Tehkan(Tecmo) Lava

Tehkan Lava
Katakana	ラバ ; ラバ・カラー
Rōmaji	RABA ; RABAKARĀ
AKA	Lava Color ; Color Lava
Type	Sitdown
Released	1982
Dimensions	650 x 600 x (adjustable)1100-1250 mm
Monitor	18 in
Power	95 W

Tehkan released the infamous Lava miniature sitdown cabinet at the 20th AM Show in Japan ( Amusement Machine Show 1982 ). The success was such that the same month it was exhibited at the event, numerous major companies in the business started modifying Lava cab kits without any authorization and selling them afterwards, while others flooded the market with unlicensed clones. For clones see Jaleco Pony (Tehkan Lava clone), SNK Lava (really a clone of Tehkan Mini Lava & New Lava despite the name) , Casio Wall (Casio Lava). Namco Lava is probably a "Namco specification" authentic Tehkan product, rebranded and barely customized for Namco.

Tehkan released shortly after a slightly oversized version, New Lava, though there were additional modifications to the original Lava : the control panel and marquee have new graphics, while the plywood side panel outline profile changed drastically. Knowing these differences is a solid basis to differentiate both models which are virtually confused every time by vintage cabinet enthusiasts, due to design similarities, unaware of the revisions... not to mention the original panel is often replaced and makes the task more difficult if too few photos are available.

The stock 1p control panel has a vintage style ambidextrous button layout (promo pic shows a 1 button per side layout, but panel has cutouts for 2 buttons on each side).

NB: Maintenance/Service Leaflets published by Tehkan (see below in Gallery), show a sketch of the cabinet with marquee bearing "TEHKAN" up-left corner and "video" in the middle (not the usual "VIDEO GAME" seen in virtualy all Lava headers...), similarly to Namco Lava's header which bears also only "video" (same font style) with "namco" logo on the right corner this time (see relevant page of this clone). Not much but it makes the Namco Lava "clone" closer to what could be an authorized Namco specification version. Control panels are also virtually identical in layout and graphics.

Gallery

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  1983 Tecmo Lava flyer(bottom left regular "Lava" cab)
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  Legal notice dated November 1982 (published in December), by TEHKAN threatening to take action against other companies who illegally produce, modify and sell LAVA clone cabinets, unless they cease immediately to do so or gain authorization. Tehkan first exhibited said model at the 20th AM Show Japan.
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  advert (as Lava Color)
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  1983 advert
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  stock 1P panel
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  header & marquee details
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  original "indoor use" Tehkan Lava sticker found on cabinet side
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  stock coin mech
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  service leaflets
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  Side plywood panel shape difference between Lava and New Lava
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  Lava vs New Lava marquee graphics comparison (closeup & fine details)
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  Lava (top) vs New Lava (bottom) marquees, whole, low res