For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast

Interview with Ryan Claytor 6-14-18

·1 hr 28 min·5 clips

Nick Baldrige visits artist Ryan Claytor in Michigan to repair multiple vintage pinball machines during his vacation.

Nick Baldrige visits Ryan Claytor in Michigan, framing the episode around repairing pinball machines during a vacation. They start with Penny Pitch, diagnosing a stepper unit issue where switches failed to signal max extension, causing endless clunking. A residual short in the wiring bundle remains unresolved. Next, they discuss Paul Bunyan, a 1968 Gottlieb game with six downward-facing flippers and a challenging ABC sequence on rollovers and stand-up targets. They note designer Wayne Nyssa's rushed development but appreciate its retro-modern throwback to earlier flipper designs. The conversation shifts to Bally Sheba from 1964, highlighting its artwork, metallic gold screen printing, and Ted Zale mushroom target gameplay. Repairs included fixing a player-up unit reset issue and minor switch adjustments. They cover a United Thunderbird shuffle alley from 1977, detailing extensive stepper rebuilds, a missing motor replacement sourced via Steve Young, and a scoring issue in Flash mode. Ryan's flipperless game Metro, a 1940 Genco title, is examined for its bell bumpers, multiple sequences, and strategic gameplay involving lit bumpers and rollovers. The episode concludes with advocacy for flipperless games, a preview of a York show reveal, and reflections on the meditative satisfaction of EM restoration.

As heard by us

A Michigan repair visit turns a stubborn Penny Pitch fault into an easygoing path toward bingo pinball.

A Michigan visit becomes a hands-on repair hangout, with Nick Baldrige and Ryan Claytor moving from the welcome of Claytor's home to the stubborn problem inside Penny Pitch.

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Why you'd press play

You get a Michigan repair visit where a Penny Pitch problem comes down to one tiny broken wire.

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