Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1981-October - Vol 3 Issue 8

* Excellent
back-up service from
Seeburg distributor: Shreveport,
LA
NSM-interchangeability of com-
ponents is fantastic: Phoenix, AZ
(Con)
Seeburg has too dam many parts
on mechanism. Too many adjust-
ments are necessary: Sioux City,
IA
The Seeburg system before Stem
is tough to service: Newcomers-
town, OH
The Rock-Ola remote cable is too
fragile: Springfield, IL
I think the manufacturers are add-
ing too many features to the
machines to justify their high cost,
and this only gives us more to
repair: New York, NY
* Midway schematics are clear and
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
2. Whose machines, in general, do
you feel most comfortable trouble-
shooting?
PINS
91%
Bally
Williams
24%
23%
Stem
5%
Gottlieb
Why:
Bally has good schematics and
good troubleshooting guides:
Eugene, OR
Bally- most problems that develop
can be taken care of on location:
Boston, MA
Williams has very good diagnos-
tics: Corpus Christi, TX
Bally has an excellent service book
and they use large print on their
schematics: Red Bluff, CA
From the beginning ofMPU games,
Bally always has given better circuit
explanations: Pertl'l, Australia
Stem, Bally, Williams - all have
good documentation: Wichita, KS
Bally has the most thorough trouble-
shooting charts: Bakersfield, CA
Stem labels each component on
their PCB's: Lake Placid, NY
Bally - their system makes sense:
Wichita Falls, TX
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
VIDEO
Atari
Midway
Williams
Stem
Gremlin/ Sega
Cinematronics
Centuri
Universal
55%
54%
9%
9%
2%
2%
1 %
1 %
Why:
Atari manuals are like an instruc-
tion course in computers: Waipahu,
HI
*
PINS
the factory support is good: M em-
phis, TN
Atari supplies everything you need
in their game service package:
Madison, WI
Midway's card system- easy isola-
tion of faulty card: Newport News,
VA
Atari and Midway make machines
that run well: Boston, MA
Midway because they are very
helpful on their toll-free service
lines: Rio Piedras, PR
Atari's "The Book" is outstanding:
Omaha, NE
MUSIC
Rowe/AMI
Rock-Ola
Seeburg
NSM
Wurlitzer
28%
24%
13%
5%
1%
Why:
Rowe/ AMI - the leader in keeping
operators informed to problems
and schools: Painesville, OH
Rock-Ola's service instructions are
well explained: Lincoln, NE
Rowe/ AMI-good service literature
and good back-up from distributor
and manufacturer: Flint, MI
Seeburg has a logical layout, also
has a good write-in/read out sys-
tem: Milwaukee, WI
3. Which manufacturers, in your opin-
ion, design their products with service
in mind?
PINS
81%
Bally
28%
Williams
18%
Stem
10%
Gottlieb
2%
Atari
*
VIDEO
Atari
Midway
Stem
Williams
Gremlin/Sega
Cinematronics
Centuri
Taito
MUSIC
Rowe/AMI
Rock-Ola
Seeburg
NSM
48%
42%
20%
15%
3%
2%
1%
1%
30%
19%
9%
5%
4. Which manufacturers, in your
opinion, seem to ignore the service
aspect?
33%
33%
11%
9%
3%
1%
VIDEO
Gremlin/Sega
Cinematronics
Taito
Midway
Stem
Centuri
Atari
Exidy
Williams
Universal
28%
17%
15%
13%
13%
11%
10%
9%
5%
5%
MUSIC
Seeburg
Wurlitzer
Rock-Ola
Rowe/AMI
*
*
*
Gottlieb
Williams
Stem
Game Plan
Atari
Bally
NSM
23%
8%
5%
4%
2%
Additional Comments:
Games like Stern's "Berzerk" and
Williams "Defender" have come
a long way toward speeding repair
deduction (finding the problem
area): Fresno, CA
I must compliment Midway on the
attitude of their service depart-
ment. They're always helpful and
cooperative: San Diego, CA
I would like to see video mfg use
one system with well documented
manuals on game operation and
theory: Trenton, TN
All mfg need to improve the back-
door interlock situation and better
engineering design is needed on
the player panel layout: Grants
Pass, OR
Why don't mfg's put fans in videos?:
Lakewood, CA
Mfg' s should refine their machines
and parts instead of constantly
changing designs: Worchester, MA
Some mfg's have toll-free service
numbers-but ever try to get through
to them?: McAllen, TX
Information manuals should be
available at the same time as the
machines: Omaha, NE
Any mfg that does not furnish
signatures with their schematics
will be left behind as far as service
is concerned - without service we
can't operate: Bakersfield, CA
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
S*TJ OCTOBER 1981 9
DALLA/
/AO
DIEGO
A Single Week That Can Change
The
Direction of Your Career
For Years To Com.e.
How can you benefit from the Arcade School?

You will receive 46 hours of comprehensive, practical training in electronic amuse-
ment repair.

You will learn about basic electronic theory, semiconductors (diodes, transistors,
integrated circuits, etc.), power supplies, video game monitors, electronic pinball
systems, video game systems, and more.

You will learn to read an electronic schematic!!

You will have ample opportunity to ask questions about your own specific problems
and concerns.

You will enjoy the informal and relaxed atmosphere of the classes.

Hands on experience with typical repair
experience in solid-state amusement repair.

You will learn to repair electronic games without the need for expensive test equip-
ment. The course stresses the use of digital multimeter and logic probe; relatively
inexpensive equipment that most operators and mechanics can easily afford.
situations gives students practical
6123 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, California 92115
For Information and Reservations
CALL
(714) 286-0172
S•TJ OCTOBER 1981 10

Download Page 9: PDF File | Image

Download Page 10 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.