A.B.T. and J.F. Frantz Gun Game Models, Page 2:

Model F If a new game could be so easily designed, why not bring back the Model F one more time? Which is exactly what they did. To see a brochure for this game, click here. This model should sell for $700 to 900. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Strike-A-Lite Next came a new experiment. A gun game that needed to be plugged into the wall. It was a first for them but was something that operators were asking for. Basically is was the Challenger with lit dots to register the hits instead of the tubes with balls in them and the same cabinet as the plastic head Model F. Years ago I found a screened glass for this game but no record of it in any of the trade magazines. Since then I have found a few but not seen very often. This model should sell for $800 to 1,000. Click on the photo to enlarge it and also see other views of the game.

Electric Skill Gun In 1949, A.B.T. designed their last game. It is called the Electric Skill Gun and was a great improvement on the Strike-A-Lite. Also a game that required 120V AC, it was the first arcade game to use digital scoring. It has a brass disc with a light behind it to project the score onto the screened glass (a pinball game that was made earlier used this same idea). It also has lights to illuminate the targets and a timer that turns off the game after about 5 minutes. A rubberized part was added in front of the targets that showed the value of each and the main pan was updated to include instructions. New graphics for the cabinet were also produced. This model has a complex scoring mechanism and often times the components are either burned out or rusted, making it a difficult game to find in good condition. This model should sell for $900 to 1,100. Click on the photo to enlarge it and also see other views of the game.

Dodge City In late 1954, or early 1955, A.B.T. sold their arcade game division to the J. F. Frantz Corp. also located in Chicago. Johnny Frantz continued to build the countertop gun games as well as the Kicker & Catcher and other games. Then he had the idea to produce a gun game on legs, making it easier to place in a store, bar or arcade. So the Dodge City was born. Same gun and a Kicker & Catcher knob to reset the game. But an all new target system where you shot at one exposed "bandit" hiding behind a saloon front. Hitting the target advanced the score and popped up a new target in a different location. Five targets total, cycling through twice to match the ten shots per game. This postcard, advertising the new product, also shows Johnny's connection with the Victor Vending company, also located in Chicago, increasing the coin pulling power without increasing necessary floor space. This model is difficult to find and should sell for $700 to 900. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

U. S. Marshal The next model that came out was a major jump in design. Johnny created a new cabinet with pinball style legs. Again this allowed for new games to be designed by just changing the graphics. He also went from putting the coin into the gun to using a standard A.B.T. coin slide. This allowed him to move up to dime, and eventually quarter, operation. The target area was also redesigned to a cast aluminum saloon front. The photo on the flyer shows a yellow paint scheme but the vast majority of games were blue. I have also seen green. It also shows the skirts that came with the games. Operators often discarded them as they made it harder to disassemble the game to move it. The original graphics were quite detailed and were later changed to a more basic painted image. A U.S. Marshal in good condition should sell for $800 to 1,000. Click on the photo to enlarge it and also see other views of the game.

The Challenger Frantz then did something completely different. He recycled the name Challenger for his next game. He made the cabinet larger with an area at the top that looked a bit like a video monitor. He changed from a saloon front to a castle looking plate with targets rather than bandits to shoot at and with each shot a flag on the right side of the upper display rose higher and higher. I don't think that this model turned out to be a winner as it is a difficult one to find. This model in good condition should sell for $700 to 900. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Space Shot The next model to come off the production line was something completely different. A modification to the cabinet, extending the top and making a roof design, and changing from shooting at bandits to a space theme. He also changed from a flat piece of Plexiglas to the formed style used on Dodge City. A cast aluminum muzzle was also added to the end on the gun barrel. This addition is a bit hard to find as they made removal of the gun assembly more difficult and operators removed them. This model in good condition should sell for $800 to 1,000. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Coke Gallery Branding with machines became all the rage and Johnny jumped on that band wagon with a new model that had a Coca-Cola theme. A unique metal front with coke related items, red targets and a gun muzzle that looked like a Coke can. A marquee was also added to the top of the machine. Production records state that they only made 280 of this model. This model with all original parts should sell for $1,200 to 1,500. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Pepsi Arcade A Pepsi version was also shown on a brochure that listed the available models. According to someone who worked at the factory at that time, Pepsi did not agree to a licensing agreement and only two prototypes were ever built. I have seen more than two over the years so more were made or some units were made on the side with parts that were left over. This model, most likely not one of the two prototypes, should sell for $1,200 to 1,500. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

1776 In 1976, Frantz came out with a special bicentennial model. It was a U. S. Marshal with new graphics. This model should sell for $700 to 900. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

The New Frontier Next was another version of the U. S. Marshal called The New Frontier. It used the roof design cabinet from Space Shot but otherwise was no different. Click on the photo to enlarge it and see an alternative design. This model should sell for $800 to 1,000.

War Zone, Capture The Bunker This model, called War Zone, recycled the castle metal front from The Challenger and added different graphics. The cabinet graphics were only clear vinyl stickers. This model is difficult to find. I don't that that many were made. A War Zone in good condition should sell for $700 to 900. Click on the photo to enlarge it and also see other views of the game.

Silver Dollar Saloon The name of the saloon used on the U. S. Marshal game is called the Silver Dollar, so Frantz made a model called The Silver Dollar saloon. For this model he added a gumball or bouncy ball dispenser to the top of the machine. Otherwise it is the same game. This model in good condition should sell for $800 to 1,000. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Big Top The next game, called Big Top, used the Silver Dollar cabinet and changed the graphics to a clown theme. I have seen this model with both the U S Marshal and Space Shot scoring assembly. This model in good condition should sell for $800 to 1,000. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Gold Nugget Johnny Frantz was good friends with all the other coin-op manufacturers in Chicago and he made this game, Gold Nugget, as a gift to these people. It is the U. S. Marshal game but made of solid oak, even the skirts. It also has brass legs, top marquee, gun front assembly and front rail. It is a very impressive looking game. Later he also offered it for sale. The front rail is stamped with a serial number, with a run of only 1,000 planned. Company records state that actually only 110 were made. This model should sell for $1,200 to 1,500. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Junior Deputy Sheriff The last game to come off the Frantz assembly line was called Junior Deputy Sheriff. It is another U. S. Marshal type game using the roof design cabinet but adding legs that looked like six guns. This model should sell for $800 to 1,000. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Custom Gun Games Some people have created new, custom gun games using vintage parts. Brad Greenwood is one of these people. He has taken games such as the U. S. Marshal, Big Game Hunter, Model F, The Challenger and others to an entirely new level. To go to his web site and see some of his creations, click here. Click on the photo to enlarge it.