Nishijin Type A: Why was recycling design abandoned?

[Pinball Clicks]

These photos show the Nishijin Type A that I purchased from the H. B. Davis catalog about 40 years ago as a gift for my father. I check and clean it about once a year when I visit him.

Nishijin Type A machines recycle loosing balls into the jackpot tray. This is a great feature for home use. My father seldom needs to refill the top tray from his cardboard ball collection box.

I believe that commercial operations also would benefit from the reduced ball handling outside of the game.

Why did Nishijin abandon this design?

[compirate]

Because of the invention of automatic aisle-centric ball handling systems.

[digital1]

Also I was told that it would be nasty to never wash your balls.

[mudfud]

we talked about this before... I think the GERMS are why they had to go to non-recirculating systems. they actually wash and dry the balls and tokens between users.

kinda makes sense if you think about how those cold viruses get on surfaces.

with the older machines, you handled the balls a lot more, so I am sure that you could get rhino viruses and such from other people if the balls went round and round.

for home use, though, I totally like the A's setup better.

welcome to pachitalk!

[Cystic]

I find I like the Nishijin "A" type more and more. I now have three Singles-Shot and two late model double tray types. I now am looking for a transition model where the ball drain from upper tray to lower goes down the front and not through the body like the later models.

The tag dates on my newest Double Tray "A" is 49-8 I didn't think they went that late.

I am lucky as I live near a large navel base and shipyard and I think all but one of my A's where G.I. bring backs. One I got from the man that bought it in Dec-69 coming out of Vietnam by way of Japan. He and two friends, all bought machines and he has a pic with them standing by the ship with the machines in front of them, I remind him to please find it every other month. If you where in the Navy most stopped for a bit in Japan on there way out of Vietnam. I play cards with a guy that was on the Kitty Hawk and he got out in Feb-70 and he and 3 buddies all stopped in Yokosuka Japan for a bit and all bought Double Tray machines and 1000 balls for $5. The Single-Shot models with 1000 balls went for $3.50. He has a pic of all of them on the bunks in their room. I am reminding him every other week to find it so I can post it.

The "A" I have from the man that bought it is a Single-Shot and I find it is so "tight" that the ball tray overflows and it will jam. The front will also fill with balls and that is just weird. I cannot believe that it was played that way for long but it is in great shape and maybe that saved wear on it.

I do find that my hand gets tired feeding balls in one at the time but it is kinda fun.

[Moparformances]

I have said this meany times

the model "A" is my fav as well.. and i think its the best especialy if u have kids playing.. since u dont have to keep filling the upper hopper kids can play it longer with out refilling..