(From the German operator magazine Automaten Markt, May 1972.)
German Ad*

1024x1402
[Christian Jacobs]
Image # 28300: Fireball Early Production Playfield 
(Serial number 1005.)
Early Production Playfield*

892x1280
[Steve Brown]
Image # 28301: Fireball Early Production Playfield - Black Spinner 
(Serial number 1014.)
Early Production Playfield - Black Spinner*

1024x683
 
Image # 43265: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #1 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #1*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 43266: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #2 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #2*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 43267: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #3 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #3*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 43268: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #4 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #4*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 43269: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #5 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #5*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 43270: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #6 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #6*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 43271: Fireball Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #7 
(The contributor of these blackline images did not indicate if the numbers 1 through 7 represented an actual sequence of backglass creation or if these images were numbered randomly.)
Backglass Blackline Master Color Separation #7*

1200x900
[Mark Andresen]
Image # 44010: Fireball Playfield 
(Serial number 4436.)
Playfield*

1200x1600
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44011: Fireball Upper Playfield 
(Serial number 4436.)
Upper Playfield*

1200x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44012: Fireball Middle Playfield 
(Serial number 4436.)
Middle Playfield*

1200x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44013: Fireball Lower Playfield 
(Serial number 4436.)
Lower Playfield*

1200x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44014: Fireball Cabinet - Left 
(Serial number 4436.)
Cabinet - Left*

1006x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44015: Fireball Cabinet - Right 
(Serial number 4436.)
Cabinet - Right*

950x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44016: Fireball Cabinet - Front 
(Serial number 4436.)
Cabinet - Front*

1106x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44017: Fireball Cabinet - Full View 
(Serial number 4436.)
Cabinet - Full View*

1176x1600
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44018: Fireball Behind Backglass 
(Serial number 4436.)
Behind Backglass*

1124x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44019: Fireball Inside Backbox 
(Serial number 4436.)
Inside Backbox*

1114x900
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 44020: Fireball Inside Cabinet 
(Serial number 4436.)
Inside Cabinet*

1200x1600
[Larry Wolfe]
Image # 59225: Fireball NOS Backglass 
(This glass was described to us as New Old Stock. It was packed in its carton with Chicago newspaper dated 1974.)
NOS Backglass*

1057x858
[John Gray]
Image # 59226: Fireball NOS Backglass - Reverse 
(This glass was described to us as New Old Stock. It was packed in its carton with Chicago newspaper dated 1974.)
NOS Backglass - Reverse*

1149x844
[John Gray]
Image # 59227: Fireball Backglass Shipping Carton 
(A New Old Stock backglass was in this carton, packed with Chicago newspaper dated 1974.)
Backglass Shipping Carton*

1033x862
[John Gray]
Image # 59228: Fireball Backglass Shipping Carton - Detail 
(A New Old Stock backglass was in this carton, packed with Chicago newspaper dated 1974.)
Backglass Shipping Carton - Detail*

1200x900
[John Gray]
Image # 65295: Fireball Illuminated Backglass
Illuminated Backglass

1200x1064
[Billy Loretelli]
Image # 65296: Fireball Illuminated Playfield
Illuminated Playfield

1200x1315
[Billy Loretelli]
Image # 75715: Fireball German Backglass 
(The backbox serial number is 5099. The cabinet serial number is 5094.)
German Backglass*

1200x1514
[Tom Rader]
Image # 75716: Fireball German Playfield 
(The cabinet serial number is 5094. The backbox serial number is 5099.)
German Playfield*

1200x1600
[Tom Rader]
Image # 75717: Fireball German Upper Playfield 
(The cabinet serial number is 5094. The backbox serial number is 5099.)
German Upper Playfield*

1200x900
[Tom Rader]
Image # 75718: Fireball German Middle Right Playfield 
(The cabinet serial number is 5094. The backbox serial number is 5099.)
German Middle Right Playfield*

1200x1600
[Tom Rader]
Image # 75719: Fireball German Lower Playfield 
(The cabinet serial number is 5094. The backbox serial number is 5099.)
German Lower Playfield*

1200x900
[Tom Rader]
Image # 75720: Fireball German Later Production Backbox Serial Number 
(The backbox serial number is 5099. The cabinet serial number is 5094.)
German Later Production Backbox Serial Number*

1104x1378
[Tom Rader]
Image # 75721: Fireball German Later Production Cabinet Serial Number 
(The cabinet serial number is 5094. The backbox serial number is 5099.)
German Later Production Cabinet Serial Number*

1200x1600
[Tom Rader]
Image # 81370: Fireball Under Apron 
(The playfield wood may have been refinished but this image is intended to show the metal components and coils.)
Under Apron*

1177x473
[Sylvain Grégoire]
Image # 83326: Fireball Play Meter Article 
(Play Meter, Vol 3, No. 21, November 1977, page 14)
Play Meter Article*

1200x1547
 
 
Source: Machine | Flyer [?]

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