Royal Flash
About This Machine
The Royal Flash is an electro-mechanical add-a-ball pinball machine from January 1964, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company and designed by Jerry Koci, Al Schlappa, and John Gore, with artwork by Roy Parker. Built around a playing-cards and poker theme, it supports two players, with the second player able to insert a coin to play after the first player's scores reset.
The machine's gameplay is characterized by four flippers and four pop bumpers, offering a dynamic experience typical of mid-1960s Chicago Coin machines. Two slingshots and seven standup targets add strategy and skill to the pursuit of the high scores needed to earn an added ball, with the extra-ball threshold adjustable from 100 to 2,000 points via an on/off jack in the backbox.
The Royal Flash's design and art reflect the poker-themed aesthetic popular in 1960s pinball, with playing-card and casino-style imagery adorning the cabinet. A replay version of the same game was also released by Chicago Coin in 1964. Surviving examples show some quirks, including nonfunctional match and credit-unit features on at least one documented unit, offering collectors a detailed look at the mechanics of add-a-ball era Chicago Coin machines.
Images (19)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Playing Cards - Poker
- Notable Features:
- Flippers (4), Pop bumpers (4), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (7). 3 or 5 ball play. Inserting a coin starts the game for 1st player. After the scores reset, another coin can be inserted for 2nd player. The added ball is earned once a high score is reached. These high scores can be set anywhere from 100 to 2000 points. There is an add-a-ball on/off jack in the backbox.
Credits
- Designer:
- Jerry Koci, Al Schlappa, John Gore
- Artist:
- Roy Parker
Documentation
- DownloadSchematic Diagram (paginated) + Supplement Of Added Ball (first page)4 MB