Pearls Of East
About This Machine
Pearls Of East is a rare and enigmatic solid-state electronic pinball machine that has piqued the interest of collectors and historians alike. Manufactured by Taiwan YuanMei Co., Ltd., its exact production year remains unknown, adding to its mystique. This machine is notable for being one of the few examples of Taiwanese-made pinball machines from this era, making it a significant addition to any collection.
What sets Pearls Of East apart from other pinball machines is its innovative gameplay and unique features. Players can win by filling in numbers between two random numbers displayed on the backglass or by lighting up four consecutive fruit symbols. The machine also boasts 20 trap holes, each surrounded by LED lights that illuminate as balls drop in, accompanied by a distinctive Chinese-accented voice announcing the achieved numbers. Additionally, the game features an impressive selection of instrumental electronic renditions of American songs, with over ten different tracks to discover.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Pearls Of East is its use of plastic posts under each numbered hole to push balls upward at the start of a new game, eliminating the need for a traditional ball lift. This design choice showcases the ingenuity and creativity that went into creating this machine. With its compact cabinet measuring 5 feet tall and only 19 inches wide, Pearls Of East is an intriguing piece of pinball history waiting to be explored by enthusiasts and collectors.
Images (10)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 5 balls for 25 cents (in USA). Trap holes (20). All solid state with speech. Depositing multiple coins increases payout. At start of game, two random numbers in the numbered circle on backglass are lit. The object is to fill in the numbers that are between the random numbers. Player can also win by lighting four in a row of the fruit symbols on the backglass. As play begins, there is no ball lift. Instead, the balls on the playfield from the previous game are pushed upward by plastic posts located under each numbered hole. Each hole is surrounded by LEDs that light up as a ball drops in. A voice with Chinese accent calls out the numbers when achieved. If more than one ball lands in a given hole, the lights start flashing in the holes that are still needed for a win. There are at least ten different instrumental electronic renditions of American songs that play on the game. Only one song is played per game. Some of the songs have been identified as Love Potion No. 9, The Locomotion, Apache, Telstar, Flight of the Bumblebee, and Red River Valley. Cabinet measures 5 feet tall, 19 inches wide, and 33 inches deep. Ball composition: plastic, 11/16 inch in diameter.