Tag: Bambino soccer game

Bambino kick the goal football game

What the listing stated:

We have tried a few batteries but the unit does not power up so beig sold for spares. 

EBay

I obtained this for a very reasonable price considering the amounts being charged these days for similar battery operated 1970’s items.

Bambino game
Looks tidy
No Corrosion
Bambino Kick the goal soccer game

This unit was assembled in 1979. From initial pictures a few things are pleasing. It looks fairly tidy, the battery cover is supplied, there appears to be no corrosion and the labels appear intact. However actual delivery and when it appears in my own hands may prove otherwise so I’ll await its arrival to give a final judgement.

Well the item has arrived and considering it’s 45 years old it appears to have had a good life. A few small knocks and scars, no more than what you would expect….lets get some batteries in and see what occurs.

A few cold solder joints needed re flowing
45 years old and clean as a whistle
Game pads all to clean
Buttons to clean

Inside is amazing, no LED screen just a tube that looks like an old Cathode Ray tube that you’d have on a TV. (Actually known as a Vacuum fluorescent display) Thank god this isn’t damaged as it would be game over. Wiggling a few contacts and I can hear the speaker crackling, closer inspection shows some cold solder joints so I quickly reflow these and it all springs into life. Excellent.

Lovely old display- more like a cathode tube

I’ve decided to take it all apart and give the parts a good deep wash in some soapy water.

Bath time
Drying off

I’ve cleaned the two switches with a contact cleaner, I’ve cleaned the screen membrane and all buttons and their attached membranes as well.

Looks stunning
Assembled and working
Nice and clean

The whole shell has also been cleaned in all the nooks and crannies, and it looks superb.

Before and after

Now assembled it is in full working order, everything works as it should and the display is bright. The batteries are a tight fit but that’s not so much of an issue. Once you get into the game it’s quite addictive as single player mode is a right challenge as the computer is a great goal keeper 😂

Just can’t score – computers goal keeper is too good

Again it’s been quite a simple fix but an enjoyable one. It’s always good to see something that is about to be disposed of brought back to life and saved from the landfill. I paid a total price of £12.71GBP for this unit, and items of a far worse condition are currently selling in excess of £40GBP on EBay. However this is going into our games box in the garden pub for use by the family, especially the kids who I hope will appreciate the height of technology we had in the 70s.