Big Hit

Shown in this listing are three versions of playfield produced by the manufacturer. The flyer shows the "standard version" with unpainted woodgrain in the area between the lower flippers as well as in the area just above the upper flippers (the "swipe" area). A "white version" has white paint in these same areas. A "yellow version" has yellow paint in these same areas. The quantities produced of each are unknown to us. Tim Arnold contacted us with the following information for 'Big Hit', 1976 'Volley', and 1977 'Jacks Open' which explains the different playfields: I have noticed a mystery on these three games I can solve for you. I have had many examples of these machines over the years. Playfields with PAINT over [flipper] swipe area and top arch are made of CHIPBOARD! I first saw this at Cleveland Coin back in the day when we were thinking of buying the game off the floor. Our salesman told us to take one in the box as the painted over area was "Pressed wood". I later talked to Cliff Strain [in Sales] at an annual trade show. He told me they were trying new materials because of a spike in the price of plywood. I have had two of these three machines since then, and the paint seems to stick to the wood just fine, but the surface turns rough and bumpley (sic) under the paint. Gottlieb Domestic & Export Sales Sheets for Big Hit: 2200 total Domestic Sales: 1478 Export Sales: 722 The above total does not include 113 Sample games produced in 1977 per handwritten documentation identified by Wayne Neyens as coming from Bob Malvasio, a draftsman for Gottlieb whose initials RHM can be found on schematics. If you have this game and have the schematic for it, and are familiar with reading schematics, please contact us. We ask you to help us identify possible errors on the schematic. (We don't seek your schematic.)