1934 World's Series by Rock-ola: Champion model vs Production model [guest post]

The following text and photos are from Bruce Zamost, posted with permission.  He documents the differences between the 2 known types of the iconic World's Series pinball machine, the "Champion model", and the primary production model.

left: World's Series Champion model
right: World's Series production ('Second') model

Champion model

full production model

Playfield and mechanical variations on the Champion Model include:

• words "Champion Model";
• slimmer baseball graphic at top;
• 2 top players are higher (left side player's shoe is covered by ball return hardware);
• black lines around baseball diamond are absent;
• base labels are shown in divided backgrounds;
• different font, e.g. "RUNS";
• wire baserunner covers vs. nylon tabs;
• shadow behind down arrows above register are absent;
• yellows on production model playfield are orange on Champion Model---this includes the disc paint as well;
• different pin quantities in clusters both in upper and lower playfield;
• register casting lacks 2 integrated uprights and instead utilizes 3 separate, discrete lane guides above register;
• tilt lock-out rod;
• trough has differently oriented bell holes and bell brackets, no bells and holes are mysteriously covered with sheet metal;
• extra bracket on trough;
• 2 screws flanking baseball diamond are absent.

Differences in mechanicals noted as follows: [each bulletpoint relates to highlighted sections in the subsequent photographs -- cait]

• Red:  trough bells absent on Champion and bell hole orientation different.
• Green:  tilt rod with larger rear bracket present on Champion.  Front tilt bracket on production model has hole for accepting tilt rod even though that rod wasn't utilized on production models or at least on the vast majority of them.
• Amber:  larger cut out at tilt mechanism on Champion model.
• Yellow:  RWS 1 (Rockola World's Series 1) stamped on arm trough of Champion.   RSW 1A stamped on receiving basin of trough on production model. 
• Blue:  bracket instead of spring on prototype.
• Other:  additional securing screws on board on production model on top side.  This Champion board was drilled for use as a playfield as evidenced by pin holes.  Also, the prototype features the machined randomizer gear as opposed to a cast gear which I neglected to encircled but which can be seen in the photos.

    Red:  trough bells absent on Champion and bell hole orientation different.
Green:  tilt rod with larger rear bracket present on Champion.  Front tilt bracket on production model has hole for accepting tilt rod even though that rod wasn't utilized on production models or at least on the vast majority of them.
Amber:  larger cut out at tilt mechanism on Champion.

Rock-Ola's World's Series (1934) resources

Once upon a time I ended up buying 3 World's Series over the course of a year.  I made a deal with a friend in the Montreal area and he took all 3 with the promise that one would be returned nicely restored.
In anticipation of my World's Series returning I wanted to compile some resources for this amazing machine. 
It was wildly popular, they apparently made like 50,000 of them.  And while so much coin-op from the 1930s never survived the last 90 years, the sheer volume of World's Series means they aren't too hard to come by.


Tonnes of reproduction parts are available at the wonderful Buckwerx Rock-Ola site
Chris Hale has a Shapeways (3d printing) store where he has recreated many of the key complex parts

and if you want to learn all about the machine, and even see videos of it operating from the INSIDE, check out Mark Gibson's World's Series restoration page at Fun With Pinball.

Between those three sites you should have every bit of info to take an 86 year old World's Series project from start to finish.

PLAY BALL!

photo by Mark Gibson