Random Thoughts & Pictures
This machine didn't actually belong to me. But I like making webpages, so here it is. A friend of mine put this Sure Shot in my gameroom because he was temporarily out of space in his own gameroom. The game arrived in my basement on February 16, 2018 and departed on September 21, 2018. The game was subsequently sold in January 2021. When games pass my way I'm always curious to hear where they may have ended up. If you happen to own this specific Sure Shot (Gottlieb Serial Number 06123), shoot me an email.
Without knowing much about games from this era, I'd say this example was in great shape. The backglass was bright including all the red colors. There were no cracks or flaking. The playfield was bright. There was some ball swirl. And there was a bit of insert wear and a small wear spot in front of each eject hole. The center target plastic was chipped. That's about it. There was no cabinet fade. Aside from a few scuffs and corner wear, the cabinet was solid with no missing chunks, gouges or lockdown holes.
Backglass detail.
Backglass detail.
Playfield detail.
Playfield detail.
Playfield detail.
Playfield detail.
Playfield detail.
Playfield detail.
As of 2018 I had been collecting pinball machines for about 12 years. But I never owned an EM machine. It was interesting to get a look at one up close. I thought that if I ever did get an EM it would be a Gottlieb wedgehead. I like the one player EMs because the features don't reset from ball to ball. I especially like the big flipper drop target wedgeheads such as Volley or Abra Ca Dabra. So except for the drop targets, this Sure Shot was exactly what I had in mind. I didn't want to poke around at this game because it didn't belong to me. But I did spend a lot of time looking under the hood...
Under the playfield.
Bottom panel inside the cabinet.
The game was in great shape, but can this counter really be correct?.
Inside the head.
In 1975 and 1976 there were about a dozen Gottlieb games built with a funky sort of credit meter or replay unit which is sometimes referred to the half-moon style. Half-moon refers to the shape of the credit window in the backglass. This unit was patented as U.S. patent 3,793,510, "Add and Subtract Relay". The patent describes the unit as being shockproof such that one cannot advance the unit by slamming on the game. Sure Shot appears to have been the last game with this type of replay unit.
"Half-Moon" replay unit.
"Half-Moon" backglass window.
Another related patent is U.S. Patent 3,901,511 which is directed toward the illuminated eject hole or "Lighted hole assembly and ball projector for playboard". In the case of Sure Shot, the eject holes are lit for Special.
"Lighted hole assembly and ball projector for playboard".
"Lighted hole assembly and ball projector for playboard" on Sure Shot.
Promotional flyer. Click image for larger picture.