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The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard


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The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard / IPD No. 2579 / January 08, 1994 / 4 Players
 
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Average Fun Rating: [ 8 stars - Click for comments ]    8.0/10  (109 ratings/67 comments)        [ Add Your Rating! ]
Manufacturer: Data East Pinball, Incorporated (1986-1994)
Date Of Manufacture: January 08, 1994
Model Number: 500-5528-01
MPU: DataEast/Sega Version 3
Type: Solid State Electronic (SS) [?]
Production: 4,700 units   (confirmed)
Serial Number Database:View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme: Celebrities - Fictional - Licensed Theme - Musical
Notable Features: Flippers (3), Pop bumpers (3), Multiball (6). Flipper blinders extend from under metal apron to cover flipper area from player's view. Unlimited buy-in balls per player (operator option).
Toys: Captain Walker's airplane, Raising/Lowering mirror.
Design by: Joe Kaminkow, Ed Cebula, Lonnie D. Ropp, Lyman F. Sheats Jr.
Art by: Kurt Andersen, Markus Rothkranz
Dots/Animation by: Kurt Andersen, Jack Liddon
Music by: Brian Schmidt
Sound by: Brian Schmidt
Software by: Lonnie D. Ropp, Lyman F. Sheats Jr., John Carpenter
Notes: 10 pre-production prototypes were made for promotional use in conjunction with the off-Broadway productions. These prototypes had six pop bumpers. The game made its debut at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas in October of 1993, one of these games fell off the truck and was destroyed. Another was used in the 1993 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, this special machine was rigged for "autoplay" and had no backbox, electronics were cabinet-mounted. Reportedly, these prototypes may have had EM chime units.

Pictured in this listing is a game with 3 pop bumpers and which has a playfield matching the one in the manufacturer’s flyer, showing the Union Jack with fat white stripes and the hard-to-read Acid Queen inserts, two details that were changed for production games. The entrance to the VUK has two unused drilled holes not found in production. The inside of the cabinet is tagged ‘S/N P7.103’ and the upper playfield has a plain white airplane with markings on it. We contacted Eric Winston, one of the Data East tech engineers who brought Tommy to life, for his comments. He did not specifically recall this game or the white airplane but he did say that the 'P' on the airplane meant 'prototype' and the 545-5483-00 is a part number, and the signature below it would be Ed Cebula who would sign off on the part. He did not know if the serial number P7.103 meant a prototype but after seeing the bare metal habitrails on this playfield instead of chromed production ones, he offered his best belief that the serial number was a 'cabinet prototype number'. Considering also the white airplane, the Acid Queen inserts, and the pre-production Union Jack, Eric said that everything points to believing this is a prototype game. We note the manufacturer sticker on the back of the game shows a serial number 103046 which is early in the run but not the earliest number. The green tag on the cabinet front may be from an operator. This tag carries Dutch language and a date of '07 februari 1994'. The game is located in the Netherlands. We have categorized this game with its 3 pop bumper design as a prototype.

Another 3 pop bumper prototype game presented here (serial number 102959) and located in Germany shows its upper left flipper mounted higher than in production games. The owner states a second hole is underneath the flipper to accommodate the flipper shaft if relocated. Like the aforementioned prototype game, the entrance to the VUK has two unused drilled holes not found in production. This game has a white flipper blinder instead of black. The Date of Manufacture sticker is stamped as Jan 07 1994, a day earlier than the start of production as indicated on a company document that we have. On this sticker, we see an earlier date of Jan 04 1994 had been present.

Production games can be found with one of two different color schemes on the playfield surrounding the VUK hole. One version shows unpainted wood just below the hole and white paint just above the hole. The other version shows black paint both above and below this hole.

We previously listed the Manufacture Date as January, 1994 (no day specified).
This game was produced from Jan-8-1994 to Apr-9-1994.
We previously indicated a production run quantity of 3,500 units.

Marketing Slogans: "See it, feel it, touch it, play it, BUY IT!"
"Tommy, a name that means pinball."
Photos in: The Complete Pinball BookExternal Link, pages 57, 113, and 125
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book S-Z
Rule Sheets: The Who's Tommy Guide Vaerion 1 (Mar/2/1994), by Dave Stewart  
Owners List URL:http://www.pinballowners.com/owners/2579  (External site)
Easter Eggs:Available at Cows and Easter Eggs  (External site)
Additional Media:Example of Prototype Game Play (at YouTube) [14:24]  (External site)
ROMs: 260 KB ZIP PinMAME Romset (3.00 Holland)
  2 MB ZIP PinMAME Romset (4.00)
  2 MB ZIP ROMs
Documentation: 6 MB PDF English Manual
  3 MB PDF Manual (Preliminary) [Data East USA]
Files: 170 KB PDF Instruction Card [Data East (Stern)]
  192 KB ZIP Reproduction Instruction Card [Volker]
Images:
(click to zoom)
Image # 2470: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Backglass
Backglass

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Image # 2473: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield
Playfield

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[Russ Jensen]
Image # 3248: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Flyer - Front
Flyer - Front

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Image # 3249: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Flyer - Back
Flyer - Back

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Image # 3256: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard German Flyer - Front
German Flyer - Front

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Image # 3257: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard German Flyer - Back
German Flyer - Back

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Image # 7980: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield
Playfield

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7981: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7982: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Middle Playfield
Middle Playfield

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7983: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7984: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7985: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Right
Cabinet - Right

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7986: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Backbox - Right
Backbox - Right

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7987: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7988: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Backbox - Left
Backbox - Left

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7990: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Under Playfield
Under Playfield

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 7991: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Inside Backbox
Inside Backbox

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[Casey Davis]
Image # 9708: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Full View
Cabinet - Full View

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[Christopher Wolf]
Image # 15076: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield
Playfield

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[John Hoge]
Image # 15077: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Illuminated Backglass
Illuminated Backglass

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[John Hoge]
Image # 19022: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield Mirror
Playfield Mirror

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[IceWarm]
Image # 19023: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

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[IceWarm]
Image # 19024: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Illuminated Lower Playfield
Illuminated Lower Playfield

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[IceWarm]
Image # 19025: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Union Jack
Union Jack

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[IceWarm]
Image # 19026: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

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[IceWarm]
Image # 25606: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Original Painting For Prototype Backglass 
(Artist is Markus Rothkranz.Acrylic paint on canvas board.Dimensions 35 1/2 inches by 31 inches.)
Original Painting For Prototype Backglass*

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[Harold Balde]
Image # 36816: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Blank Playfield
Blank Playfield

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[Mark Clayton]
Image # 36817: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Blank Playfield - Upper
Blank Playfield - Upper

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[Mark Clayton]
Image # 36818: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Blank Playfield - Middle
Blank Playfield - Middle

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[Mark Clayton]
Image # 36819: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Blank Playfield - Lower
Blank Playfield - Lower

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[Mark Clayton]
Image # 39944: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Backglass
Prototype - Backglass

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39945: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype Playfield - Six Pop Bumpers
Prototype Playfield - Six Pop Bumpers

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39946: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Upper Playfield
Prototype - Upper Playfield

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39947: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Upper Playfield
Prototype - Upper Playfield

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39948: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Middle Playfield
Prototype - Middle Playfield

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39949: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Lower Playfield
Prototype - Lower Playfield

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39950: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Six Pop Bumpers
Prototype - Six Pop Bumpers

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39951: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Under Playfield
Prototype - Under Playfield

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39952: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Under Upper Playfield
Prototype - Under Upper Playfield

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[Mike Nogle]
Image # 39957: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Illuminated Backglass
Prototype - Illuminated Backglass

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[Koi Morris]
Image # 39958: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Upper Playfield
Prototype - Upper Playfield

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[Koi Morris]
Image # 39959: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Lower Pop Bumpers
Prototype - Lower Pop Bumpers

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[Koi Morris]
Image # 39960: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Illuminated Front View
Prototype - Illuminated Front View

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[Koi Morris]
Image # 41864: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Flipper Blinder Assembly
Flipper Blinder Assembly

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[Jim Sousae]
Image # 41865: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Flipper Blinder Assembly - Detail
Flipper Blinder Assembly - Detail

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[Jim Sousae]
Image # 41866: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Flipper Blinder Assembly - Detail
Flipper Blinder Assembly - Detail

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[Jim Sousae]
Image # 44615: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Backbox - Right
Backbox - Right

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[Mauro Ferreyra]
Image # 44616: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Right
Cabinet - Right

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[Mauro Ferreyra]
Image # 44617: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

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[Mauro Ferreyra]
Image # 53399: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Light Shield Removed
Playfield - Light Shield Removed

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[Damian Parrino]
Image # 53400: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Light Shield Removed
Playfield - Light Shield Removed

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[Damian Parrino]
Image # 53401: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Light Shield Removed
Playfield - Light Shield Removed

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[Damian Parrino]
Image # 53402: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Light Shield Removed
Playfield - Light Shield Removed

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[Damian Parrino]
Image # 53403: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Light Shield Removed
Playfield - Light Shield Removed

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[Damian Parrino]
Image # 53404: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Playfield - Light Shield Removed
Playfield - Light Shield Removed

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[Damian Parrino]
Image # 61120: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Backglass
Backglass

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[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 61121: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Illuminated Backglass
Illuminated Backglass

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[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 61122: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet Side
Cabinet Side

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[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 61123: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

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[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 61124: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Illuminated Front View
Illuminated Front View

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[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 61125: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Front View
Cabinet - Front View

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[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 65498: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Rear
Cabinet - Rear

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Image # 65499: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Cabinet - Full View
Cabinet - Full View

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Image # 66525: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Backglass
Prototype - Backglass

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Image # 66526: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype Playfield - Three Pop Bumpers
Prototype Playfield - Three Pop Bumpers

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Image # 66527: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Upper Playfield
Prototype - Upper Playfield

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Image # 66528: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Lower Playfield
Prototype - Lower Playfield

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Image # 66529: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Lower Playfield - Downfield View
Prototype - Lower Playfield - Downfield View

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Image # 66530: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Airplane Detail
Prototype - Airplane Detail

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Image # 66531: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Airplane Detail
Prototype - Airplane Detail

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Image # 66532: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Cabinet - Left
Prototype - Cabinet - Left

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Image # 66533: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Cabinet - Front
Prototype - Cabinet - Front

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Image # 66534: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Operator Sticker
Prototype - Operator Sticker

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Image # 66535: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Manufacturer Sticker
Prototype - Manufacturer Sticker

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Image # 66536: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Inside Cabinet Serial Number
Prototype - Inside Cabinet Serial Number

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Image # 78856: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype Playfield - Three Pop Bumpers 
(Serial number 102959.)
Prototype Playfield - Three Pop Bumpers*

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[Florian Wittenberg]
Image # 78857: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype Playfield - Higher-Positioned Flipper 
(Serial number 102959.)
Prototype Playfield - Higher-Positioned Flipper*

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[Florian Wittenberg]
Image # 78858: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype Playfield - Extra Post Holes 
(Serial number 102959.)
Prototype Playfield - Extra Post Holes*

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[Florian Wittenberg]
Image # 78859: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype Playfield - White Flipper Blinder 
(Serial number 102959.)
Prototype Playfield - White Flipper Blinder*

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[Florian Wittenberg]
Image # 78860: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Manufacturer Sticker 
(Serial number 102959.)
Prototype - Manufacturer Sticker*

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[Florian Wittenberg]
Image # 78861: The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Prototype - Manufacture Date 
(Serial number 102959.)
Prototype - Manufacture Date*

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[Florian Wittenberg]
 

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