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On Beam / IPD No. 1715 / August, 1969 / 1 Player
 
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Average Fun Rating: [ 7 stars - Click for comments ]    7.3/10  (12 ratings/10 comments)        [ Add Your Rating! ]
Manufacturer: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (1931-1983) [Trade Name: Bally]
Project Date: September 05, 1968
Date Of Manufacture: August, 1969
Model Number: 840
Type: Electro-mechanical (EM) [?]
Production: 1,150 units   (confirmed)
Serial Number Database:View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme: Outer Space
Notable Features: Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (4), Mushroom bumpers (4), Kick-out hole (1). Backglass light animation shows space station and space ship traveling on any of 4 Beams. Getting space ship to dock with space station on same Beam awards points and lights center target for Special. The playfield Beam-O-Meter allows player to track this progress without watching backglass. Extra balls are kicked up into play from the outhole.

Maximum displayed point score is 99,999 points.

Replay wheel maximum: 25

Sound: 1 bell, knocker

Design by: Bob Jonesi
Art by: Christian Marche
Notes: The manufacturer produced the backglasses in both crystal glass and Plexiglas.

The geometric cabinet design was used previously on Bally's 1969 'Cosmos' although the colors were different.

Bally Production Run data indicates that 1,150 units were produced of this game. Their typical serial numbering scheme would mean that their last 'On Beam' game would have serial #2150. It appears that the majority were produced having the mushroom bumpers shown in the flyer. However, game owners and hobbyists have reported eleven games in the USA and Canada with later-production serial numbers of 2133, 2148, 2178, 2214, 2221, 2225, 2271, 2272, 2273, 2285, and 2334, where each playfield has stationary targets instead of the mushroom bumpers. These serial numbers suggest a single, continuous production run of a quantity greater than previously believed, with a changeover from mushroom bumpers to targets somewhere during the run. The reason for this change in design is unknown to us. An example of these "Later Production" games is featured below. Several views of it are included for comparative purposes, although the only difference may be the targets.

The undated schematic diagram included in this listing carries this note:
EFFECTIVE GAME SERIAL NO. 1092
If anyone has access to a game having a serial number earlier than 1092, please contact us so we can possibly procure its schematic and identify what differences it may have.

Federico Croci, a collector in Italy, reports two 'On Beam' games there, both add-a-ball, both with standup targets, and both having a gate at the top of each outlane to block the ball from draining by diverting it towards the inlane. For more information, see Bally's 1969 'On Beam (Italy)'.

Photos in: Pinball Machines for Italy - Senza Ripetizione Della Partita, page 62
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book G-R
Pinball PortfolioExternal Link, page 70
Owners List URL:http://www.pinballowners.com/owners/1715  (External site)
Documentation: 673 KB PDF Playfield Chart from 1973 Parts Catalog [Bally Manufacturing Corp.]
  10 MB PDF Schematic Diagram (continuous, effective with game serial number 1092) [Bally Manufacturing Corp.]
Images:
(click to zoom)
Image # 1663: On Beam Backglass
Backglass

364x435
 
Image # 1664: On Beam Playfield
Playfield

408x547
[Russ Jensen]
Image # 3844: On Beam Flyer
Flyer

612x840
 
Image # 18949: On Beam Backglass
Backglass

720x540
 
Image # 18950: On Beam Ball View
Ball View

720x540
 
Image # 18951: On Beam Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

720x540
 
Image # 18952: On Beam Pop Bumpers
Pop Bumpers

720x540
 
Image # 18953: On Beam Beam-O-Meter
Beam-O-Meter

720x540
 
Image # 18954: On Beam Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

720x540
 
Image # 23060: On Beam Later Production Backglass 
(Serial number 2214)
Later Production Backglass*

960x1194
 
Image # 23061: On Beam Later Production Upper Playfield 
(Serial number 2214. Note: this game was produced with stationary targets in place of mushroom bumpers.)
Later Production Upper Playfield*

1024x780
 
Image # 23062: On Beam Later Production Lower Playfield 
(Serial number 2214. Note: this game was produced with stationary targets in place of mushroom bumpers.)
Later Production Lower Playfield*

1024x781
 
Image # 23063: On Beam Later Production Cabinet - Left 
(Serial number 2214. Note: this game was produced with stationary targets in place of mushroom bumpers.)
Later Production Cabinet - Left*

1024x738
 
Image # 23064: On Beam Later Production Cabinet - Right 
(Serial number 2214. Note: this game was produced with stationary targets in place of mushroom bumpers.)
Later Production Cabinet - Right*

1024x876
 
Image # 23065: On Beam Later Production Backbox - Left 
(Serial number 2214)
Later Production Backbox - Left*

694x1194
 
Image # 23066: On Beam Later Production Backbox - Right 
(Serial number 2214)
Later Production Backbox - Right*

736x1280
 
Image # 23067: On Beam Later Production Cabinet - Front 
(Serial number 2214)
Later Production Cabinet - Front*

1024x693
 
Image # 23068: On Beam Later Production Backglass - Reverse 
(Serial number 2214)
Later Production Backglass - Reverse*

960x1280
 
Image # 23708: On Beam Backglass - Detail
Backglass - Detail

640x480
[Robert Fitzgerald]
Image # 23709: On Beam Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

640x480
[Robert Fitzgerald]
Image # 23710: On Beam Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

640x480
[Robert Fitzgerald]
Image # 23711: On Beam Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

640x480
[Robert Fitzgerald]
Image # 23712: On Beam Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

640x480
[Robert Fitzgerald]
Image # 25002: On Beam Playfield
Playfield

817x1600
[Mark Clayton]
Image # 25003: On Beam Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

1024x1365
[Mark Clayton]
Image # 25004: On Beam Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

1024x1365
[Mark Clayton]
Image # 46699: On Beam Dual-kick Outhole Assembly - Normal Position 
(In this position, the ball is kicked to the shooter lane.)
Dual-kick Outhole Assembly - Normal Position*

1200x798
[Jasper Verheggen]
Image # 46812: On Beam Later Production Illuminated Backglass 
(This game was photographed in an old church, thus two stained-glass windows are reflected in the backglass. Serial number 2178.)
Later Production Illuminated Backglass*

1006x1152
[Bruce Brigham]
Image # 46813: On Beam Later Production Illuminated Playfield 
(Serial number 2178. Note: this game was produced with stationary targets in place of mushroom bumpers.)
Later Production Illuminated Playfield*

1152x864
[Bruce Brigham]
Image # 58884: On Beam Inside Cabinet - Service Position 
(The bottom relay board lifted up and pivoted forward for easy access.)
Inside Cabinet - Service Position*

845x613
[Chas Gantz]
Image # 82128: On Beam Swivel Outhole 
(Serial number 1588.)
Swivel Outhole*

1200x884
[Sylvain Grégoire]
Image # 82129: On Beam Inside Backbox 
(Serial number 1588.)
Inside Backbox*

1144x1200
[Sylvain Grégoire]
Image # 82130: On Beam Under Playfield 
(Serial number 1588.)
Under Playfield*

1070x1600
[Sylvain Grégoire]
Image # 82131: On Beam Dual-Kick Outhole Assembly - Kick-Up Position 
(In this position, the ball is kicked onto the playfield through the flipper gap. Serial number 1588.)
Dual-Kick Outhole Assembly - Kick-Up Position*

1200x947
[Sylvain Grégoire]
Image # 82132: On Beam Inside Cabinet 
(Serial number 1588.)
Inside Cabinet*

1036x1571
[Sylvain Grégoire]
Image # 82133: On Beam Inside Cabinet - Front 
(Serial number 1588.)
Inside Cabinet - Front*

1200x1600
[Sylvain Grégoire]
 

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