Thoughts on Togin
I know some members have come across these crazy "Togin Tokyo" machines, and now that I have restored a few I would like to make a few observations and a few conjectures that may provide some insight.
First off, we should understand that the machine manufacturers did not make all of their parts any more than Ford makes all of their parts. Many smaller companies would make a few parts, such as spinners, or maybe plastic WIN pocket covers. Nishijin might order a million spinners one year of a certain type, and Sangyo might order a million of another. Sometimes the small companies would design interesting parts and features and then "pitch" them to Nishijin and others, and other times they would simply manufacture them from design orders. Even background designs were farmed out to graphics companies, just like any other components. A Nishijin machine , while assembeld by Nishijin, was the product of dozens of smaller parts fabricated by smaller companies. Sophia for example was a leading maker of the plastic rear covers and rails, and their trademark can be found on the rear of machines assembled by dozens of manufacturers.
Togin machines are a real oddity. They are literally the "red-headed stepchild" of pachinko machines. It does not appear as if they were ever intended to be used in parlors, but rather, they were built for export and resale in the United States. I have yet to find a Togin machine with an expiration tag.
Togin machines appear to have been assembled with spare parts from other machines, and it appears that many of these spare parts were recycled from expired machies as well. The backgrounds are pulled from a variety of manufacturers, as are the attractions, tulips, mechanics, and even the ball trays. They can be oddly mismatched making determining a maufacture date pretty much impossible. I have one with a 1977 center attraction from a Daicii, jackpot and ball out lights from a 1975 Nishijin, a background from a 1976 Sankyo, a front overflow tray from i don't know where, and a front case from a 1974 Nishijin. Add to that some ball catchers from a Heiwa and you have a real chimera. The chrome on the front ball tray shows the unmistabable marks of a previous Nishijin badge, and was replaced with a "Togin Tokyo" badge.
The playfield graphic was not adhered to the playfield with the standard "combed" adhesive, but was instead stuck to some sort of bizarro spray adhesive that is so rubbery I cannot sand it off. It resists both acetone and turpentine. I still haven't figured out how to remove it. Kids, don't try this at home. It will be frustrating.
In short, beware there crazy things if you intend to take them on as a restoration project. They may not be worth the effort because when it comes to Togin machines, nothing is as it appears.
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