Who Is Harry Williams - Pinball Wizard
When we think of the history of pinball, one name immediately comes to mind: Harry Williams
, the pioneer, or the father, of pinball, also known as the "king of the pins". In 1934, Harry Williams invented a device that would prevent players from being able to lift or shake the games, the tilt mechanism.
Williams as an inventor, and his inventions made the game of pinball what it is known as today. He created the very first electric action device, an electromagnetic device that would send the ball from one hole to another, enabling the player to score more points. The first game to feature this new device was "Contact", which was manufactured and distributed by Pacific Amusement Mfg. Co. of Los Angeles. This device, although modified, is still used in pinball machines today.
Throughout his career, Williams would be the founder of some of the most famous pinball machine manufacturing companies. He began his career by starting a company that would supply new artwork for old pinball machines during WWII, United Manufacturing. Later, he would form Williams manufacturing, followed by Williams Electronics.
The Tilt Mechanism Changes The Game
In the early days of pinball, especially once people began playing the games for money and prizes, many players would lift, shake, and move the table in order to cheat. In 1934, Williams' latest invention, the tilt mechanism, would be put into machines, and many players who were shaking and lifting the machine to get the balls to go where they wanted them to were finding their usual mode of playing quite difficult.
This new tilt mechanism was a simple invention, but one that would be used and modified for decades to come. In the beginnings of the tilt mechanism, the device was simply a small steel ball that was set on a concave pedestal, and placed on top of the game. Should the ball fall off, then it was obvious that the player was "tilting" the machine. When he first invented the tilt mechanism, Williams named it "Stool Pigeon".
Williams Involved In The Creation of Free Play
Because pinball was considered a game of chance, and illegal in many states, pinball machine creators began working on ways to negate the image that many people had of the games. One of the features that was added to machines is the "free play", created by Bill Belluh, a shop assistant to Williams. Belluh designed a method of the machines offering extra plays instead of cash and prizes. Williams helped Belluh patent his new device, and get it installed in a number of games. Technology appears in all of today's pinball machines.
Designing Pinball Machines For Nearly 50 Years
Williams had a long and prosperous career in the world of pinball. Not only did he design machines for his own companies, he also has worked with such pinball-manufacturing giants as Pacific Amusement Mfg. Co. of Los Angeles, Rockola, Bally and Stern.
Following World War II, Williams' only involvement with pinball machine design and manufacturing was with his own companies, until his so-called retirement in the early 1960's. Even though he was supposed to be officially retired, Williams continued to design machines in the 1970's for Brunswick Corp. When Sam Stern, Williams' old friend and former partner, purchased the Chicago Coin Machine Co. and renamed the company Stern Electronics, Williams was one of the first to come on board and design some new games.
The world sadly said goodbye to pinball pioneer Harry Williams on Sept. 11, 1983, when he lost his courageous battle with cancer at his home in California.
by: Howard Symington
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