Williams manufactured its own flipper assemblies, relay brackets, score reel frames, tilt mechanisms, and many other parts in the metalworking section of its factory.

We watched as workers positioned large, flat sheets of steel under a power shear. The first cuts reduced the large sheet into long strips. Later, the strips were cut into small pieces from which parts were shaped.

In the loudest area, we watched and listened to rows of punch presses pounding the small metal pieces into the exact shape needed for various parts. After an operator positioned a metal blank on a die in the press, he or she would push a button with each hand to operate the press. Those buttons were located well out of harm's way—a safety feature. Once activated, a flywheel would power a second die down onto the metal part with many tons of force. With one operation, a flat piece of metal could be cut out, bent, and punched.

We moved on to see how parts were combined. Using a pneumatic press, an operator combined parts of a locking mechanism. Our next stop was the parts assembly area.