The last pinball maker...in the World

nev_payne · 07-April-05, 09:26 AM

Gary Stern, entered the Pinball industry at 16. Now, aged 60, he is the sole Pinball machine maker on the planet, the last competition folding in 1999. In the 30's, 150 manufacturers existed. Now its shrunk, bought, borrowed and disapered to one man, and his 40'000 square foot assembly plant in Chicago, which wont be moving out of America - it will be too expensive.

LINKAGE HERE...and keep playing those pinball machines, not that horrible M$ one on XP.

NoSlak · 07-April-05, 09:49 AM

Sad, pinball was the shizzy.
I remember the good ole days when I would play on the KISS machine at the Pizza Hut , that is where the OLDER guys( High School ) nicknamed me Duke just cuz I was so good. Haha.
Nice Thread .

SexyPants · 07-April-05, 10:18 AM

I'm a pinball lover. The other day I got four Pro Pinball games off of Amazon for 99 cents (+shipping) and have played it every day.

From my experience, Stern machines aren't exactly Top Notch, but God bless them for keeping it alive. I hope they stick around

Rob · 07-April-05, 01:32 PM

He is truly the Pinball Wizard.

Rob

nev_payne · 07-April-05, 02:19 PM

bumpy for the evening crowd

Monsignor Funkibut · 07-April-05, 04:56 PM

I have always believed there was money to be made in boutique pinball - $20000 machines and up handcrafted for clients like rappers and athletes.

But the range of crafts you would have to be great at: game design, woodwork, metalwork, graphic arts, computer coding ... its not easy.

But if there is room for OCC & West Coast Choppers in a world of Harleys & Hondas-why not?!?!?

-MF

SexyPants · 07-April-05, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut


	I have always believed there was money to be made in boutique pinball - $20000 machines and up handcrafted for clients like rappers and athletes. But the range of crafts you would have to be great at: game design, woodwork, metalwork, graphic arts, computer coding ... its not easy. But if there is room for OCC & West Coast Choppers in a world of Harleys & Hondas-why not?!?!? -MF

Actually, I'm currently reading the Ultimate History of Video Games and apparently Gottlieb kind of was that company. When pinball first came around, there were a gazillion people making them, and what set Gottlieb apart was craftsmanship that was absolutely top-notch. Of course, this was really early on. By that I mean, they didn't have the flippers yet (another Gottlieb innovation)

DuckWarrior · 07-April-05, 05:54 PM

Always loved pinball...cool article!

PHLAK · 07-April-05, 05:59 PM

I agree with DW great article! Thanks for the linkage!

bazorama · 07-April-05, 06:14 PM

Well Pinball RULES and it always will

no matter what.

LwrS10 · 07-April-05, 06:19 PM

man i miss playin pinball all those countless hours when i used to work at putt-putt when i was 16. i think my fav was the addams family one. anyone else have favorites?

SexyPants · 07-April-05, 08:54 PM

My friend has a Rocky and Bullwinkle table that is perfect as far as I'm concerned. There's an Elvis table I like too

07-April-05, 09:26 AM		#1 (permalink)
nev_payne Apex Tech God	The last pinball maker...in the World Gary Stern, entered the Pinball industry at 16. Now, aged 60, he is the sole Pinball machine maker on the planet, the last competition folding in 1999. In the 30's, 150 manufacturers existed. Now its shrunk, bought, borrowed and disapered to one man, and his 40'000 square foot assembly plant in Chicago, which wont be moving out of America - it will be too expensive. LINKAGE HERE...and keep playing those pinball machines, not that horrible M$ one on XP.

07-April-05, 04:56 PM		#6 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	Imho I have always believed there was money to be made in boutique pinball - $20000 machines and up handcrafted for clients like rappers and athletes. But the range of crafts you would have to be great at: game design, woodwork, metalwork, graphic arts, computer coding ... its not easy. But if there is room for OCC & West Coast Choppers in a world of Harleys & Hondas-why not?!?!? -MF

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07-April-05, 09:49 AM		#2 (permalink)
NoSlak Gridiron	Sad, pinball was the shizzy. I remember the good ole days when I would play on the KISS machine at the Pizza Hut , that is where the OLDER guys( High School ) nicknamed me Duke just cuz I was so good. Haha. Nice Thread .

07-April-05, 10:18 AM		#3 (permalink)
SexyPants 5-Hoe-1 Jeans	I'm a pinball lover. The other day I got four Pro Pinball games off of Amazon for 99 cents (+shipping) and have played it every day. From my experience, Stern machines aren't exactly Top Notch, but God bless them for keeping it alive. I hope they stick around

07-April-05, 01:32 PM		#4 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	He is truly the Pinball Wizard. Rob

07-April-05, 02:19 PM		#5 (permalink)
nev_payne Apex Tech God	bumpy for the evening crowd

07-April-05, 05:54 PM		#8 (permalink)
DuckWarrior Retired Admin In Charge of Death and Destruction to All those Who Oppose My World known as PimpRig	Always loved pinball...cool article!

07-April-05, 05:59 PM		#9 (permalink)
PHLAK Apex Tech God	I agree with DW great article! Thanks for the linkage!

07-April-05, 06:14 PM		#10 (permalink)
bazorama I need to Confirm with email	Well Pinball RULES and it always will no matter what.

07-April-05, 06:19 PM		#11 (permalink)
LwrS10 C-hoe-bra Joe	man i miss playin pinball all those countless hours when i used to work at putt-putt when i was 16. i think my fav was the addams family one. anyone else have favorites?

07-April-05, 08:54 PM		#12 (permalink)
SexyPants 5-Hoe-1 Jeans	My friend has a Rocky and Bullwinkle table that is perfect as far as I'm concerned. There's an Elvis table I like too