1979 Williams Gorgar (Refurbished)

Description

Overview

Step into a monumental milestone of arcade history with the 1979 Williams Gorgar pinball machine. Designed by Barry Oursler with legendary artwork by Constantino Mitchell, Gorgar holds an irreplaceable spot in pop-culture history as the world’s first commercially produced talking pinball machine.

Featuring a haunting fantasy-horror demon theme, Gorgar mesmerized arcade-goers with a synthetic heart-beat audio track that speeds up as gameplay intensifies, alongside a groundbreaking 15-word vocabulary. Fully refurbished to restore its menacing charm and reliable performance, this machine is an essential centerpieces for classic arcade collectors, horror fans, and gaming enthusiasts alike.

Key Features & Gameplay Highlights

• Historic Talking Audio & Heartbeat: Features the world’s first pinball speech synthesizer with iconic phrases like “Gorgar speaks!”, “Me Gorgar, beat me!”, and “Gorgar hurt!”, paired with a dynamic background heartbeat sound effect that accelerates during high-scoring sequences.

• Snake Pit & Drop Targets: Features the signature central “Snake Pit” eject hole, a 3-bank drop target setup, a top magnet, and a 1-2-3-4 spot target sequence designed to maximize multiplier bonuses.

• 4-Player Digital Scoring: Classic Williams System 6 blue/green digital LED scoring displays supporting up to four players simultaneously.

• Striking Fantasy Art: Bold dark-fantasy backglass and playfield artwork featuring the red demon Gorgar dominating the cabinet presentation.

Restoration & Refurbishment Scope

Every refurbished Gorgar unit undergoes a comprehensive structural and electronic overhaul:

• Electronics & Interconnects Updated: Williams System 6 MPU and driver boards serviced or replaced with modern, reliable solid-state boards (eliminating prone vintage interconnect issues).

• Sound Board Diagnostics: Audio synthesis card restored and calibrated to deliver crisp, clear speech synthesis and synthesized sound effects.

• Playfield Refresh: Playfield fully stripped, cleaned, waxed, and fitted with fresh silicon/rubber rings, new flipper linkages, and rebuilt pop bumpers for crisp ball reaction.

• LED Conversion: Upgraded to high-efficiency LED bulbs throughout the general illumination and feature lights, reducing heat stress on vintage plastics while preserving the dark, moody red aesthetic.

• Cabinet & Power: Power supply recapped, line cord safety-checked, cabinet detailed, and coin door configured for free-play or coin operation.