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| 1972 machine directory entry |
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| Taito 40th anniversary book entry showing 1970 |
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| English (export) flyer |
English language ad seen in Cash Box. (I lost the reference)
Photos of the marquee from an auction. A Game Mate sticker was placed over the Taito logo.
The Japan Game Museum channel has a number of short videos that showcase the machine.
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.)
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| 1969 machine directory entry |
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| from the Taito 40th Anniversary book |
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| late 1960s game corner (via accs2014) |
Thunder-Bird was exported internationally.
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| Cash Box 1968-07-06 |
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| at Palace Amusements, Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA this photo is from the late 1970s or later, based on the machines visible |
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| 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.
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| love the whole look |
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| 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! |
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| I really like the look of the whole control panel area. Would totally pay up for that marquee. |
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| got that Jackson Pollock spackle |
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| the 5 prize-dispenser columns |
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| moulded plastic that is shaped like a UFO or space station |
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| Relays! at the Front Door note the tube on the right. That is the ball return. |
Lucky Token, as it is commonly referred, is a slot machine that was unveiled at the 22nd A.T. E. Exhibition in the UK in 1966. It was brought by Taito Trading, and the full title on the marquee is "Strike A Lucky Token". Like most Sega slot machines of the time, it appears to be made specifically for export.
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| Cash Box 1966-02-12 |
F. Dennis Dent, Managing Director of Shipgoods Ltd., the agents for Taito Trading Company of Japan, is seen here (left) explaining the mechanism of the Lucky Token Fruit machine to Neville Marten (CASH BOX).
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| Cash Box 1966-02-12 |
Also exhibiting for the first time Taito Trading Company of Tokyo, Japan on the stand of their U.K. importers and distributors, Shipgoods Ltd. Managing Director Mr. F. Dennis Denton reported that the Lucky Token two plays for 6d 'pub' slot machine created tremendous interest, as did the Casey Jones kiddie train ride.
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| Coin Slot 1966-01-29 |
REGENT Automatic Supply demonstrated the Japanese fruit Strike a Lucky Token, which is on two pulls for 6d, and which pays out two coins in cash or a 5/- award. When the jackpot is won a buzzer sounds and a red light flashes next to the coin entry.
An innovation on this machine is a special panel which can he unlocked by the site owner and through it he can load the award tube which might be in danger of emptying.
A special light goes on when this may happen and goes out again when the tube in refilled. Thus the key can be safely left on site without any threat of unlawful access being gained to any other part of the machine.
This was Taito's first A.T.E. Exhibition. They also exhibited Amosco [アモスコ by アオシマ・モウカル・オカネ・シコタマ・カンパニー (Aoshima Moukaru Okane Shikotama Company)] and ホイホイテスト (Hoi Hoi Test) by 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment).
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| Billboard 1966-02-12 |
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| Coin Slot 1966-01-22 ad from Regent Automatic Supply |
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| Coin Slot 1966-02-05 |
Relevant text from the bottom, highlighting the feature of a special locked slot that allows the location owner to restock the payouts without gaining access to the cashbox or internals.
Bottom centre: Messrs. T. and A. Manzi, of Regent Automatic Supply, introduced the Japanese-made Lucky Token fruit machine. A feature of this fruit is that by unlocking a small plate on the front the site owner can restock the token tube without gaining admittance to the rest of the machine.
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| Coin Slot 1966-02-05 Zooming in on the Lucky Token photo |
Lucky Token appears to be based on Royal Crown slot machines.
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| photo by Anthony Gavin - flickr |
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| Royal Crown machine with the mounted marquee |
Photos of a Lucky Token machine, taken from an Ebay auction (archive):
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| where the price is listed as 6D there is a key hole. I assume this is where the "lucky tokens" can be refilled by the location operator. |
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| note the dual payout tray, one for the 2-coin payouts, and one for the lucky tokens |
It says "Imperial Crown" here. Crown was a brand utilized by Taito as early as 1965. Unsure if that's a solid connection though since the original model design was Royal Crown.
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| is that "T" for Taito? On the Royal Crown machine this is instead a plastic circle with 'JP' on it. It probably just means "T" for "Token", as it lights when it pays them out. |
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| inspection card! Inspected by T. Kaburagi on 1966-06-13 |
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| 1969-02-04 inspection date, this one is 110 Volts and 50 Watts, so for the Japanese market |
The chevron on the Royal Crown and Lucky Token machines remind me of the one that would appear on サニー東京 (Sunny Tokyo) / Sunic machines
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| chevron from Royal Crown |
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| chevron from Mercado Electrica - メリカー ドエレクトリカ by サニー東京 (Sunny Tokyo) |
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| chevron from Wander 69 - ワンダー69 by サニー東京 (Sunny Tokyo) |
One more advertisement, also from Regent Automatic Supply:
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| Coin Slot 1966-03-26 |
There does not seem to be any mention of their geographic origin in the ad copy, though the first ad did say "Introducing to England".
Also in 1966 Regent Automatic Supply began advertising Super Lucky Token, where they convert between "single jackpot payout" and "progressive jackpot", though I am unclear which is which. The sign still seems to say "Strike A Lucky Token" but Super Lucky Token is used in the ad copy.
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| Super Lucky Token by 太東貿易 (Taito Trading) & Regent Automatic Supply |
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| Coin Slot 1966-08-27 |
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| Coin Slot Review 1967 Spring |
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