Uploaded June 2010 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
This video demonstrates the gameplay of an early-production "Freedom" by Bally.
This pinball machine was manufactured in 1976. Bally made Freedom in both electromechanical and solid state versions. The first 100 or so EM's were made with a pop bumper between the flippers making this particular version quite rare. This is the version demonstrated in the video.
Following the initial production of the game with the extra pop bumper, the lower playfield was redesigned with the more traditional in-lanes and out-lanes.
The pop bumper between the flippers makes gameplay quite challenging and unique. Ball times are often very short. The bumper can either help or hinder the player and mastering the nudge to avoid the centre drain is critical. The lack of in-lanes makes controlling the ball and taking aimed shots very difficult.
I purchased this machine at a jewelery and household auction in London, Ontario in early 2010. It had a large number of issues that needed to be resolved before it was playable and had clearly been neglected for a long time. The auctioneer told me it had been in the home of a local business owner for at least 20 years and he decided to sell it at auction because it no longer worked. It always surprises me how rare games often end up in the strangest places.
More information on this game can be found at ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=952
Other games designed with a pop bumper between the flippers include "Shamrock" (1956), "8 Ball" (1966), "Fan-Tas-Tic" (1972) and Spanish Eyes (1972), all made by Williams. I'm pretty sure this is the only non-Williams machine with this feature, although Safari (Bally, 1966) has a passive bumper between the flippers.
This video demonstrates the gameplay of an early-production "Freedom" by Bally.
This pinball machine was manufactured in 1976. Bally made Freedom in both electromechanical and solid state versions. The first 100 or so EM's were made with a pop bumper between the flippers making this particular version quite rare. This is the version demonstrated in the video.
Following the initial production of the game with the extra pop bumper, the lower playfield was redesigned with the more traditional in-lanes and out-lanes.
The pop bumper between the flippers makes gameplay quite challenging and unique. Ball times are often very short. The bumper can either help or hinder the player and mastering the nudge to avoid the centre drain is critical. The lack of in-lanes makes controlling the ball and taking aimed shots very difficult.
I purchased this machine at a jewelery and household auction in London, Ontario in early 2010. It had a large number of issues that needed to be resolved before it was playable and had clearly been neglected for a long time. The auctioneer told me it had been in the home of a local business owner for at least 20 years and he decided to sell it at auction because it no longer worked. It always surprises me how rare games often end up in the strangest places.
More information on this game can be found at ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=952
Other games designed with a pop bumper between the flippers include "Shamrock" (1956), "8 Ball" (1966), "Fan-Tas-Tic" (1972) and Spanish Eyes (1972), all made by Williams. I'm pretty sure this is the only non-Williams machine with this feature, although Safari (Bally, 1966) has a passive bumper between the flippers.
