Wico

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1 Introduction

Wico Corporation was the world's largest supplier of parts and accessories of all kinds of coin operated equipment. They covered all types of amusement equipment, jukeboxes, and vending machines much like Happ Controls does today. Wico even manufactured their own assemblies and circuit boards for different applications. In the late 1970's, pinball was hot and so was the home pinball market. Wico decided to jump on the bandwagon, and produce their own home model pinball machine, "Big Top".

2 Games

• Big Top, November 1977, catalog # 15-2001

3 Technical Info

Overall assembled dimensions: 63" high by 43.5" long by 20.5" wide. Weight 143 pounds. Big Top used a combination of classic Stern, Williams, and Wico's own parts to build this machine.

Big Top manual

Coil listing:

• 15-8014 Pop Bumper Coil and Sleeve
• 15-8017 Slingshot Coil and Sleeve
• 15-8020 Flipper Coil and Sleeve
• 15-8023 Chime Coil and Sleeve

Brand new replacement Wico coils are available from Marco Specialties.

4 Problems and Solutions

4.1 Power Problems

The power box assembly contains the power transformer, three circuit breakers, and a bridge rectifier. The bridge rectifier provides +28 volts dc for the coils. The circuit breakers are each rated at 2.5 amps.

4.6 Sound Problems

Big Top used a 2 bar chimebox for sounds. It did not use electronic sounds nor did it have a speaker.

4.7 Flipper Problems

Big Top uses classic Stern Generation 1 flipper assemblies with a Wico coil and a 20 ohm 25 watt resistor attached to drop power to the coil.