I won a new machine, time to start all over.

[Bigdog]

What method and materials did you use to clean the pins? How about the Playfield?

[heavyguitarman]

I used Brasso and a q-tip on the pins, a small area at a time, then buffed off with a 1/2" strip of cloth. Now that I think about it a shoestring would probably do a good job. The playfield I used glass cleaner on one end of a q-tip, then quickly flipped it around to dry up the liquid. Very tedious work, both took me about 3 hrs, but I love the outcome. Next on to the plastic blue tray in front.

[Bigdog]

My personal pin-shining method is Brasso and a shoestring (actually, several shoestrings). I've found it to be unbelievably tedious, but then again, my machines seem to have more grime build-up than others.

Your pins look really good...I was just wondering if you had come up with a better mousetrap.

[heavyguitarman]

Well the chrome finish was pitted as I'm assuming alot of these old machines are, but it wasnt' near as bad as the last machine I refurbished, so I started polishing as best as i could. Here's a pic of the center tray section. After looking at the pic, its kinda dark, I'll be finished polishing everything in just a few, I'll stand back and take another one.

[heavyguitarman]

Well Im almost done. I need to buff out the wood I stained, clean a few more plastic features, and fix the glass door mechanism. (see second pic...the tabs don't line up quite right) Then mount to the wall, but this one should be easier since I have a swingout frame. Wow I'm getting with the times.

[Eddie]

Well the chrome finish was pitted as I'm assuming alot of these old machines are, but it wasnt' near as bad as the last machine I refurbished, so I started polishing as best as i could. Here's a pic of the center tray section. After looking at the pic, its kinda dark, I'll be finished polishing everything in just a few, I'll stand back and take another one.

Its hard getting good photos of the chrome especially with a flash. Its best to take the pic in the Sunlight or from a distance with the zoom on and flash using high shutter speed. Or of course take the pic from an angle.

You probably already know this but I thought I would throw in some help if needed.

[heavyguitarman]

yea I'll do that probably tomorrow, when I get off work its usually dark.

[heavyguitarman]

Um i posted a picture of the tabs that hold the glass door...they don't want to move when i pull on the rod. Any suggestions? Remember I might be doing something wrong this machine is still new to me. Thanks in advance

[compirate]

Looking at the back, the bottom one should be pointing Southwest. Can't remember whether the catches at the front are both up or top up and bottom down. I think they're spring loaded so they won't move unless the door closes on them.

[heavyguitarman]

thanks compirate ill keep looking at it. had to step out and take a quick pic of the space shuttle.

[luckydog]

thats about all i saw outside of the shuttle launch tonight too

[heavyguitarman]

Ok the bottom lock tab is correct the top one is not. This is the locked position. Upon unlock, the top one swings counterclockwise about a quarter of a turn, so i need to bring it to the right. I tried the nut in the back, but was a bit unsure. I was able to position the tab where i wanted but since it's spring loaded, couldn't lock the nut back. I thought I had it figured out. Just trying to get some info before I begin to get into taking the whole mechinism off and studying it. Here's something else - in the back, mine uses a wire rod and a loop to grap which moves 2 cam looking latches up or down. Some of the pics I've seen on vintagepachinko.com use what appears to be a diffterent locking mechanism...HELP

[sharmoni]

QUESTION: another reason i like this machine is that balls rarely drop out the back ...What condition triggers a ball to drop into the "tupperware"? Nishijin Type A

My 60s Nishijin single shot has the same backside mechanisms. The winning jackpot balls are returned to the payout tray and the losing balls return to the middle hopper. The only time balls come out of the back is when you deliberately flip the lever on the end of the double-railed payout dump tray. That will empty every ball out of the all the hoppers (making it easier to swing the case open for maintenance in a parlor). Then you have to squeeze the two levers back together or your balls will continue to run out of the machine.

It's my favorite vintage because I never have to refill the hopper—unless I win too many balls. Also it's my favorite because it's the first one I ever bought and it looks exactly like the first pachinko I ever saw when I was a kid.

Interesting note: The jackpot dump tray has two rows of 7 balls which would be a 14 ball payout, but because the jackpot ball is returned to the payout tray the machine actually pays out 15, which was the standard payout for other pachinko machines with a circular jackpot dump tray.

Historical note: The progression of payouts went from 5 balls in pachinkos made in the late 40s, then to 10 quickly followed by 15 around the early 50s. 15 ball jackpots stayed the standard until electronic payouts allowed for varying amounts to be released.

[heavyguitarman]

Ok Sharmoni, about the glass door locking mechanism. Look at the machine on vintagepachinko.com. It's called the owl. See the two locking mechanisms are to the right and the rod is to the right, then look at this pic of mine. I need to reposition the top mechanism...but how? It looks like maybe ill have to unattach the rod.

[heavyguitarman]

Ok well I fixed it. Took off the whole assembly and took the rod off the top lock, which allowed me to rotate it to where it needed to be. Someone tinkered with it before and forgot how it was put together. Im guessing about the time that the polaroid instamatic cameras came out and pictures were close to 1$ a piece.


Proper latch positions if door closed on Nishijin A with wire rod/loop control. (incase some nincompoop messed with it before you get your hands on it)...pic is a bit blurry, but both are pointing at about 4 o'clock

[compirate]

All my vintages are buried, I was only off by 90 degrees on the wrong catch (50% chance), so seeing as it's Friday at 10:44pm EST, and the dog is laying facing N by NW, I had a 32.6% chance of getting it right.

65% of all statistics are made up, 3 out of 4 people know that!

[heavyguitarman]

Well now that my door fits "like a glove" , tomorrow I'll be off to get some more glass and replace the dull plexi that it came with. They're getting to know me very well in the glass section at Lowes. I'm gonna do alittle bit of searching here at cabinet pics and probably get those supplies as well. I think this machine will be alot easier to mount than the dragon machine. Also wife is freaking out so I've been trying to get her into it. I'll post pics tomorrow of what I've accomplished. Thanks everybody again for helping me with my first Nishijin.

[compirate]

Also wife is freaking out so I've been trying to get her into it. I'll post pics tomorrow of what I've accomplished.

Perhaps an "Iron Maiden", or similar device will bring her in line?

[sharmoni]

These are a little late, but here's the pics from my older Power Flash Nishijin which has the same door lock mechanism. I'm posting these for future readers. The first two show the open position on the front and the back. The second two show the closed position from the front (though you would not normally see this) and the back.

[sharmoni]

Regarding my earlier post on the ball release lever, your machine has a different setup because the jackpot balls feed back into the top tray for the semi-automatic shooter. There is a hole in the left front of the machine where you can poke a paperclip through to trigger the release lever. I believe the small wire loop on the back bottom right will reset the lever.

You can see in these photos of my older Nishijin A the differences in the back mechanisms. Yours has an extra bell added so the balls that don't drop down to what has become the overflow tray will still ring as they go to the shooter tray.