Ok so the topic of the "TCR" (Taito Card Reader) System came up in one of the Egret 29 restoration threads.
I love obscure hardware like this and I wanted to start a thread to start collecting information..
I first learned about the TCR through the official Egret 29 Parts Catalog, which you can find on the AO Wiki: https://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Taito_Egret_29
it seems it was an optional add-on for the Egret 29 and used as an alternative way to add credits to the machine instead of coins.
Aside from the card reader there is an IR sensor a second internal credit counter as well as an alternate star button panel that has a second window for a digital credit display, and a power supply
@FluxChiller posed some great pictures of everything but the digital credit display.
The "double credit counter" wasn't an option so much as part of the TCR kit. Notice that one counter is labeled "COIN" while the other is labeled "CARD"
A few years back I ended up with some Taito Magnetic cards,
More pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Go1pyCr9pp4TnUL5A
not sure if these were for the TCR or some other system, but if you have any info or pictures about the TCR please post it up!
@Hatsune Mike and @NEON_Arcade Since you guys own some of these parts, any information or photos you could add would be awesome.
I love obscure hardware like this and I wanted to start a thread to start collecting information..
I first learned about the TCR through the official Egret 29 Parts Catalog, which you can find on the AO Wiki: https://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Taito_Egret_29
it seems it was an optional add-on for the Egret 29 and used as an alternative way to add credits to the machine instead of coins.
Aside from the card reader there is an IR sensor a second internal credit counter as well as an alternate star button panel that has a second window for a digital credit display, and a power supply
@FluxChiller posed some great pictures of everything but the digital credit display.
Another owner shared these with me a while back. TCR and the double credit counter option.
![]()
![]()
![]()
The "double credit counter" wasn't an option so much as part of the TCR kit. Notice that one counter is labeled "COIN" while the other is labeled "CARD"
A few years back I ended up with some Taito Magnetic cards,
More pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Go1pyCr9pp4TnUL5A
not sure if these were for the TCR or some other system, but if you have any info or pictures about the TCR please post it up!
@Hatsune Mike and @NEON_Arcade Since you guys own some of these parts, any information or photos you could add would be awesome.