1973 Blonde 9 [9&6; Challenge] by NSM-Löwen [presumed] & オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo) [presumed]

Name: Blonde 9 
Year: 1973
Company: NSM-Löwen [presumed] & オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo) [presumed]

 

This is a curious machine that I have only ever seen in a single photograph, where we have two copies side-by-side:

Amusement 1973-02

On the left is 1968 Colorette - コロレット by 中村製作所 (Nakamura Seisakusho)
on the right is 1972 Football - フットボール [import, 1970] by 太東貿易 (Taito Trading) & NSM-Löwen. 

The upper game portion looks similar to Big Strike Bowling except with different art.  A payout mechanism has been added to the bottom.  The plastic that covers the ball-release at the lower-right also seems to be on the Blonde 9 playfield near the center-top?  It is hard to tell what kind of modification that might be.

~1969 Big Strike Bowling - ビッグ・ストライク・ボウリング [import, 1967] by NSM-Löwen

Big Strike Bowling was made in 1967 by NSM-Löwen and imported into Japan as early as 1969. Taito released a version of of Big Strike Bowling in 1971.

1971 Big Strike Bowling - ビッグ・ストライク・ボウリング [import, 1967] by 太東貿易 (Taito Trading) & NSM-Löwen

Standing next to Taito's similarly modified Football on a pedestal, it might be easy to assume Blonde 9 was another Taito import. And it might be as well!  They also could have distributed it. We do not have enough information from this era.

But there are two aspects of this machine that make me think this was オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo).  There is a payout mechanism installed and Taito did not add one to any of the machines they imported, that I know of.

But Oriental Kogyo did modify Super.Match machines (made 1967 by NSM-Löwen and imported and modified by オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo) circa 1970.  The Super.Match payout slot looks cruder than Blonde 9's , but also is from 3 years before it.

1970 Super.Match [Super Match] [import, 1967] by NSM-Löwen & オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo)

But the key indicator for me is the logo on Blonde 9's base:

 

 Super.Match used the original NSM logo, or at least a decent representation of it:

 NSM logo from a regular Super.Match:

One big difference is the space between the tail and the head.

But on both, note how the angles on the knees are quite soft.  Note how the tails have strong geometry.

I submit that the Blonde 9 lions are more similar to the lions we see on Super-Scope: 

from Super-Scope [Oriental Super-Scope] - スーパースコープ by オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo)

The history of Super-Scope is a bit messy. As best we know, Bonanza began selling them in 1975 and contracted construction out to オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo).  Oriental Kogyo was then selling a slightly different version (coin slot moved location) by 1977.

Also note the angle the lion's head is at. 

Minisoccer - ミニサッカー [import, 1967] by AMF International & セガ (Sega)

Name: Minisoccer - ミニサッカー

Year: 1967, imported by セガ (Sega) in 1968

Company: AMF International

Minisoccer is an electromechanical game stylistically inspired by foosball. we are writing about it because Sega shared their flyer for it as part of their company history on their website.

Sega's flyer for Minisoccer, taken from their corporate history website

The Sega website puts that year as 1968, but the game was released in 1967, so I presume Sega began selling it and 68.

Minisoccer appears in the 1972 machine directory, which was printed in 1971.

 

1972 machine directory entry

The earliest press clipping about many soccer is from 1967:

Cash Box 1967-11-11

 

Minisoccer flyer

Cash Box 1968-01-20

Of note, SEGASA produced Mini-Futbol.  According to one website, this was released in 1968 but I have not found any public evidence of the year.

This game appears to be the same as many soccer except with the controls now at the top, not at the side.

 

books: 昭和のカオスなゲームセンター - The Dark Side of the Showa Chaotic Arcade from Onion Seisakusho

These 2 books came out in 2025 and I am very excited to have them!  Thank you Onitama-san.

昭和のカオスなゲームセンター
昭和のカオスなゲームセンター PART 2

Previously we had their book ミニドライブ大百科 (Mini-Drive Encyclopedia).

These books are highly recommend for people into arcade videogames and eremeka. It is filled with incredibly rare images and flyers and industry information you probably won't find anywhere else.  I have learned a lot about eremeka machines, but these books have even more information about videogames. 

I'm keeping a change log of new information I find in the books.

from volume 1: 昭和のカオスなゲームセンター 

• p13: the original Piccadilly Circus is from 1975
• p67: Wild Fox was manufactured by 東亜セイコー (Toa Seiko)
• p67: Mini Derby was released in 1974, not 1973.  It was sold by Sankyo Shoji. We have a reference to Fuji Enterprise selling it in 1976, but they probably were distributing it then.  This has consequences of reworking a few of my assumptions, which I have updated in the Mini Derby article.  There is still a lot more details to confirm for those machines.
• p67: Rotary-Pulse was made by 長田電気 (Nagata Electric) and Nemco was probably a brand.
• p68: Added ムサシ工業所 (Musashi Industries) to Coin Pet. The blue version of Coin Pet is shown as "first version" but I do not think there are any differences in the blue or red besides the colour.  If I am told there are further differences I will separate them into two entries.
• p70: Verified the name of "Baseball board" (野球盤). We had the name marked down as "presumed".
• p70: Confirmed Coin Game is from 1969. (previously ~1969)
• p70: new game Lucky Panda 
• p71: we have Rotary Falls as from RJ Corporation and J.O.B. - The book says RJ + Fuji, so we are adding Fuji as well.
• p72: The only source I had for 新幹線ゲームⅤ (Shinkansen game V) being 1976 was the old DGM website.  This book shows it as year unknown, so I have moved it to ~1976
• p72: Similarly 新幹線ゲームⅡ・宇宙 (Shinkansen Game II; Space) only had the 1977 source as from DGM, so I moved it to ~1977 .
• p73: the Sunny Tokyo version of Coin Punch  is from 1969. We had it as ~1969.
• p73: Gold Hunter is from 1969.  We had it as ~1969.
• p74: Grand Prix is listed as just by Satomi, but the advertisements make it seem more complex (we currently have it by 大和物産 (Yamato Bussan) & さとみ (Satomi — Sammy) & ベンドジャパン (Vend Japan) so I will leave it as it currently is. 
• Researching entries in the book made me realize I had チェスト written as "Chest" but it's supposed to be "Zest".
• p74: Vanishing Point was referenced as by 豊栄産業 (Hoei Sangyo) in a Game Machine article. The book says it is by チェスト (Zest) so I am including both companies for Vanishing Point. The earliest advertisement in Game Machine is from チェスト (Zest).
• p74: Renamed "750ライダー" to the proper name ナナハン ライダー (750cc Rider). We had it down as by 大和物産 (Yamato Bussan) but the book says it was made by 大洋産業 (Taiyo Sangyo).  There are many games that seem to be made by 大洋産業 (Taiyo Sangyo) and distributed by 大和物産 (Yamato Bussan).
• p79: Corrected 電子占 今日の運勢は コンピューター (Electronic fortune telling What's your fortune today Computer) to 電子占コンピューター (Electronic fortune-telling computer).  Updated the year from ~1970 to 1970. 
• p79: Corrected 占いコンピューター (Fortune Computer) company from 日本遊機 (Nihon Yuuki)
   to 関東遊機 (Kanto Yuuki). 
• p79: the image descriptions of 占いコンピューター (Fortune Computer) and 電子占コンピューター (Electronic fortune-telling computer) are swapped.
• p85: In verifying the information on Super Gold Scope, I realized I accidentally had it in 1977 when I have records of it being from 1975! A very unfortunate error for Konami fans. I apologize. From that same page, it gives the date of a Tumura catalogue as 1976. I had only seen auction photographs of that catalog and did not know when it was released.
• p90: Corrected the original Tight Rope company, from 友栄 (UA) to テクネ通商 (Tekune Tsusho). Examining this also made me realize that the version made by 友栄 (UA) also existed in 1975. (previously 1976)
• p93: proper year is 1977 for 1980 Playboy - プレイボーイ by 大平技研 (Ohira Giken)
• p93: previously we had 1976 Machine Gun - マシンガン by エース自動機 (Ace Jidoki) & ツムラ (Tumura) & ワイプ (Wipe) but it appears Tumura was just a distributor. I have an article that says this machine is from Ace Jidoki in Tokyo. Wipe was in Kobe and Osaka, so perhaps it was regional.
• p93: new game Super Mint 
• p95: proper year is 1985 for 1986 ハッピータイム (Happy time) by こまや (Komaya)

from  volume 2: 昭和のカオスなゲームセンター PART 2 

• p14: made an entry for "Super Scope" the UK game by Nuversions first imported by リバーストン (Riverstone) in 1974.  Super-Scope - スーパースコープ by ボナンザ (Bonanza) is the one that appeared in 1975. These units have 2 coin slots on the front.  The "Oriental Super-Scope" that was sold by オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo) does not have the front coin slots, and the earliest appearance I have of that model is in a 1977 Sega catalogue.
• p15: took 1976 De-Luxe Clean Sweep - クリーンスウィープ by ボナンザ (Bonanza) & ジャパンオーバーシーズビジネス (Japan Overseas Business) & ツムラ (Tumura) and dropped the "De-Luxe" part as that doesn't appear on the cabinet.  Dropped J.O.B. from the companies involved since I only have a single flyer with their name stickered on, so probably just for later distribution.  But keeping Tumura as they were probably a primary vendor of it since they advertise it frequently.
• p15: Trésor Boite [deluxe type] - トレゾール ボアト [デラックスタイプ] by ボナンザ (Bonanza) moving from 1980 to 1978. 
• p73: took the entry 1980 Rotary Game UFO Chance - ロータリーゲーム UFOチャンス by 日清工業 (Nissin Co) and corrected it to the proper name Rotary Game - ゴールデンロータリータイラーIII (Golden Rotary Tailar III) by キューゴ (Kyugo) and separated out a similar machine that was manufactured in 1981, Rotary Game Schmitt - ロータリーゲーム by 日清工業 (Nissin Kogyo).
• p81: new game cocktail rendition of 1979 Baseball Game - ベースボール・ゲーム by 大平技研 (Ohira Giken) call Baseball Game part II. 
• p85: proper year is 1969 for ~1969 King Ball - キングボール by 日本自動販売機 (Nihon Jidô Hanbaiki — Game Mate) & カトウ (Kato)
• p85: new game Bingo by DAW (1970)
• p102: Six-Goal - シックス ゴール by コニー (Cony) flyer shows TAN 91-25168
• p102: proper year is 1977 for 1978 Super Car - ザ・スーパーカー (The Super Car) by フジ・エンタープライズ (Fuji Enterprises)
• p106: the book says 1975 but the Omori version is actually from 1984. Imported copies of New Penny Falls were offered by J.O.B. in 1973 and Jatre in 1975.
• p106: dropped Tumura from 1975 International Dreifach - インターナショナル・ドライファッハ by フジ・エンタープライズ (Fuji Enterprises) & ツムラ (Tumura)
• p106: says 1976 for ~1977 Comy - コミー [MF-1] by 高砂電器商事 (Takasago Electric) but the TAN # 91-15292 was registered in 1977 so I will leave this.
• p107: new game Dream Dice (1980)
• p107: new game Attack 600 

wanted: 1969 遊戲機械名鑑

We would like to buy a copy of the 1969 machine directory.
1969 年のマシン ディレクトリのコピーを購入したいと考えています。

 ¥60,000 offered for '69 遊戲機械名鑑 ('69 Game Machine Directory)

「'69 遊戲機械名鑑」に6万円をプレゼント 

'69 遊戲機械名鑑
「全日本遊園」編集局刊
'69 Game Machine Directory
Published by the All Japan Amusement Park Editorial Department

We are offering ¥60,000 to purchase this publication.  If you have a copy that is damaged we are probably still interested in it.  Email me at thetastates@gmail.com

この出版物を6万円で購入いたします。もし破損している本をお持ちでしたら、まだ購入を検討しているかもしれません。thetastates@gmail.comまでメールでご連絡ください。

There is an "index book" that accompanies the directory, and we would like that "index book" as well. 

ディレクトリには「索引ブック」が付属していますが、その「索引ブック」も欲しいです。 

 

This book is an important piece of arcade history.  It needs to be publicly preserved at the highest quality.  Working together, we can make this happen!

この本はアーケードの歴史を語る上で重要な一冊です。最高の品質で公に保存されるべきです。力を合わせれば、きっと実現できるはずです！

 

Borrowing: 借用:

Alternatively, we would like to BORROW your copy.  We can pay for a courier to send it, we will scan it non-destructively on an edge scanner (so we don't have to chop the spine,) and then send it back via courier.

To see the kind of work we do, please see our  research publication list. There you can find scans of the yearbooks from 1978-1983, 1985-1987, and 1993.

あるいは、本書をお借りしてスキャンさせていただくことも可能です。送料は当方で負担いたします。エッジスキャナーで非破壊スキャン（背表紙を切り落とす必要がないため）し、その後、宅配便でご返送いたします。

当館の活動内容については、研究出版物リストをご覧ください。1978年から1983年、1985年から1987年、そして1993年の年鑑のスキャン画像が掲載されています。

1967 Thunder-Bird - サンダーバード by 太東貿易 (Taito Trading — Crown)

Name: Thunder-Bird - サンダーバード

Year: 1967

Company: 太東貿易 (Taito Trading — Crown)

Thunderbird was made by Taito in 1967 under their Crown brand. The lower portion looks quite similar to Taito's Crown 603 crane machine, and the crane mechanism operates in a similar fashion.  Instead of picking things up, the crane drops a metal ball that looks similar in size to a pachinko ball. (though I do not know if the same size.)

Align the crane, release the ball, and if you get it inside one of the porcelain numbered cups you get paid out that numbered prize.  The backbox is a similar shape to a pinball head. There are 5 columns loaded with prizes and I assume that lower front cover protects the dispenser mechanism from shenanigans.  A very unique prize game.

For the longest time it has been vexing me that we did not have detailed pics of it, even though we can see it in a number of older photographs. Now, thank you to Rich who runs the Family Fun Center York Galleria in York, Philadelphia, USA, we have more photos!  These were from a few years back so they aren't the resolution of fancy modern phones, but they're still great to see.  (He no longer has the machine)

(If you are a collector that has a Thunder-Bird in their collection can you please get in touch? I know there are probably a few copies of these tucked into elite collections. Please note that I am not looking to buy machines off you, I just want to try and publicly preserve whatever info I can on them.)

1969 machine directory entry

from the Taito 40th Anniversary book

late 1960s game corner (via accs2014)

Thunder-Bird was exported internationally.

Cash Box 1968-07-06

at Palace Amusements, Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
this photo is from the late 1970s or later, based on the machines visible

English export flyer. The dealer stamp is from Antwerp, Belgium!

 

The following images and video are courtesy Rich of the Family Fun Center York Galleria in York, Philadelphia, USA.

First, some gameplay of Thunder-Bird.  We don't get to see a payout, but I am grateful to see the game in action at all.

Of most interest is that he reviews how the ball is fed up from the bottom, through a tube inside the front. The game flashes STAND BY when loading the ball into the dropper mech. 

 

 

love the whole look

similar front to the 603 crane. Same door proportions, lock location, and location of coin return. Center control mech swapped but the rest of the metal control panel is the same design as the 603. Efficiency!

I really like the look of the whole control panel area.  Would totally pay up for that marquee.

got that Jackson Pollock spackle

the 5 prize-dispenser columns

moulded plastic that is shaped like a UFO or space station

Relays! at the Front Door
note the tube on the right.  That is the ball return.

 

1977 Jupiter-30 - ジュピター30 by ベンドジャパン (Vend Japan) & 大平技研 (Ohira Giken — Yuvo)

Name: Jupiter-30 - ジュピター30

Year: 1977

Company:  ベンドジャパン (Vend Japan) & 大平技研 (Ohira Giken — Yuvo)

 

Jupiter-30 is the very first game from YUVO that I have recorded.  It was sold/distributed by Vend Japan.  Jupiter-50 and Jupiter-300 will also be discussed in this article.

Here is a flyer I purchased, front and back:

Jupiter-30 - ジュピター30 by ベンドジャパン (Vend Japan) & 大平技研 (Ohira Giken — Yuvo)

Jupiter-30 - ジュピター30 by ベンドジャパン (Vend Japan) & 大平技研 (Ohira Giken — Yuvo)

 

 

from the front:

 Transcription:

JUPITER-30
10円又は100円→3段階チャレンジが選択できるプライズマシン。
景品展示窓付。景品(たばこ大) 約80個収納可。金庫10円玉6,000枚収納可。
JUPITER-50
10円、20円→メタル販売機付。メタル配当5枚、10枚、50枚の3段階ステップ・チャレンジ方式。ホッパー採用。
JUPITER-300
本格的メタルGマシン。当り倍率2、5、30の3段階。チャレンジ倍率は追加メタル投入により1~10倍。
配当はチャレンジ倍率×当り倍率の枚数。チャレンジ倍率表示ランプ付。ホッパー採用。

Machine translation:

JUPITER-30
A prize machine with three-stage challenge options for 10 yen or 100 yen coins.
Includes a prize display window. Holds approximately 80 prizes (large cigarettes). Safe holds 6,000 10-yen coins.
JUPITER-50
Includes a medal vending machine for 10 yen and 20 yen coins. Three-stage challenge system with metal payouts of 5, 10, or 50 coins. Features a hopper.
JUPITER-300
A full-fledged Metal G machine. Three win multipliers: 2, 5, or 30. Challenge multipliers range from 1x to 10x by adding additional medal.
Payouts are calculated as the challenge multiplier multiplied by the number of coins with the win multiplier. Features a challenge multiplier indicator lamp. Features a hopper. 

30 is for winning cigarettes. 50 looks the same but uses a coin hopper to payout medals.  I have never seen a picture of Jupiter-300 so I do not know if it uses the same case, but it ups the medal gambling aspects and offers a chance for larger payouts.

Jupiter-30 is one of 3 machines in the series. 30 and 50 use the same cabinet except with the 30 altered to 50.  30 is a prize machine, where rolls of cigarettes can be won!  

 

Let's take a look at how the gameplay works on Jupiter-30:

According to the back of the flyer, you insert a 10 yen coin and flick it up at the sun.  The sun is attached to a motor and rotates.  You can see a translucent plastic column around the rocket in the center.  If the coin goes down that chute you get to shoot it again.

There are six planets and hitting any of them will cause the reels at the bottom to spin. If you stop each drum at the right position I think it awards you that prize.  I am actually kind of unsure about the specifics of the gameplay of this portion, given how the flyer is written (and my lack of understanding the Japanese language).

Besides the Sun I can make out Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, what I presume is Saturn, and then I can't see the writing on the lower-right one. 

 

Game Machine 1977-08-15

In this advertisement we can see how Jupiter-50 appears to have an identical cabinet:

Coin Journal 1977-11

Jupiter-50 - ジュピター50 by ベンドジャパン (Vend Japan) & 大平技研 (Ohira Giken — Yuvo)

Only difference here is that there is no prize display in the main window.

I hope we one day find evidence of a Jupiter-300 cabinet.