Internet Pinball Machine Database: Gottlieb 'Flying Circus'

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Flying Circus

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Flying Circus / IPD No. 902 / June, 1961 / 2 Players

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Average Fun Rating:

7.5/10 (13 ratings/11 comments) [ Add Your Rating! ]

Manufacturer:

D. Gottlieb & Company (1931-1977) [Trade Name: Gottlieb]

Date Of Manufacture:

June, 1961

Model Number:

176

Type:

Electro-mechanical (EM)

Production:

2,050 units (confirmed)

Serial Number Database:

View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net) (External site)

Theme:

Circus/Carnival

Notable Features:

Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (4), Slingshots (2), Gobble holes (2), Captive balls (5). New "Chain Reaction" Booster Ball feature awards Special when 5 balls on lit side. 3 or 5 ball play.

Maximum displayed point score is 1,999 points per player.

Replay wheel maximum: 26

Sound 2 bells, knocker

Design by:

Wayne Neyens

Art by:

Roy Parker

Notes:

We previously showed a date for this game of May 1961. The new date is per Gottlieb documentation.

This is the first pinball machine by any manufacturer to have five captive balls positioned to function similar to a Newton's Cradle toy where the ball in play hits the lower end of the column of captive balls and only the ball at the upper end of the column is propelled in response. The manufacturer's flyer introduced this feature as "Booster Ball" although it was called "Boost-A-Ball" on the only other Gottlieb game to have it, Gottlieb's 1962 'Sunset'. It was given various other names on subsequent games from other manufacturers. Designer Wayne Neyens was inspired to create this playfield device after seeing the large Newton's Cradle exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

Photos in:

The Billboard, Jul-3-1961, page 45
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book A-F

Images:
(click to zoom)

Playfield 310x488 [Russ Jensen]	Backglass 492x459	Flyer 900x675	Score Card 432x796 [Scott Phillips]	Single-slot Coin Door 887x565 [Grosbois]
Backbox - Right 805x1111 [Grosbois]	Cabinet - Right 1024x631 [Grosbois]	Backglass 662x585 [Dave Martin]	Playfield* 600x800 [Dave Martin]	Upper Playfield 800x600 [Dave Martin]
Middle Playfield* 800x600 [Dave Martin]	Lower Playfield* 800x600 [Dave Martin]	Cabinet - Left* 772x600 [Dave Martin]	Cabinet - Right* 800x600 [Dave Martin]	Two-Slot Coin Door 610x600 [Dave Martin]
Backglass 1024x881	Backglass 612x566 [Col Wood]	Upper Playfield 560x746 [Col Wood]	Illuminated Backglass 1024x768 [David Lougy]	Upper Playfield 1024x768 [David Lougy]
Booster Ball Special Lit 1024x768 [David Lougy]	Lower Playfield 1024x768 [David Lougy]	Backglass - Detail 1024x768 [David Lougy]	Backglass - Detail 1024x768 [David Lougy]	Billboard Ad* 1024x730 [Rob Hawkins]
Backglass 994x776 [Hendrik Myburgh]	Backglass - Reverse 978x760 [Hendrik Myburgh]	Backbox Insert - Front 1103x800 [Hendrik Myburgh]	Backbox Insert - Back 1012x800 [Hendrik Myburgh]	Under Playfield 673x1200 [Hendrik Myburgh]
Motor Board 800x1200 [Hendrik Myburgh]

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