Big League (Australian)

[Rod71]

This just popped up on Facebook Marketplace here in AU.
Looks like an 873 variant.  Rugby League theme with old school team logos.  I believe it's from around 1975 - 77

[Karloz25]

Very nice. What are they asking for it? And did they detail any issues with it?

[Rod71]

Very nice. What are they asking for it? And did they detail any issues with it?

He's looking for offers.
There's a shirt video on his post where it shows it coining up and spinning.  The middle reel stopped first which was a little weird.  But I remember having that issue with my Circus when I was bringing it back to life.  It sorted itself out after a few spins, so maybe this one just needs to be played more.


Either way, cool machine that is pretty rare.  Shame they didn't do anything with the reel strips.  Fruit, bells and bars is a bit weird given the Rugby League theme.

[wolftalk]

my docs imply it's a model number is 873-J with different glass and reel tapes.  The tapes are M-222-[685, 686, 687].


the difference on the tapes is the 7 and bar symbols look different.  Both have rugby balls behind them.


it'd be interesting to see if the model number plate has a different model number on it ... it should unless it was a conversion kit.

[Rod71]

Cool.  Does your info give production run numbers?.  Surely they would have only made a couple of hundred of these tops, due to the theme.


Oh I'm guessing it would be a made in Ireland model, and going from my Circus, the numbers on the ID plate would be in a different format. But the proper model number would likely be printed on the back of the glass.


As far as release year, it has to be pre 1974 as one of the teams changed their logo that year.

[wolftalk]

I don't have any production number figures.

the only place I've found "big league" is a tape and index wheel code list.  It actually says the model IS 873-J, but another list of model info shows the 873-J for australia (good), but the glass and reel tapes were the same as used on standard bally 873 games like the 873-A (bad).

my model list also says the 873-J used a different payout counter disc, which is consistent with the 5th line 777 not paying a bonus amount like most 873's do.  Unfortunately, I don't have any paperwork for the game to go any further.

either the game was made later after my list ends and has a model number greater than 873-5ZH, or it was a conversion kit where you just swapped out the tapes and glass, or my lists have errors.

at least the m-222 tape numbers match the tape definition documents I have, so those are almost certainly right. 

[Rod71]

Another interesting one popped up recently.  Model 1060, Australian version of Treasury or Gold Rush.

[wolftalk]

the reel tape part numbers for the 1060 are m-230-[7,8,9] and come right after the high payout version of treasury model 1020. 


there's an australian gold rush model 1058 that has the same reel index discs, reel wiper wiring and payout counter as the 1060, but different tapes (m-230-[10,11,12]) and glass.



there's a few 3-line-pay super wide reel machines around that time that are probably pretty much the same except artwork and payback percentage, tho the 1060 looks like it has a win meter and the treasury didn't.  Don't know about the 1058 ... never seen a picture of one.