All About Pinball

It's more than a bagatelle

The game of pinball has existed in primitive form since at least the 18th Century. Retooled for the technology of the 20th Century, pinball flourished during the Great Depression, became a cultural touchstone following World War II, and has survived such indignities as a 1940s ban in New York City and, in the year 2000, a declaration by Wired magazine that pinball is dead. Pinball is still very much alive, and pinball machines continue to be a fixture in home rec rooms, bars, and pool halls across the country.

Pinball prototypes

The game design of a pinball machine is classic. The combination of a ball and pins goes back in gaming history to bocce, or bowls, in the early AD years of the Roman era. Bagatelle, the progenitor of modern pinball, was an 18th-century tabletop version of billiards. Using cue sticks on a slender inclined table, players attempted to shoot ivory balls into numbered holes that were obstructed by pins. Bagatelle table games would become the rage of the 19th century.

The pinball machine as we know it has its origins in Cincinnati, where in 1869 a Briton named Montegue Redgrave replaced the pool cue with a coiled spring and plunger. Coin-operated versions of this smaller bagatelle game gained popularity in the 1930s. Gottlieb and Bally, two pinball machine manufacturing companies that were responsible for many of the pinball machine innovations of the 20th century, were founded in that decade.

It was the Gottlieb company that would introduce the other fundamental pinball machine innovation - flippers - in 1947, spurring greater design competition, and resulting in the creation of classic vintage pinball machines that are highly prized today.

Pinball machines today

Using flippers to try and keep a ball from dropping off the bottom of a playing field may seem primitive next to the game play of an Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3, but pinball machines remain highly prized as both games and collectibles. Classic pinball machines from Gottlieb or Williams Manufacturing are highly valued, and their backglasses can be as artistically appealing as vintage neon signs. The Internet has spawned a renaissance in the sales of used pinball machines.

But pinball machines haven't entirely become just objects of nostalgia. Popular contemporary themes include Lord of the Rings pinball, the Simpsons pinball, NASCAR pinball, and World Poker Tour pinball. Stern Pinball, Inc., based in Melrose Park, IL, and The Pinball Factory of Melbourne, Australia, are currently the only manufacturers of new pinball machines.

Pinball machine purchasing

If you're looking to buy a pinball machine for your home, you should expect to spend around $4,000 or more for new pinball games, though a little research could net you a new pinball machine for closer to $3,500.

Used pinball machines will be cheaper, but if you decide to purchase a used pinball machine, try to find a local seller. That way you can see any pinball games before you buy them. Give any pinball machine a thorough inspection before you purchase. Be prepared for your search to take as long as a year or two. Make a list of what features you want on your pinball machine to help narrow down your options. Above all, be patient.

If you enjoy do it yourself maintenance, classic pinball machines might be just right for you. There are many pinball parts suppliers online to provide for your pinball machine repair needs.

More information on pinball