Update: I replaced two of the plastics today (6/27) See the new pictures below.
I purchased this Target Alpha for my personal collection. Although I have had a great time with it, my garage is full, so it is time for it to move on. This playfield design was so popular it was made into 5 different themed pinball machines: Target Alpha, Canada Dry, El Dorado, Gold Strike, Lucky Strike, and Solar City. It was designed by Ed Krysisncki who was a prolific designer with Gottlieb churning out hundreds of machines. He is famous for Sinbad, Spirit of 76, Royal Flush, Joker Poker, and 2001. This unique design has 4 flippers, two 3" and two 2". It has alternately placed bumpers but a standard bottom. You can earn extra balls by knocking down all of the lower targets or all of the upper targets and then rolling over the extra ball lanes. You can score a special as well by knocking down all of the upper targets. The 10 point switches on the machine alternate the 5000 point yellow lights for the outlanes and upper lanes.
This particular machine is a nice example. The backglass is in nice condition. It has some paint wear in the lower right corner and a couple of spots in the center. The #44 bulbs burned too hot and would eventually damage the paint. The playfield is in nice condition with no serious paint wear. There is a small area of discoloring above the lower left flipper.
This game was completely not working when I bought it. It was full of kids toys, trash, and Legos. It had a nice base to work from, so I cleaned it up and learned every inch of the schematics as I chased problem after problem. The machine now works like a champ, but everyday was a new list of things going wrong and a new adventure. I must have put over well over 60 hours into this machine to resurrect it. There is just something magical about Gottlieb chimes and drop targets.
Playfield with new left slingshot plastic and new lower drop target plastic.
Here is the back of the backglass. You can see the black foam material that was used to pad the glass against the light panel. It faded the glass a bit on the opposite side.
This machine has amazing flipper power when you consider how small these flipper coils are.
Each machine seems to bring a new challenge. The bottom right relay in the backbox I had never seen before. It is like a combination of a rotary unit and a relay. Once it was cleaned up the lights would alternate again.
Ah, Gottlieb chimes. This machine still has its original coil box. I always save original parts (I'm not sure why. I guess I figure someone may want them.) This machine had brittle pop bumper caps that were crushed when they were removed to replace the bulbs. Even though I was very gentle with the one that is in the coin box, 3-4 tabs still broke off. The new ones look great.
Every relay is like a puzzle. Fun when it is fixed, but quite an adventure when something isn't working.
I'm guessing this wear is from the light box. Perhaps the glass rubbed there when it was removed?
Small spot on her helmet where the paint has flaked away. Removing the light bulb right behind this damage makes the glass look better.
Small flake on her leg. I'm not quite sure what the girls job is in this game. None of them are shooting.
This is the opposite side of the foam protective sections (above and below)
Tiny flake in Gottlieb.
Strange faded mark on the playfield. Perhaps something spilled when someone repaired it? Left slingshot plastic has been replaced (see above).
Usually flippers leave an arcing wear mark. This one dug in to the playfield in the extended position (perhaps a burned coil at some point?)
There is some wear to the upper section of the playfield. Not too bad.
This one is cracked
Piece broke off and was taped back on. Hard to tell when you are playing,
The left corner (actually lower corner) of this plastic is broken off. They sell circular plastic washer now that you can add to protect the plastics from this type of wear.
