Black Rider

The Black Rider, a 1981 solid state electronic pinball machine from Giuliano Lodola's workshop in Toscana, Italy, is a copy of Williams' 1980 'Black Knight'. While details about its designer are scarce, its features reveal a machine built to replicate the popular Williams original for the Italian market.

The game boasts four flippers, two slingshots, one pop bumper, 3-bank drop targets, two kick-out holes, and a spinning target. A Magna-Save on both inlanes provides a challenging play experience. The split-level playfield with three ramps allows for a dynamic play, while the left horseshoe lane adds an extra layer of strategy.

The theme, centered on historical knights (mirroring Black Knight's fantasy-knight motif), gives the machine a distinctive look. While little additional information has been uncovered about this machine, its status as an Italian adaptation of a landmark Williams title makes it an interesting find for those interested in how popular US designs spread internationally.