Coinbox/Cashbox Identification Guide

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

All pinball machines had a coinbox (aka cashbox) to catch and secure coins as they were fed into games. However, each manufacturer and each era of games had their own shape and style throughout the years. Often times, coin boxes went missing from games for various reasons as they were removed from locations.

2 Manufacturers

2.1 Allied Leisure

2.1.1 Generation 1

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

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  Parts catalog drawing

2.1.2 Generation 2/3

• Box Measurements:
• Lid Measurements:

2.2 Atari

2.2.1 Generation 1

There are two known styles of coin boxes. One that is made of folded sheet metal and with "wings" on the cover's coin holes; found in Atarians. The other style is molded and the cover lacks "wings"; found in all other generation 1 games.

2.2.1.1 Atarians

• Box Measurements:
• Lid Measurements:

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  Side

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  Open

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  Cover

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  Bin without cover

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  Front

2.2.1.2 All Other Titles

• Box Measurements:
• Lid Measurements:

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2.3 Bally

2.3.1 Woodrail Era (1960s)

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

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2.3.2 EM Era (1970s)

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

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2.3.3 Classic (-17/-35 MPUs)

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2.3.4 Hybrid (Baby Pacman / Granny & The Gators)

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• Distinguishing features:

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2.3.5 6803 MPU

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

2.8 Gottlieb

EM and System 1/80 are often confused with each other because of their similar appearance, but slightly different measurements. One easily identifiable visual difference is that the handle on EM coinboxes have a single rivet on each side of the handle, while System 1/80 coinboxes have two rivets on each side of the handle. Additionally, the EM coinboxes have a sliding cover, while System 1/80 have a cover that lifts up and out.

System 80A coinboxes are a different shape than System 1/80 because of the narrower coin door.

System 80B games returned to a more traditional-sized coin door, and the size of coinboxes also followed that change.

2.8.1 Woodrail Era (1950s-1960s)

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

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  There are two bins for each game (one for each coin drop)

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2.8.2 EM Era (1970s)

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features: Cover slides off the bin. There is one rivet on each side of the handle

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  Alternate hole position

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2.8.3 System 1 & 80

• Bin Measurements: 10-7/8 wide x 8-1/4" deep x 3-7/8" tall. Rear panel with the lock hole is 4-3/4" tall.
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features: Cover lifts up and out of the bin. There are two rivets on each side of the handle.

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2.8.4 System 80A

2.8.4.2 Narrow Black Coin Door

The narrow black coin door is found on "The Games" and "Touchdown".

2.13 Stern

2.13.2 MPU-200

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

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2.14 Williams

2.14.1 System 3-6

• Bin Measurements:
• Cover Measurements:
• Distinguishing features:

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  Metal dividers

2.14.2 System 11 & WPC Era

Cash boxes from the system 11 to WPC era are fairly consistent. Most had a plastic bin and a metal top. The one exception is games that were exported to Germany. Those machines had an entirely plastic box with a handle on it, which can be pulled out and carried like a small suitcase. The mounting bracket for this style of cashbox is different than the traditional plastic box with the metal lid, as seen in North American games.

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  Suitcase style coinbox