Gottlieb System 1

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Note: This page is a work in progress. Please help get it to a completed state by adding any useful information to it.


1 Introduction

Of the big 4 pinball makers, Gottlieb was slowest converting from EM to Solid State, producing EMs into 1979 while Bally, Stern, and Williams had all abandoned doing so in 1977/early 1978. The Gottlieb system 1 boardset was designed by Rockwell International, to directly replace the EM logic from the earlier machines. Consequently System 1 games play almost exactly like an EM, just with Solid State scoring.

The playfield layouts were solid EM-esque designs, with rock-solid Gottlieb mechanical parts. Unfortunately, the electronics were not as robust in terms of longevity - exhibiting major problems with connectors, battery corrosion issues, and unavailability today of essential system chips.

2 Games

Title Date of Release Production# ROM Sound Notes
Cleopatra 11-1977 ~7300 A or 409 Chimes Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Cleopatra' and a 2-player EM 'Pyramid'
Sinbad 05-1978 12950 B Chimes Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Sinbad' and a 2-player EM 'Eye of the Tiger'
Joker Poker 08-1978 9280 C Chimes Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Joker Poker'
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 10-1978 9950 G Chime board Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Dragon 10-1978 6550 D Chime board Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Dragon'
Charlie's Angels 11-1978 7950 H Chime board Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Charlie's Angels'
Solar Ride 02-1979 8800 E Chime board Also produced as a 4-player EM 'Solar Ride'
Count-Down 05-1979 9899 F Chime board Also produced as a 2-player EM 'Space Walk'
Pinball Pool 08-1979 7200 I Chime board
Totem 10-1979 6643 J Sound board J-SND ROM
The Incredible Hulk 10-1979 6150 K Sound board K-SND ROM
Genie 11-1979 6800 L Sound board L-SND ROM
Buck Rogers 01-1980 7410 N Sound board N-SND ROM
Torch 02-1980 3880 P Sound board P-SND ROM
Roller Disco 02-1980 2400 R Sound board R-SND ROM
Asteroid Annie and the Aliens 12-1980 211 S Sound board S-SND ROM Only available as a single player game

Conversion kits for system 1 from other manufacturers:

  • (circa 1982) Movie (Bell Games, 4p)
  • (unknown date) Sky Warrior (IDI, 4p)
  • (circa 1982) Tiger Woman (IDI, 4p)
  • 1984 Sahara Love (Christian Automatic, 4p, production 150) [conversion of Sinbad]
  • 1986 L'Heaxagone (Christian Automatic, 4p, production 150) [original playfield design]
  • 1985 Jungle Queen (Pinball Shop, 4p) [playfield based on Gottlieb's Jungle Queen]

3 Technical Info

3.1 Chimes vs. First gen chime board

The first three System 1 games: Cleopatra, Sinbad, and Joker Poker all used EM style chimes. Starting with Close Encounters of the Third Kind through Pinball Pool, a first generation chime board was used that generated three tones. The chime board used the same three solenoid drive transistors for input as the chime units, making them interchangeable.

3.1.1 Converting from Chimes to Chime Board

This is a stub.

3.1.2 Converting from Chime Board to Chimes

This is a stub.


3.2 Power Supply

Pics, etc.

3.3 CPU Board

Pics, etc.

3.4 Driver Board

Gottlieb System 1 Driver Board - 1st Generation


Gottlieb System 1 Driver Board - 2nd Generation

3.5 Sound Boards

Pics, etc.

3.6 Display Boards

Pics of 6 digit display and 4 digit status display, etc.

3.7 Setting up a Game for Free Play

Early Gottileb solid state pinball machines, prior to 1990, did not have a free play option available within the game settings. With this simple modification, a game can be set up for free play. First, identify the diode strip in the bottom of the cabinet. Once the diode strip is found, locate the credit button and coin switch strobe line wires. The wires will be located on the left of the diode strip - the non-banded side of the diodes. Below is a list of the wires.

Credit button wire - Green-White or Brown-Yellow-Yellow

1st coin switch wire - Orange-White or Brown-Red-Red

2nd coin switch wire - Brown-White or Brown-Orange-Orange

Gtbsys1board.jpg
Gottlieb System 1 Transformer Board


Solder a small lead wire from the credit button wire to any of the coin switch wires. Make certain that the diode, credit button wire, and coin switch wire are still soldered securely to the diode strip terminal when finished. If soldering is not an option, use a small alligator clip test lead. Now, when the credit button is pressed, a credit will be incremented and decremented. A game can be easily started without the need to open the coin door to trip the coin switches anymore.

4 Problems and Fixes

4.1 Power Driver Issues

This may not apply to some, as MPU might have been part of it.

4.2 MPU Issues

4.3 Power Supply Issues

4.4 Display Driver Board

Possibly doesn't apply to some, can't think of an example.

5 Game Specific Problems and Fixes

Example would be servo controller on Independence Day pinball

6 Repair Logs

Did you do a repair? Log it here as a possible solution for others.