@ourlostarcade.bsky.social
Discovering the arcade's past!
A journey through the history of coin-op. Games, jukeboxes, vending, and more from the 1st century to the 20th!
Also @playhistory.bsky.social
A journey through the history of coin-op. Games, jukeboxes, vending, and more from the 1st century to the 20th!
Also @playhistory.bsky.social
Pinned
This is Our Lost Arcade!
I talk about coin-operated devices of yesteryear: Pinball, jukeboxes, vending machines, binoculars, turnstyles - you name it!
Come along to explore over 100 years of mechanical and electro-mechanical devices of the #arcade that will astound and delight you.
I talk about coin-operated devices of yesteryear: Pinball, jukeboxes, vending machines, binoculars, turnstyles - you name it!
Come along to explore over 100 years of mechanical and electro-mechanical devices of the #arcade that will astound and delight you.
One of the companies that popped up at the dawn of the pinball boom in California was distributor National Amusement Co.
December 23, 2025 at 11:51 PM
One of the companies that popped up at the dawn of the pinball boom in California was distributor National Amusement Co.
Invention is an odd thing.
Sometimes, a new idea changes the world in an instant. Other times, you often wonder why it didn't take off at the start.
For decades, the coin-op industry was defined by the jukebox. And this is the start of it: The Gabel Automatic Entertainer.
Sometimes, a new idea changes the world in an instant. Other times, you often wonder why it didn't take off at the start.
For decades, the coin-op industry was defined by the jukebox. And this is the start of it: The Gabel Automatic Entertainer.
December 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Invention is an odd thing.
Sometimes, a new idea changes the world in an instant. Other times, you often wonder why it didn't take off at the start.
For decades, the coin-op industry was defined by the jukebox. And this is the start of it: The Gabel Automatic Entertainer.
Sometimes, a new idea changes the world in an instant. Other times, you often wonder why it didn't take off at the start.
For decades, the coin-op industry was defined by the jukebox. And this is the start of it: The Gabel Automatic Entertainer.
This week on Our Lost Arcade, we'll be looking at the very first multi-selection phonograph: Or Jukebox, if you prefer.
December 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM
This week on Our Lost Arcade, we'll be looking at the very first multi-selection phonograph: Or Jukebox, if you prefer.
Getting coin-op equipment across the country is no easy feat!
Here's a traincar full of jukeboxes in Depression era Cincinnati showing the whole enterprise.
Check out more 30s goodness in the latest collection from @cpi.pinball.horse : pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/12/scan...
Here's a traincar full of jukeboxes in Depression era Cincinnati showing the whole enterprise.
Check out more 30s goodness in the latest collection from @cpi.pinball.horse : pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/12/scan...
December 13, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Getting coin-op equipment across the country is no easy feat!
Here's a traincar full of jukeboxes in Depression era Cincinnati showing the whole enterprise.
Check out more 30s goodness in the latest collection from @cpi.pinball.horse : pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/12/scan...
Here's a traincar full of jukeboxes in Depression era Cincinnati showing the whole enterprise.
Check out more 30s goodness in the latest collection from @cpi.pinball.horse : pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/12/scan...
Sometimes, you just need a little... Oomph!
This rather strange double-playfield all-win by Daval Products gives a pachinko vibe with its flick-style launcher.
And don't miss out on that salacious art... Sometimes tells me they didn't put these around schools.
This rather strange double-playfield all-win by Daval Products gives a pachinko vibe with its flick-style launcher.
And don't miss out on that salacious art... Sometimes tells me they didn't put these around schools.
December 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Sometimes, you just need a little... Oomph!
This rather strange double-playfield all-win by Daval Products gives a pachinko vibe with its flick-style launcher.
And don't miss out on that salacious art... Sometimes tells me they didn't put these around schools.
This rather strange double-playfield all-win by Daval Products gives a pachinko vibe with its flick-style launcher.
And don't miss out on that salacious art... Sometimes tells me they didn't put these around schools.
Roll in the Barrel!
In the grand slew of skee-ball-alikes, this may be one of the smallest. They made it darned cheat proof as well with a very narrow hole for shooting.
Would this have been any fun?
In the grand slew of skee-ball-alikes, this may be one of the smallest. They made it darned cheat proof as well with a very narrow hole for shooting.
Would this have been any fun?
November 24, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Roll in the Barrel!
In the grand slew of skee-ball-alikes, this may be one of the smallest. They made it darned cheat proof as well with a very narrow hole for shooting.
Would this have been any fun?
In the grand slew of skee-ball-alikes, this may be one of the smallest. They made it darned cheat proof as well with a very narrow hole for shooting.
Would this have been any fun?
Reposted
中村製作所、1970年広告 (レジャー産業資料 1970年1月号より)
#Namco #1970 #arcade #arcadecabinet #classicarcade #retrogame #obslive
#Namco #1970 #arcade #arcadecabinet #classicarcade #retrogame #obslive
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
中村製作所、1970年広告 (レジャー産業資料 1970年1月号より)
#Namco #1970 #arcade #arcadecabinet #classicarcade #retrogame #obslive
#Namco #1970 #arcade #arcadecabinet #classicarcade #retrogame #obslive
The War comes and goes.
Digital computer technology enters the world - first through relays, then solid-state circuits.
EMI moves into music - or something.
Spotlight Golf is forgotten; the few surviving units traded around Britain in auctions and classifieds.
Digital computer technology enters the world - first through relays, then solid-state circuits.
EMI moves into music - or something.
Spotlight Golf is forgotten; the few surviving units traded around Britain in auctions and classifieds.
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The War comes and goes.
Digital computer technology enters the world - first through relays, then solid-state circuits.
EMI moves into music - or something.
Spotlight Golf is forgotten; the few surviving units traded around Britain in auctions and classifieds.
Digital computer technology enters the world - first through relays, then solid-state circuits.
EMI moves into music - or something.
Spotlight Golf is forgotten; the few surviving units traded around Britain in auctions and classifieds.
Apologies for the issues with the photos in the last thread - apparently this just happens sometimes and it doesn't correct itself.
Will try uploading it again tomorrow.
Will try uploading it again tomorrow.
November 20, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Apologies for the issues with the photos in the last thread - apparently this just happens sometimes and it doesn't correct itself.
Will try uploading it again tomorrow.
Will try uploading it again tomorrow.
Reposted
The latest Origin of Game article is live! Pleased to bring you yet another of the great Japanese arcade companies.
Nick did a great job digging into sources and context to forge this riveting tale of true entrepreneurship under difficult circumstances.
Nick did a great job digging into sources and context to forge this riveting tale of true entrepreneurship under difficult circumstances.
We return with another amazing tale of video games past!
This time: The international story of Taito. Learn about the colorful Ukranian founder, the origin of the modern crane game, and how a peanut vending company redefines the world of video games.
www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2025/11/p...
This time: The international story of Taito. Learn about the colorful Ukranian founder, the origin of the modern crane game, and how a peanut vending company redefines the world of video games.
www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2025/11/p...
November 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The latest Origin of Game article is live! Pleased to bring you yet another of the great Japanese arcade companies.
Nick did a great job digging into sources and context to forge this riveting tale of true entrepreneurship under difficult circumstances.
Nick did a great job digging into sources and context to forge this riveting tale of true entrepreneurship under difficult circumstances.
Spotlight Golf contained very state-of-the-art technology for its time, which enabled it to create a unique gameplay experience.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
November 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Spotlight Golf contained very state-of-the-art technology for its time, which enabled it to create a unique gameplay experience.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
Taito is searching for a working Crown 602 crane game.
soranews24.com/2025/11/12/m...
I have to note that this was not the first crane game in Japan, and the design itself was based on an Italian model (see @cpi.pinball.horse):
earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/03/jagu...
soranews24.com/2025/11/12/m...
I have to note that this was not the first crane game in Japan, and the design itself was based on an Italian model (see @cpi.pinball.horse):
earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/03/jagu...
Maker of Japan’s first crane machine is looking for a working model, offering 100,000-yen reward
Taito is also giving away free games to fans with personal memories of the Crown 602.
soranews24.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Taito is searching for a working Crown 602 crane game.
soranews24.com/2025/11/12/m...
I have to note that this was not the first crane game in Japan, and the design itself was based on an Italian model (see @cpi.pinball.horse):
earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/03/jagu...
soranews24.com/2025/11/12/m...
I have to note that this was not the first crane game in Japan, and the design itself was based on an Italian model (see @cpi.pinball.horse):
earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/03/jagu...
Britain in the mid-1930s does not seem like a time or place of leisure innovation with the circumstances of war in Europe, yet it proved a fertile ground for the evolution of #arcade games.
Today we'll look at one of the most fascinating games from this period: Spotlight Golf!
Today we'll look at one of the most fascinating games from this period: Spotlight Golf!
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Britain in the mid-1930s does not seem like a time or place of leisure innovation with the circumstances of war in Europe, yet it proved a fertile ground for the evolution of #arcade games.
Today we'll look at one of the most fascinating games from this period: Spotlight Golf!
Today we'll look at one of the most fascinating games from this period: Spotlight Golf!
Reposted
7 more scans of The Billboard are now up! This concludes the large box of incredibly rare (though crumbling) Billboard magazines I was given at Ontario Pinfest.
1935-1946 represented, huge range
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/11/scan...
#pinball #retroarcade #scans #slotmachines #skeeball
1935-1946 represented, huge range
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/11/scan...
#pinball #retroarcade #scans #slotmachines #skeeball
November 8, 2025 at 2:34 AM
7 more scans of The Billboard are now up! This concludes the large box of incredibly rare (though crumbling) Billboard magazines I was given at Ontario Pinfest.
1935-1946 represented, huge range
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/11/scan...
#pinball #retroarcade #scans #slotmachines #skeeball
1935-1946 represented, huge range
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/11/scan...
#pinball #retroarcade #scans #slotmachines #skeeball
Another game capitalizing on war-time anxiety: Ace Bomber by International Mutoscope!
Lighting up the sky with artillery fire as in the Battle of Britain, this was among the most sophisticated war "simulators" before America was confronted with the real thing.
Lighting up the sky with artillery fire as in the Battle of Britain, this was among the most sophisticated war "simulators" before America was confronted with the real thing.
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Another game capitalizing on war-time anxiety: Ace Bomber by International Mutoscope!
Lighting up the sky with artillery fire as in the Battle of Britain, this was among the most sophisticated war "simulators" before America was confronted with the real thing.
Lighting up the sky with artillery fire as in the Battle of Britain, this was among the most sophisticated war "simulators" before America was confronted with the real thing.
Don't climb on the #pinball!
Well, if you have to, make sure there's stirrups.
Some lovely promotional pics for J. H. Keeney's Stable Mate as pointed out by @ftb1979.bsky.social
Well, if you have to, make sure there's stirrups.
Some lovely promotional pics for J. H. Keeney's Stable Mate as pointed out by @ftb1979.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Don't climb on the #pinball!
Well, if you have to, make sure there's stirrups.
Some lovely promotional pics for J. H. Keeney's Stable Mate as pointed out by @ftb1979.bsky.social
Well, if you have to, make sure there's stirrups.
Some lovely promotional pics for J. H. Keeney's Stable Mate as pointed out by @ftb1979.bsky.social
The post-war period carried on some of the frugality of the war days, with conversion kits for popular titles being an open opportunity for smaller manufacturers.
Bag-A-Bunny replaced Seeburg light gun games like Ray-o-Lite and Chicken Sam, hopefully bringing vitality to forgotten machines.
Bag-A-Bunny replaced Seeburg light gun games like Ray-o-Lite and Chicken Sam, hopefully bringing vitality to forgotten machines.
November 1, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The post-war period carried on some of the frugality of the war days, with conversion kits for popular titles being an open opportunity for smaller manufacturers.
Bag-A-Bunny replaced Seeburg light gun games like Ray-o-Lite and Chicken Sam, hopefully bringing vitality to forgotten machines.
Bag-A-Bunny replaced Seeburg light gun games like Ray-o-Lite and Chicken Sam, hopefully bringing vitality to forgotten machines.
Passed only just last year, Stanley Jarocki was one of the leading marketing magnates of the coin-op industry in the pre-video era.
At Seeburg, he was an enthusiastic advocate for new locations and ideas for jukeboxes. At Midway, he helped heighten the video game revolution.
At Seeburg, he was an enthusiastic advocate for new locations and ideas for jukeboxes. At Midway, he helped heighten the video game revolution.
October 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Passed only just last year, Stanley Jarocki was one of the leading marketing magnates of the coin-op industry in the pre-video era.
At Seeburg, he was an enthusiastic advocate for new locations and ideas for jukeboxes. At Midway, he helped heighten the video game revolution.
At Seeburg, he was an enthusiastic advocate for new locations and ideas for jukeboxes. At Midway, he helped heighten the video game revolution.
Gambling could hardly be simpler than Ad-Lee's Kings Horses.
Put in your penny, choose your horse, and collect from the owner. Definitely no rigging or jipping involved.
Put in your penny, choose your horse, and collect from the owner. Definitely no rigging or jipping involved.
October 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Gambling could hardly be simpler than Ad-Lee's Kings Horses.
Put in your penny, choose your horse, and collect from the owner. Definitely no rigging or jipping involved.
Put in your penny, choose your horse, and collect from the owner. Definitely no rigging or jipping involved.
In a special treat at Pinball Expo, I even got to play the famed Baffle Ball (often inaccurately dubbed the first pinball) - which many will remember from Microsoft Pinball Arcade.
It plays distinctly differently than the tables that come right after it; was a thrill to get my hands on it.
It plays distinctly differently than the tables that come right after it; was a thrill to get my hands on it.
October 25, 2025 at 11:43 PM
In a special treat at Pinball Expo, I even got to play the famed Baffle Ball (often inaccurately dubbed the first pinball) - which many will remember from Microsoft Pinball Arcade.
It plays distinctly differently than the tables that come right after it; was a thrill to get my hands on it.
It plays distinctly differently than the tables that come right after it; was a thrill to get my hands on it.
Another from pinball expo: The remarkable, rare, fully-mechanical table Army and Navy by Rock-Ola.
This themed pin replicates the yardage of an American football game with a clever carriage system and snappy play action.
This themed pin replicates the yardage of an American football game with a clever carriage system and snappy play action.
October 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Another from pinball expo: The remarkable, rare, fully-mechanical table Army and Navy by Rock-Ola.
This themed pin replicates the yardage of an American football game with a clever carriage system and snappy play action.
This themed pin replicates the yardage of an American football game with a clever carriage system and snappy play action.
The pre-War selection at Pinball Expo was incredible!
One of the coolest machines was the 1935 Seeburg Hockey table - the original game that likely inspired Pong decades later.
One of the coolest machines was the 1935 Seeburg Hockey table - the original game that likely inspired Pong decades later.
October 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The pre-War selection at Pinball Expo was incredible!
One of the coolest machines was the 1935 Seeburg Hockey table - the original game that likely inspired Pong decades later.
One of the coolest machines was the 1935 Seeburg Hockey table - the original game that likely inspired Pong decades later.
I'm at Pinball Expo! Say hello if you see me.
October 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I'm at Pinball Expo! Say hello if you see me.
I wrote up a more formal version of this examination of the slot machine myth on Reddit, in case anybody needs some proper citations.
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
October 12, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I wrote up a more formal version of this examination of the slot machine myth on Reddit, in case anybody needs some proper citations.
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
Reposted
Words from Taito founder Michael Kogan, long passed, about the importance of history.
If only he'd actually written anything down...
If only he'd actually written anything down...
October 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Words from Taito founder Michael Kogan, long passed, about the importance of history.
If only he'd actually written anything down...
If only he'd actually written anything down...