Old-School Arcade: Pinball Machines Made in the USA

Video might have killed the radio star, however within the early Nineteen Eighties, Pac-Man virtually killed pinball. “In 1979, pinball producers offered greater than 200,00 machines in america,” writes Josh Levin for Slate. “Three years later, they offered 33,000.” (All hyperlinks beneath.)

I used to be in highschool in 1979, and virtually each weekend, my pals and I might go to the arcade. I bear in mind enjoying pinball — and when Pac-Man hit the scene, after which Astroids.

Whereas these new video games grabbed individuals’s consideration, I caught with pinball. I liked studying how you can manipulate the machine by jiggling it and slowing the ball down with a flipper earlier than sending it racing again up the sphere.

I haven’t performed pinball in years, so when my son despatched me a textual content of a “Made in USA” sticker from a sport he was enjoying at a Lengthy Island arcade, my radar immediately pinged.

Did a fast search and located Jersey Jack Pinball — a U.S. producer of those fantastic machines. I couldn’t verify the corporate makes use of the “Made in USA” sticker my son despatched me, however I did notice this one on their Addams Household machine on the arcade.

Haha sure, I did some hands-on analysis earlier than scripting this piece. One factor that’s modified within the 40 years since I final performed: You get three balls for $1.00 versus 5 balls for 1 / 4.

However one factor hasn’t modified: Pinball remains to be quite a lot of enjoyable!

Word: A number of U.S.-based corporations manufacture pinball machines, one in every of which is Stern Pinball. Nevertheless, I can not verify from their web site that they make their machines within the U.S.

Jersey Jack Pinball, however, proudly states, “Designed and manufactured within the USA” in a number of locations on its web site. Therefore, they’re subject of this submit.

Creating a completely immersive expertise

An trade veteran, Jack Guarnieri owned Pinball Gross sales, situated in Lakewood, NJ and offered Stern Pinball machines all over the world. Nevertheless, gross sales had been hit exhausting when Stern “modified their product to a sparser playfield design with less complicated guidelines,” in keeping with a 2011 Pinball Information write up. (See hyperlinks beneath)

With nothing left to promote, Guarnieri did what many entrepreneurs do: He determined to make his personal pinball machines. And, that’s precisely what he did. In line with Pinball Information, he already had the manufacturing capability within the U.S.; on the time, Guarnieri manufactured coin-op grabber, pusher, and novelty video games.

His purpose was to attraction to the purchasers that Stern Pinball was neglecting by creating extra complicated, fully-featured pinball video games. In 2011, he based Jersey Jack Pinball.

Jersey Jack’s first title, or machine, was the Wizard of Oz; Guarnieri invested over $2M in start-up prices and spared no expense. Launched in 2013, it offered over 2,500 models — at a premium worth of $7,000 per unit. It was the primary U.S. sport to incorporate an LCD within the backbox, which performed movie clips in full colour. It additionally included two totally constructed out higher playfields and many three dimensional gadgets or toys.

It will possibly take two and half years to design a sport start-to-finish. The method contains licensing after which designing 1000’s of elements — as much as 3,000 or extra — plus subtle sub-assemblies and electronics.

An immersive enjoying expertise, pinball additionally combines a mechanical motion that requires ability. Therefore, sport designers first start by creating the story and the principles of play — utilizing storyboards and speaking by way of every component — earlier than designing the playfield.

On this video manufacturing facility tour, search for the throwing apple timber being added to the playfield. After I performed the sport on the arcade, I used to be thrilled once they all lit up. Bing, bing, bing! I additionally liked the Ruby-red Slipper flippers. Though it’s now thought of a legacy sport, enjoying Wizard of Oz was quite a lot of enjoyable — and difficult!

Handcrafted and in-built america

In 2020, the corporate relocated its manufacturing operation to Elk Grove Village, IL the place its design crew was already working — Illinois being the pinball capital of the world. Along with Wizard of Oz, Jersey Jack Pinball has launched a further 10 video games, together with Weapons-N-Roses, Avatar, and Toy Story 4.

The corporate launched its new Harry Potter sport in June 2025; it’s getting rave critiques.

Every sport is hand made by artisans and craftspeople captivated with pinball. The intricate playfields are hand-drawn by among the most interesting artists within the trade — with 1000’s of hours spent on paintings and interactive animations.

Right now, the corporate employs 100 individuals and has machines in over 40 international locations, together with numerous man caves and residential sport rooms. (Sure, you may order your individual sport from the corporate web site.)

I’ve purposely stored this submit quick with out quite a lot of manufacturing element, as a result of should you’re desirous about pinball, yow will discover greater than sufficient articles, information, and movies about it and Jersey Jack machines. I extremely advocate watching the video manufacturing facility tour. The corporate’s consideration to element is excellent.

Till I did the analysis, I had no clue a complete group of pinball fans exists. Individuals are fairly passionate in regards to the sport; sport designers and artists are well-known and thought of trade rockstars.

However should you actually wish to perceive why Jersey Jack machines are particular, it’s important to go play one — or a number of.

Within the Hyperlinks part beneath, I added the Pinball Map. It’s a person up to date database of arcades listed by state — together with the pinball machines you’ll discover at every institution (if any) and their situation.

(As a result of they’re mechanical, pinball machines have a tendency to interrupt down over time. Not all arcade house owners keep them correctly for one easy purpose: They’re not big cash makers.)

If you go, seize a like-minded buddy or your youngsters / grandkids, and have some enjoyable! In the event that they’ve by no means performed earlier than, educate them how and get them hooked. Allow them to know they’re enjoying on machines made proper right here in america by craftspeople captivated with creating the perfect in pinball enjoying experiences.

As for me, I had a lot enjoyable enjoying Wizard of Oz on the arcade, I made a decision to take a day off as soon as a month so as to hone my pinball expertise.

These higher playfields had been fairly tough! Every time the ball went beneath one, I’d lose sight of it — then it could come rolling again down proper between the flippers. Argh!

It was fairly difficult to trace the ball and watch every little thing else taking place on the playfield — whereas additionally listening to the sound observe. It liked it and might’t wait to attempt once more!

To study extra in regards to the firm, and its video games, historical past, and extra, go to Jersey Jack Pinball.

Hyperlinks

Pinball Map — An open supply, crowdsourced map of public pinball machines, sorted by state.

New Pinball Manufacturer, Pinball Information, 2011 — A write up of when Jack Guarnieri introduced he was beginning a brand new pinball manufacturing firm.

Can This Man Save Pinball? by Josh Levin, Slate — Lengthy learn however actually good. Extremely advocate.

It’s not game over for pinball, by Erica Fry and Brett Krasnove, Fortune, 2013

Jersey Jack Pinball Relocates Manufacturing Operations — Company press launch, 2020

The Arcade Classic that Tilted Digital, by Erin Winick Anthony, Engineering.com

Tilt: The Battle to Save Pinball (documentary) — I purposely didn’t embody the historical past of pinball in my write up, however I did watch this documentary, which is excellent!

Pinball Wizard, stay at Isle of Wright, 1970, The Who — Can’t have a write up about pinball with out this traditional music, haha!

Full Disclosure

I’m not paid nor requested to jot down about merchandise or the businesses that make them. All hyperlinks on this piece are FREE — that means, they’re not sponsored or paid for.

My mission is to maintain manufacturing jobs stateside and this weblog is my manner of giving again. We prefer to suppose a “small” alternative, akin to buying one thing made within the US, received’t make a distinction. It does.