All about Gottlieb Pinball Machine Displays

Original Displays used in Gottlieb Pinball Machines

 System 1  The system 1 displays are the first generation produced by Gottlieb and were introduced in 1977. There were two different displays used in the system 1 machines--four 6-digit displays used for the player scoring and one 4-digit display used for the ball-in-play and credits. Most of the system 1 machines used a fluorescent display with a blue filter on the back glass to enhance the color of the display. If you look at one of the fluorescent displays you will see that it is closer to a greenish-blue color. 
    

System 80  The system 80 was the second generation control system and was introduced in 1980. The displays used in the system 80 are the same type of display used in the first generation system 1 machines. Most games used five 6-digit displays--four were used for the player scoring and one was used for bonus scoring. The 4-digit display was again used for the ball-in-play and credits. Again, a majority of the machines used the fluorescent displays in conjunction with a blue filter (see Black Hole) on the back glass to enhance the display color. At least one game, Haunted House, used a green filter to enhance the color of the original display. 
   

System 80A  The system 80A was Gottlieb's third generation control system and was introduced in 1982. The displays used in the system 80A are again the same displays as in the previous generation machines, but with the introduction of a new 7 digit display. Most games used four 6-digit displays for the player scoring and one 6-digit display for bonus scoring. The 4-digit display was again used for the ball-in-play and credits.  
   

System 80B  The system 80B was yet another generation control system. This was introduced in 1985. The display used in the system 80B was a two line alpha-numeric fluorescent display. There was only one version used in all these machines. This all in one display included the score displays for four players, and the credit and ball in play, which were displayed between the players scores.

System 3  The system 3 was completely new generation control system. This was introduced in 1988. The display used in the system 3 was either an alpha-numeric fluorescent display (like System 80B), or a dot matrix display ( DMD ) with 128X64 dots. The dot matrix display is a fluorescent display that has matrix of small dots. The small dots are combined in patterns to make the number for the players scores. The matrix of dots also allow for the displays of any kind of graphics, symbols, or ever pictures. During game play the display will usually change between the score display and the different graphics modes.

Pinball Machines manufactured by Gottlieb®.