Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #080 - 1981 - October [International Arcade Museum]
Arcade Magic
by Steve Gronowskl
THE ELECTRIC ENERGIZER
or
SPEAR THE DRAGON
The
"Electric
Energizer"
or
"Spear the Dragon" as it is more
commonly known, was built as a
floor model machine. The cabinet
was made from natural finished oak
with
nickeled
trimmings.
The
machine stood 7 feet 4 inches and
uncrated weighed 130 lbs. The
ornate scene decorating the front
of the cabinet was made from paper
mache' which was painted to high
light the theme.
Two
Chinese-looking
guards
holding spears flank the sign which
presents the challenge of testing
your nerve. Above the sign a"f ierce-
looking" dragon blocks the exit from
a bridge, but a valiant warrior
brandishing a spear takes his
position at the opposite end of the
bridge. A very appropo ornate
touch is the marquee crowning the
top of the slick machine. Two
dragons curl inward at each end of
the marquee with the words Electric
Energizer appearing to roll from
their mouths. The monetary symbol
com
.
m
:
u
from -muse
from paper mache1 ed
while those
e
oad twenties
made in the nl late
rcad were
a
.
w
made from
After being
Do aluminum.
www identical.
/
/
:
painted, both
looked
p
htt
for 1$ appears below the words.
The early marquees were made
The machines were very popular
and most arcades had at least one.
THE COIN
SLOT
© 36—
The International
Arcade
Museum
The
"Electric
Energizer"
was
promoted as being, "the best and
most novel electric shock machine
in the world." It utilized an electric
motor and it was more than just a
source of enjoyment because
people felt that electricity was
healthful and a good shock now
and then revitalized a person. Many
people sauntered
up to the
machine, deposited a penny and
grasped the two handles. The
current initially was soothing, but
as the Warrior advanced toward the
dragon
the
current
became
stronger. The object was to hold on
long enough so that the Warrior
could spear the dragon and the bell
would ring. Perhaps the only thing
that it proved was that the player
had a supreme lack of sense or that
he could endure a great amount of
physical discomfort
The
machines
are
highly
desirable and less than 10 are
known to exist The unfortunate
turn of events is that there are no
known records which indicate how
many were originally manufactured.
If some of our readers have such
information or you have specific
questions, please contact us. We'll
talk with you again next month in
the enchanting world of "Arcade
Magic."
October 1981
http://www.arcade-museum.com/