Nip-It (Bally, 1973) Tutorial Review

History-Features-Gameplay Tutorial for Ted Zale’s final designed electromechanical (EM) pinball machine. Nip-It was another pinball title designed with "zipper flippers" as a primary feature.

Design by: Ted Zale
Art by: Dick White

Manufacturer: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (1931-1983)
Project Date: 8 February, 1972
Date Of Manufacture: July 1973
Type: Electro-mechanical (EM)
Production: 4,580 units
Theme: Sports - Fishing - Alligators - Water
Specialty: Zipper Flippers

Notable Features: “Balligator” Grabber Assembly, Zipper flippers (2), Pop bumpers (4), Mushroom bumper (1), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (4), Kick-out holes (2), Multiball (2), Left kicker lane, Right outlane ball return "free ball" gate.

Maximum displayed point score is 99,990 points per player.

The game was featured prominently in the television series, 'Happy Days' (1974-1984), inside of Al’s Diner and can be viewed being played and used as script plot device in multiple episodes of the series. The history of why this game was used on the television series and notes about Henry Winkler's personal Nip-It pinball machine are also provided in this review.

UNCONFIRMED reports have been provided that this is the actual game used during the filming of the series, as the title was originally acquired from the Los Angeles prop house.

MUSIC:
Vedrim - GET HYPE!
   • J.B. Scott - GET HYPE!  

All contents regarding the use the ‘Happy Days’ video excerpt are covered by the fair use exception or limitation for historical demonstration and informational documental purposes ONLY.

‘Happy Days’, “The Fonz”, characters, and television scripts are licenses of ABC-CBS-Paramount-Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions-Henderson Productions.