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Pinball Wizard/Pinball Player Detailed Index

This page contains a complete listing of articles contained in every issue of Pinball Player from Volume 16 issue 1 to Volume 21 issue 6, and every issue of Pinball Wizard so far published. It is updated soon after each quarterly issue is published.

Where an item from an issue is available on the Web the entry is linked directly to the Web page - simply click on the link to view it. If you are looking for an article about a specific machine you can also search the online index of Pinball Wizard/Pinball Player game reviews.

Remember: To see each new full colour issue of Pinball Wizard as it is published you need to be a member of the Pinball Owners Association - join now!

Pinball Wizard issues

Autumn/Winter 2011

Spanish City part 3 - more memories of golden teenage pinball years in 1960s Whitley Bay
How Pinball Lost Its Crown - did pinball really go out of favour when it became more politically correct? Mike Pearce puts forward the case...
Pinball "Al Fresco" - machines can still be found in the strangest places, in this case in a gazebo in Croatia (!)
Bow and Arrow - the fifth forgotten Bally EM in the ongoing series
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - another in-depth game review from the expert Eddie Mole
Pinball - part nine of the ongoing series looks at early microprocessor controlled games and competition from video games in the arcades
Nitro Ground Shaker Rising From The Dead - a brief look at the start of a restoration project on this 1970s machine
Recreating The Ace Cafe in Coventry - a look at the part Kent-based retailers Pinball Parlour played in helping Coventry Motor Museum reproduce London's famous 1960s Ace Cafe for an exhibition

Spring 2011

Stern Pinball - veteran contributor Eddie Mole waxes lyrical on pinball's last bastion

Darwinism, Art Galleries and the Decline of Pinball Skills - Mike Pearce muses on how pinball machines became an endangered species

Don't Get A Nasty Shock - remember to change those batteries in your machine... or else!
Spanish City part 2 - more memories of Whitley Bay's finest amusement arcade
Restoration and Remembrance - Alan Scott talks about his latest restoration - Beat The Clock
South Coast Slam - review and photos from this popular south-coast event
CSI - a detailed review of one of Stern's finest from Eddie Mole
Twin Win - this classic EM is the third in the series of forgotten Ballys
Pinball - part eight of the series chronicles the move to microprocessor controlled games in the late 1970s

Winter 2010/11

Gary Stern Brings His Stones To Town - a quick look at Stern's new The Rolling Stones and the state of pinball at the annual EAG Expo in London
A Salutory Tale of Pinball Neglect - Mike Pearce with a pinball take on A Christmas Carol
Centaur... Lives On - bringing a classic machine back to life with a heart (or should that be brain?) transplant
Flipper Parade - a review and photos of one of the classic "Flipper" series of Gottlieb EMs
Attack From Mars = Attack On The Wallet - Sean looks at a couple of recent machines to travel through his workshop
Big Valley - another forgotten Bally EM
The Pinball Showdown - can the current market support a second pinball manufacturer?
Spanish City - memories of Whitley Bay's finest amusement arcade
The Parlour Puts On A Christmas Show - the Pinball Parlour's latest venture, this time associated with the possible resurrection of the Dreamland amusement park, also in Margate
A Pinball Museum for Blackpool Soon? - a brief look at plans for a museum housing all kinds of vintage amusement machines
Pinball - part seven of the series moves from psychedelic art in the late 1960s to the introduction of longer flippers in the early 1970s

Summer/Autumn 2010

Avatar - pictures and a quick look at Stern's newest machine
The Demise of the Amusement Arcade - regular Mike Pearce ponders on what became of the good old arcade
Shoot Again - a look at the Shoot Again pinball museum in Essen, Germany
The Pinball Party - a report and pictures from the UK Pinball Party show held during the summer
Rock Around The Jukebox 2010 - a report from the European show held in Rosmalen
Flip Flop - the first in a series featuring forgotten Bally EM machines
The Real Deal - introducing Tony from Tony's Pinballs and his pinball collection
Phew! It's A Heatwave - following his article in 2009 on the complete restoration of his beloved Heatwave Alan Scott walks us through the gameplay
Pinball - part six of the series lingers in the 1960s with a look at artwork of the era and some information on the evolution of The Who's rock opera Tommy
Plus regulars: small ads

Spring 2010

Iron Man - pictures and a brief review of Stern's latest, again at London's Casino arcade
EBay vs. The Classifieds - Mike Pearce is back to evaluate the relative merits of pinball trading methods
Project Gulfstream - part two of this long term restoration project shows a near-mint condition machine at the finish
Pinball Expo - French Style - a report and pictures from the Rock'N Broc Years show near Paris
Pinball - part five of the series moves onto new cabinet designs and playfield features in the 1960s
Gazza's Pins - a look at Gary's extensive Essex-based pinball collection
Pick You Up At Eight, We're Going Bowling! - a rare review of Full, a spanish-manufactured EM bowler
Pinball Parlour Expansion - news of more machines at pinball's new home in Kent, with even more to come!

Winter 2009

Big Buck Hunter Comes To Town - pictures of Stern's newest machine, on site in London's Casino arcade
Should Pinball be Included in The 2012 Olympics? - once again, regular Mike Pearce asks the all-important questions that no one else dares to ask...
Project Gulfstream - part one of long time member Simon Dempsey's aquisition and restoration of the classic Williams game
Heatwave - it may have taken 25 years, but this Williams machine is now up and working again
Warlok - a comprehensive guide to this Williams rarity
Pinball - part four of the series looks at bumpers, slingshots and the evolution of scoring methods into the 1950s
Kings & Queens - a look at this Gottlieb classic and how the part it played in the movie Tommy led to Doug Redfarn's example being featured in a BBC Radio 4 programme
EAG Expo - a look at the new BACTA-sponsored "breakaway" UK coin-op show
The New Pinball Hall of Fame - an update from Las Vegas on PHOF's new, larger location

Autumn 2009

NBA - the latest from Stern's production line
Life In The Fast Lane and A Pindemic Glossary - Mike Pearce's visit to the Pinball Parlour and a useful glossary of medical terms in the event of a Pindemic (example: Roomattic Fever - excitement at finding you have space for another machine in the room at the top of the house)
Riding The Ghost Ball - transforming your EM by speeding up play, including trying a ceramic ball (from Twilight Zone) in your machine
Pinball - part three of the game's history focusses on the late 40s and early 50s designs, with bright colours and differing flipper positions
Jukebox Madness - a look at the show's 21st birthday event
UK Pinball Show - the biggest show of the year, with special guest legendary designer Steve Richie
Normandy Landings - there are many pinball machines to be found in this part of France, even if not all of them are clean...
Web News - the upcoming pinball lecture at the American Art Museum, Washington DC
Pinball Press Cuttings - the Mail on Sunday's recent coverage of pinball machines as an investment, with comment from a trader
Cover Girl Recovery - the restoration pushes on to part three and there are problems with score reels and colour matching
Pinball Press Cuttings - will we really be playing our machines simply by detecting brain activity to flip the ball?

Summer 2009

24 - Stern's newest machine
Pinball Sounds And The Death Of The Arcade Jukebox - Mike Pearce laments the passing of the arcade staple the jukebox in favour of the electronic sounds emanating from every amusement machine
Pinball - part two of the brief history of the game as we know it today, including the birth of the tilt mechanism and that vital part of modern machines, the flipper
Brighton Rock(s) - a report from the yearly show and the pinball machines, Allwins and other oddities to be found there
The Pinball Parlour - the story of the birth of a UK pinball museum, at Ramsgate in Kent
The Pinball Money Shot - a few examples of those game shots which, if you can make them, make all that frustration and practice worthwhile
Confessions of a Pinball Trader - an odyssey to Norfolk and an invaluable guide to the correct leg lengths for your game
Cover Girl Recovery - the restoration reaches part two as the playfield shines and work starts on the jigsaw coin door
Pinball Press Cuttings - local newspaper coverage of the opening of The Pinball Palace

Spring 2009

CSI - a quick look at Stern's latest release
A Pinball Is For Life - Not Just For Christmas - magazine regular Mike Pearce warns against being seduced by superficial gimmicks when choosing a pinball machine, especially at Christmas
Jukebox Madness 2008 - a report from the yearly show
Confessions of a Pinball Trader - times are harder and machines shifting more slowly, at least in the UK; mainland Europe is another matter...
Pinball - part one of a brief history of the game as we know it today, starting with Bagatelle and progressing to the first use of electricity in pinball games
Gulfstream - the Williams 1973 classic EM game
Cover Girl Recovery - "it's filthy, rotten and falling to bits - I'll take it!" Part one of a restoration story
John Trudeau's Trivia - tidbits from the legendary designer; what was changed on his machines before production and what might have been
Welcome To The House (And Park) Of Fun - children young and not so young compare the relative merits of Williams Funhouse and Gottlieb's Fun Park

Winter 2008

The Making of a Perfect Pinball - Phil Palmer of Pinball Heaven tells of the hours of labour that go into turning a typical secondhand pinball machine into a perfect "better than new" machine
Viva Las Vegas - a brief report on a member's visit to the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas
The Seven Ages of Pinballing - 64-year-old Mike Pearce explains why, even though most pinball champions are in their 30s, that a person's 60s are the time when they become the best pinball player in the land
UK Pinball League - a review of 2008 competition, region by region
Confessions of a Pinball Trader - our intrepid trader visits the Rosmalen Rock Around The Jukebox show in the Netherlands
John Trudeau Hits Town! - the legendary designer was flown to the 2008 UK Pinball Show by Pinball Wizard magazine; here he chats to the editor and stars in a centre page spread with some of his famous machines
UK Pinball Show - a report from the highlight of the UK pinball calendar
Square Head - a brief look at the rescue of this machine from a boot sale and its resurrection
What Do You Do With A Concept Pinball? - how member Phil Dixon took the innards of his partially finished Lexx concept pinball machine, combined them with a Xenon backglass and built a unique digital jukebox
Hey It's Bowling Night - part two explains how Champion was made whole again
Plus regulars: Letters - more on Punball (featured in the previous issue)

Autumn 2008

Punball!! - subtitled "an experiment in pinball as social commentary" this article looks at the retheme of a 1954 Gottlieb North Star by the artist William T. Wiley into Only One Earth - PunBall with new artwork warning of the dangers of global warming
Pinball Backflash Design - Mike Pearce reflects on designs that were classics of their time and wonders what might inspire the artists in today's society
Beautiful Brighton - report from 2008 Brighton Jukebox Show (yes, there were pinballs there too!)
Heavy Metal - a review of Data East's Guns 'n' Roses
Hey It's Bowling Night - a review of Champion, a classic from a forgotten manufacturer
A Pinballing Trip to Switzerland - some places to play if you ever find yourself in or around Barsal airport
Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside - in this second part a look at machines in Brighton seafront arcades
Gigi - part three of the series looking at Gottlieb classics
Confessions of a Pinball Trader - the start of new regular series looking behind the scenes at the trials and tribulations of a commercial pinball trader
Plus regulars: Pinball Personnel File (member profiles), small ads

Summer 2008

Shrek and CSI - brief previews of Stern's upcoming new machines
Bandits, 'Boxes & The Like - Mike Pearce makes the case for re-opening the magazine to the delights of amusement machine collecting
UK Pinball League - Eddie Mole brings us an update on the latest from season 2 of the UK league
ATEI 2008 - the annual report from the UK's biggest coin-op show
Majorettes - Phil Crow sings the praises of another early Gottlieb classic
A Cautionary Pinball Tale - Doug Redfarn explains how he started playing with a pocketful of sixpences as a teenager and ended up with his collection of over 40 machines
Home Made Allwins - a look at some professionally made re-imaginings of the classic Allwin penny game
In the Workshop - battle is joined with a butchered Star Wars, a stripped Cyclone and a Capcom Streetfighter II
Plus regulars: Pinball Personnel File (member profiles), Technical Tips (the care and rebuilding of flippers), small ads

Spring 2008

Wheel Of Fortune - a brief preview of Stern's latest release
Where And Where Not To Play - regular columnist Mike Pearce muses on the benefits of home owned pinballs vs visting machine owning friends
Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside - a review of sited pinball machines in Southend On Sea (yes, there are some!)
Williams Triple Play - a "workshop review" of Time Fantasy and Warlok and a brief look at Defender complete with centre page spread (!)
Slick Chick - part one of a look at some of the early Gottlieb classics
Pinball Italian Style - renowned expert Federico Croci takes an in-depth look at the manufacturers and designers in his native Italy
Plus regulars: Pinball Personnel File (member profiles), small ads

Winter 2007

UK Pinball League - a look back at a vibrant year of UK competition
Champ - a review of the 1963 motor racing themed machine where laps, not points, are scored
Premonitions and Predictions - Mike Pearce enters a spooky world of pinball predictions
Jukebox Madness Show 2007 - a report from the perenially popular show
Iron Maiden - Eddie Mole reviews the 1981 Stern game
Alltek Systems Ultimate Driver Board - a review of the modern CPU "heart transplant" for 70s and 80s Bally and Stern games (reprinted from GameRoom magzine, September 2007 issue)
In The Workshop: A Pair Of Beauties (part 3) - the backbox work is completed
The Pinballs In Mallorca Don't Play Like What They Oughta - the sorry state of pinball in the popular Spanish holiday destination
Plus regulars: Pinball Personnel File (member profile), small ads

Autumn 2007

Spider-Man - a review of Stern's latest release
Greed, Operating and A Brush With The Mob - recollections of a (brief) 1980s attempt to break into the amusement business
Skill Parade - a look at the 1958 Bally game of skill
Brighton Jukebox Show 2007 - a look at the ever-popular seaside show
UK Pinball League - a report on the ever-growing league
Vintage Pinball in the West Country - news of the new arcade at Brean in Somerset featuring electromechanical machines
The "Tommy Factor" (part three) - Eddie Mole concludes his look at what makes a particular machine stand out head and shoulders above the rest
Scared Stiff - the third game review in the "naughty but nice" trilogy
In The Workshop: A Pair Of Beauties (part 2) - a brief look at the restoration of a Williams Time Crisis
Plus regulars: Letters, Pinball Personnel File (member profile), small ads

Summer 2007

ATEI 2007 - the traditional annual report from the London show
Seasalter, Ten Spot & Middle Finger Flipping - reminiscences of the early days of the Pinball Owners Association
Competitive Pinballing First Encounters - a newcomer to pinball championships and leagues tells all
Dutch Open 2006 - a report from this highly popular European event
The "Tommy Factor" (part two) - more from Eddie Mole on what defines an all-time great pinball machine
Press Release - the launch of Stern's Family Guy
It's As Easy As ABC - buying a 1957 Bally ABC Bowling Lanes (and you thought pinball machines were big!)
In The Workshop: A Pair Of Beauties - first of a regular series looking at machines in for repair or refurbishment
Dr Dude - a review of this rare (and fun!) Bally game
Plus regulars: Letters, Pinball Personnel File (member profile), small ads

Spring 2007

30 Years Of The Pinball Owners Association - a celebration starts with some words from founder Ken Berry
Tilts amd Temper Tantrums - memories of, among other things, tilted games and childhood tantrums
High Speed - a forgotten Williams classic?
Re-Make Re-Model - Raphael Lankar's astonishing collection of restored pinball machines
Elvira and the Party Monsters - a well remembered Bally classic?
The "Tommy Factor" - regular columnist Eddie Mole reflects on what makes a game truly great
Jukebox Madness - a show review
Plus regulars: Letters, Pinball Personnel File (member profile), small ads

Winter 2006

News - new UK show in the offing
Balls-A-Poppin - a review of Bally's classic EM
Pinball Psychiatry - what is in a player's mind when they take on the infernal machine?
The Gang of Four - a look at four consecutive Williams releases at the start of the 80s: Black Knight, Jungle Lord, Pharaoh and Solar Fire
Pinball, My Affliction - a record of four decades of pinball fascination
Nick Bennett's Birmingham Extravaganza - pictures of last November's giant gathering of pinball machines
Plus regulars: Pinball Personnel File (member profile), POA Accounts, small ads

Autumn 2006

News - Stern release Pirates of the Caribbean
Laser War - a review of Data East's first machine by Eddie Mole
Safecracker - is it a pinball machine or not?
Gary Stern an exclusive interview with the President of Stern Pinball
Pingo - pinball or bingo? You decide
Williams Solar Fire - a brief look back at this classic game
North Star - a game review
We Never Had It So Good - a look at pinball's "golden age"
Press Cuttings - a selection from around the world
Plus regulars: From The Editor's Desk, small ads

Pinball Player issues

Volume 21, Issue 6

News - Stern release NASCAR (AKA Grand Prix) and World Poker Tour, Gary Stern's 60th birthday, Dennis Nordman joins Stern, Mr Pinball Australia buys Bally
The Pinballer Returns part two - Rick uncrates his dead game and starts to bring it back to life
Flight 2000 Renovation - another game returns from the dead, thanks to the persistence of Eddie Mole
How I Came To Own 1/2% Of All Production Of A Pinball part two - Andy Thorn may now have two Williams Defender pintables, but can he make them work?
The Pinballer Returns part three - a story with a happy ending (after a lot of work, of course)
Technical Tips: Displays - helpful tips for dealing with all kinds of displays, from reels to dot matrix
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 21, Issue 5

News - Stern release The Sopranos
How I Came To Own 1/2% Of All Production Of A Pinball part one - Andy Thorn's quest to own his dream pinball machine, a Williams Defender
The Pinballer Returns part one - a new member shares his pinball history and his hopes for his newly aquired Gottlieb Hot Shot EM
Visual Pinball and PinMAME - yes, you can play pinball on your PC and (shock!) the software is free and rather good
Technical Tips: Lamps and Lighting - the start of a new technical series for newcomers to pinball ownership
Lightning - Eddie Mole reviews Stern's answer to Black Knight
ATEI 2005 - back to London for a report on this year's trade show
Recommended Web Sites - this issue focusses on the excellent Internet Pinball Database
Plus regulars: Meet The Members, POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 21, Issue 4

News - Stern release Elvis and Harley Davidson Third Edition, PAPA 7 flood disaster
Stern Art - Eddie Mole looks at Stern's first life and its legacy of pinball art
Elvis - a detailed look at Stern's new game
Pinball Memories - a review of Marco Rossignoli's second book
Plus regulars: Meet The Members, POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 21, Issue 3

Robert Patrick Thomson - tributes on the passing of a respected figure in both the UK pinball scene and POA history
News - Stern to feature in Hands On History pinball documentary on The History Channel, new books
Pinball Extravaganza 2004 - a report and lots of pictures from the Margate show
Trial And Error - lessons you learn when you start buying pinball machines, and how not to repeat the same mistakes
Letters and Comments - members' suggestions and ideas for the POA
Eddie's Pin Diary - a "printed blog" of Eddie Mole's pinball trials and tribulations
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads, POA annual accounts

Volume 21, Issue 2

News - Stern release Lord Of The Rings and Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
A Pinball Postcard - member John Beveridge reports on pinball in the Sunshine State of Florida
Transporter The Rescue - Eddie Mole reviews the 1989 Bally game
Worlds Fair - more background on the Rock-Ola game which was the subject of a restoration in the previous issue
Sweet Hearts - a review of another great EM machine in Alan Scott's collection
ATEI - the annual look at the amusement industry show held in London every January
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 21, Issue 1

News - Stern release Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines and The Simpsons Pinball Party
Where To Play - pinball machines around Scotland, at Disneyland Paris and in Hayling Island
Dipsy Doodle - a quick look at the vintage Williams machine
Expressway - another quick look, this time at a Bally from 1970
A Pinball Too Far? - the restoration of a classic Rock-Ola Worlds Fair
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines - first pictures
Plus regulars: Meet The Members, POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 10

News - Stern release The Simpsons Pinball Party
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - game review
More From Steve Ritchie - a postscript to the interview bringing us up to date
Scottish Pinball - one man's quest to restore pinball to Scotland
ATEI 2003 - a look at the London trade show
The Simpsons Pinball Party - some pictures to whet your appetite
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 9

News - Stern release Harley Davidson 2nd Edition and the TOPS tournament system
Pinball By Design - the concluding part of the Steve Ritchie interview
Pinball and Official Regulation - where UK owners and operators stand legally
It's All Greek To Me - a brief spin around the pinball opportunities in Greece
Gottlieb's 2001 - a brief look at the game
Pinball Museum - 33 games in a new venue just outside Amsterdam
Technical Tips - a look at the many types of nuts, bolts and washers found in pinball machines
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 8

News - Stern release Roller Coaster Tycoon and employ Steve Ritchie
Jersey - a report on the state of pinball on this Channel Island
Pinball By Design - part two of the extensive interview with Steve Ritchie
Roller Coaster Tycoon - game review
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 7

News - Stern's production plans

Pinball Expo 2001 - a report on the huge US show

Bram Stoker's Dracula - game review

Pinball In Orlando - a short guide to finding machines at this popular holiday destination

Ever Since I Was A Young Boy... - Andrew Smith tells how his obsession with pinball began

Plundering In Jersey - memories of an exceptional pinball deal

Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books, backnumbers), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 6

News - a new book, The Pinball Compendium: 1930s-1960s
Pinball Expo 2000 - a report from the perenially popular US show
First Time In The Twilight Zone - a new owner's observations about his first year with a Twilight Zone
Merry Widow - the story of a rescue
Stern's Playboy - a first look at this new machine
Jolly Jokers - a quick look at this electromechanical machine
Theatre of Magic - a short review of this popular game
Capcom and Pinball Magic - a recap of Capcom's brief pinball history with particular reference to their best known machine
How Much Of A Pinball Fanatic Are You? - a long-suffering wife offers this multiple choice quiz for pinball players
POA Accounts - for 2000
Plus regulars: POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 5

Included a Monopoly game flyer

News - Williams machines available as a PC game
Armada - an appeal for information
Judge Dredd - game review
Monopoly - a first look at Stern's new machine
Blackpool's Past Glories - what pinball used to be like in the northern resort
Oh Dear - how do you get a pinball machine out of an attic?
POA Accounts - for 1999
Plus regulars: Meet The Members, POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 4

News - Illinois Pinball parts statement
Forthcoming Events - a listing of shows and events for 2001
Austin Powers - a quick look at Stern's new game
Repairing Phurba Diverters on The Shadow - a common problem solved
Buying Your Own Game - members add their tips to the feature that appeared in Vol 19, Issue 8
The True Story of Banana Flippers - what was Steve Ritchie on when he invented them? Find out here!
Special When Lit - Alan Scott looks at Gottlieb's Bowling Queen
POA Accounts - for 1998
Plus regulars: Meet The Members, POA Sales (spares, books), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 3

News - Stern release High Roller Casino, Steve Kordek retires
Plastic Fantastic - a step-by-step guide to reproducing your own plastics
Dutch Pinball Open 2000 - a report from the convention and championships
Bugs Bunny's Birthday Ball - game review
North Star - game review
Special When Lit - Alan Scott's regular machine review series looks at Gottlieb's Big Deal
Plus regulars: small ads

Volume 20, Issue 2

News - WMS sell what's left of their pinball parts to Illinois Pinball and close down Midway, and Pat Lawlor Design to work on new Stern machine
Pleasure In Paphos - only POA members could report their honeymoon by listing the pinball machines they found!
Williams Jackbot - game review
Pinball Triumphant At School Fun Run - some fun fund raising ideas
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Macao - Mini Pool), POA Sales (spares, books, T-shirts, manuals), small ads

Volume 20, Issue 1

News - the death of pinball artist Gordon Morison, Roger Sharpe leaves Midway, Stern's latest Sharkey's Shootout now on test

The Restoration Of Flash Gordon - Mike Williams returns for the fifth and final part of his "trilogy" as he nurses another near terminal machine back to health

Convention 2000 Photographs - pictoral coverage of this year's POA Convention

Pinball Games For The PC - a comprehensive round-up of what's on offer

Special When Lit - another machine from Alan Scott's collection is reviewed in the regular series; Williams's Friendship 7

Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (La Retata - Lunar Shot), POA Sales (spares, books, T-shirts, backnumbers, manuals), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 10

News - news of possible new pinball companies in the future, former WMS designers move to Stern Pinball and the wedding of POA Convention 2000 organisers Adrian Lodge and Sarah Blanchet
Fathom - in the fourth and final part of the series, a finished machine... or two!
Pinball Keith Haring - the making of a unique machine, with custom artwork in the style of US artist Keith Haring
Members Page - more member profiles from around the world
POA Convention 2000:
- Convention 2000 Report - an attendee's perspective
- Winners - best machine awards and competition winners
- Photo pages - the Convention captured
- Convention 2000 Statistics - a listing of machines present
- Convention 2000 Feedback - members' views of the event
Technical: Funhouse and Bride Of Pinbot - tips on what to look for when buying and fixing these classic early WPC-era machines
Plus regulars: POA Technical Library (copies of manuals for sale), POA Sales (spares, books and T-shirts), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 9

News - the launch of Striker Xtreme at ATEI 2000 and pinball in Germany
Williams Bad Cats - game review
Letters - more memories of Williams
Fathom - the series reaches part three and the Fathom restoration is finished at last... or is it?
Importing Or Exporting A Pin - a guide to the process
Special When Lit - this issue it's the turn of Gottlieb's King Of Diamonds
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (K C Jones - KZ-26), POA Sales (spares, books and T-shirts), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 8

2000 Convention - announced
Letters - memories of Williams and the proposed formation of a UK league
Pinform Yourself - Andrew Vevers new Web site aiming to help inform UK pinball players
Fathom - part two of Mike Williams's series describes his search for the Fathom of his dreams, and the wreck he ended up with...
Not Got A Machine Of Your Own Yet? - some hints and tips from seasoned owners on how to select and purchase your own pinball machine
Bally Bingo Pinball Machines - the book reviewed
Plus regulars: small ads

Volume 19, Issue 7

Special issue covering the closure of Williams Electronic Games

News - turmoil in the industry as Larry DeMar leaves Williams, Sega sells its pinball division to Gary Stern and Williams closes down pinball manufacture

Coverage of the closure of Williams Electronic Games - including the text of the WMS announcement and postings in rec.games.pinball from designers and players

Stern Pinball Revived - news and a reprint of Gary Stern's Internet posting explaining the company's approach to the pinball market

Pinball Expo 99: Factory Tour - pictures of some of the last Pinball 2000 machines on the production line

The Making Of Pinball 2000 - a complete transcript of George Gomez's excellent seminar at Expo 99
Plus regulars: small ads (on a separate sheet due to lack of space in the magazine)

Volume 19, Issue 6

With a full colour cover featuring Star Wars Episode 1

News - Sega's Harley Davidson
Williams Firepower - game review
Letters - a pinball-themed fairground ride and a member's tale of addiction
Fathom - part one of a multi-part series, starting with member Mike Williams's collection of machines (F-14 Tomcat and Judge Dredd) and a confession of his fixation with Fathom
Damp Prevention In Pinballs - a look at the damage damp can do, and ways to prevent it
15 Years Of Pinball Expo - John Whyatt's personal look at the premier US pinball event
Special When Lit - this issue's featured table is Gottlieb's Buckaroo
Microsoft's Pinball Arcade - a review of Microsoft's recently released pinball simulation software
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Icarus - Justice), POA Sales (spares, books and T-shirts), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 5

With a full colour cover featuring Haunted House

Special When Lit - a look at Williams' Magic City
Margate Revisited - the dire state of pinball at a popular UK seaside resort
Members Page - more new members, including the third from Portugal!
Convention Feedback - how the 1998 POA event went
Electra vs. Haunted House - the two greatest multi-level games of the early 80s put head-to-head
Letters - pinball in Florida, USA
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Haf-Shot - Hyperball), POA Sales (spares, books and T-shirts), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 4

News - Revenge From Mars on site, Star Wars Episode 1 on beta test, success for Sega's South Park
The Dutch Pinball Open - report and pictures from the competition
Pinball Expo 98 - a member reports on his first-ever Expo
Expo 98 Photos - a selection capturing the atmosphere of the show
Expo 98 Seminars - a report on the technical presentations and some of the useful tips imparted
Focus On... Pingame Journal - a brief look at this popular US-based publication
Special When Lit - a review of Williams' Lucky Strike
Plus regulars: POA Sales (books and T-shirts), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 3

News - more about Sega's new machines; Godzilla, Golden Cue and South Park
Letters - arcade reports and how a collection starts
POA Accounts - for 1997
Jukebox Madness '98 - a report from the 10th anniversary of this popular UK event
Star Trek: The Next Generation Complete Game Overhaul - how to get your ST:TNG operating like new again
Flipper Assembly Overhaul - a step by step guide, with pictures
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Galahad - Gypsy Queen), POA Sales (spares and books), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 2

News - Pinball 2000 unveiled at the ATEI show in London, plus Sega's newest (Golden Cue and South Park)
The POA - what the Club does for members, and contact information
POA Convention 1998 - big report and pictures
Reproducing Plastic Shields - the best way to restore those plastics in poor condition
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Flying Turf - Futurity), POA Sales (spares), small ads

Volume 19, Issue 1

The POA - what the Club does for members, and contact information

Membership Survey - the results analysed

Star Trek: The Next Generation - part two of the in-depth game review

Pinball On The Internet - Ask Uncle Willy issue 15
News - new PC pinball from Empire Interactive and Microsoft
Gottlieb's Golden Arrow - game review
Plus regulars: small ads

Volume 18, Issue 10

News - Sega's Lost In Space and Bally's Cactus Canyon
Members Page - member profiles and requests for help
Letters - Dick Bueschel's work will continue
Star Trek: The Next Generation - first of a two part game review
European Pinball Championships 1997 - a detailed report with pictures
Pinball Martial Arts - a new approach to perfecting pinball play
Pins In Bournemouth - a review of what's available in this seaside town
Plus regulars: POA Sales (books and POA T-shirts), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 9

Obituaries - Richard M Bueschel, Pinball Historian and Joe Dillon, of Williams Bally Midway
Letters - the sad end to an Austrian pinball collection
News - Bally's Champion Pub and Sega's Viper released
Pinball Wizards' Convention 1998 - report and pictures
Auction Report - bargains to be had at one of the few UK auctions to contain pinball machines
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (F1 Grand Prix - Flying Saucers), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 8

Included a No Good Gofers game flyer, courtesy of Deith Leisure

News - new releases and upcoming games
Members Page - more new member profiles
Electromechanical Game Restoration - in the continuing series, this article looks at the motor board
Reflections on ATEI 98 - a report from the London show
Phantom of the Opera - game review
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (E. Z. Aces - Eye of the Tiger), POA Sales (books and POA T-shirts), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 7

Included a Medieval Madness game flyer, courtesy of Deith Leisure

Electromechanical Game Restoration - the concluding three pages of the backbox restoration series
Pinball Fantasy '97 - a report and pictures from the Las Vegas show
Fix up your Twilight Zone - a look at Jonathan Deitch's excellent Web site
Magic - game review
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Daffie - Dynamite), POA Sales (books and spares), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 6

News - a brief report from the European Pinball Championships
Members Page - profiles of a few of the many recent new members
Letters - a teenage pinball fan
Electromechanical Game Restoration - five page article, with pictures, on restoring the backbox mechanisms in an electromechanical game
"Psychological Warfare" - another pinball orientated short story
Red and Ted's Roadshow - game review
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Chase - Cypress Gardens), POA Sales (books), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 5

News - new releases and upcoming games, plus details of the European Pinball Championships
Terminator 2: Judgement Day - game review
Electromechanical Game Restoration - seven page article, with pictures, on restoring the playfield for an electromechanical game
From The Archives - more from the first ever volume of the POA newsletter
Tales From The Crypt - a wry look at fixing up early electronic machines
Plus regulars: small ads

Volume 18, Issue 4

Included a Junkyard game flyer

POA Accounts - for 1996

Gusher - the story of a rare find

Letters - more about the early years of the POA and pinball down under

1997 Convention - more pictures
Scared Stiff - game review
Forthcoming Events - pinball engagements for your diary
From The Archives - the first ever issues of the POA newsletter reviewed
Electromechanical Game Restoration - the first in a series looking at how to buy and restore older games
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (C.O.D. - Charm), POA Sales (books), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 3

News - NBA Fastbreak released

Letters - Ken Berry, founder of the POA, writes about the early years

Members Page - profiles of new recruits and longtime members

Centaur - game review

Technical Tips - the The Pinball Lizard files list the 35 steps to take to get your newly aquired pinball machine up and running

1997 Convention Report and pictures - how Simon Holman, who ran the POA stand at the show, spent his weekend
Machines In Attendance - a full list of the machines at the Convention
1997 Wizard Competition - the competitors, the machines, the winners
Pinball On The Internet - a beginners guide to the Internet and what's out there for pinball enthusiasts
When The Special Lights Up - an Italian collector's story
Plus regulars: POA Sales (new design POA T-shirts, books), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 2

1997 Convention - final details
News - Capcom's closure
From The Archives - a look back at press clippings featuring POA members at the time the Association was founded in 1976
TILT! - an explanation of the history and operation of the various tilt mechanisms found in pinball machines and some hints on how to debug problems with them
Technical Tips - more from The Pinball Lizard files
Pinball Expo 96 - report and two pages of pictures
Pinbot - game review
Virtually Pinball - a review of Pro Pinball: The Web from Empire Interactive
Off The Nets - Ask Uncle Willy issue 12
The POA Web page - announcement
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Bonanza - Buttons), small ads

Volume 18, Issue 1

Included a Scared Stiff game flyer

Members Page - more member profiles

News - including a photo roundup from Pinball Expo 1996

1997 Convention - information

Technical Tips - from The Pinball Lizard files

Pinball Fantasy 96 - report and two pages of pictures

Sky Kings - game review

In The Beginning - the story of the formation of the Pinball Owners Association, from the start in late 1976 to the present day
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Big - Bonanza), POA Sales (books), POA Pit Stop (spares), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 10

Members Page - more member profiles

News - the latest from the manufacturers and Pinball Expo 96 information

The Pinball Scene in Germany - including a report on the Gigaflip competition

Off The Nets - extracts from the rec.games.pinball newsgroup
Letters - sorrow following the closure of Premier/Gottlieb
"Anniversary" - more pinball oriented fiction
1997 Convention - to be held at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham on Sat 8 and Sun 9 March 1997
Early Pinball Microprocessors - an in-depth technical article on the CPUs used in the earliest electronic machines
Plus regulars: Pinball A-Z (Baby - Big), POA Pit Stop (spares), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 9

Members Page - a new regular feature, profiling some of the POA's membership

News - Industry cutbacks and closures (including the demise of Premier/Gottlieb), news of new game Flipper Football from Capcom, call for votes in the 1996 Best Game Award

Bally Attack From Mars - game review and play tips
Euro '96 - reports from the European Pinball Championship
POA Accounts - for 1995
Pinball A-Z (A - Aztec) - the start of a complete listing of every pinball machine ever produced
Volume 13 In Review - a look at some of the back issues
Plus regulars POA Pit Stop (spares), POA Sales (books and bits), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 8

News - new games; Twister and Barb Wire

Copthorne Show 1996 - report from the jukebox and pinball show held in Gatwick, UK

Orlando Nostalgia Memorabilia & Collectible Show - report and pictures

Don't Do That To Your Pinball Game! - part two of US collector Tim Arnold's famous advice

Letters - Sega Pinball's Joe Kaminkow replies

Competition - name the game pictured

"Molly's Method or The Ball Tells All" - pinball oriented fiction

Gottlieb System 1 Checkout - technical feature looking at common faults and problems with early Gottlieb electronic games

Virtually Pinball - a comparison of computer-based pinball games with the real thing
Plus regulars: POA Sales (books and bits), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 7

News - Bumper roundup including new games from Williams/Bally (Safe Cracker and Tales of the Arabian Nights) and from Capcom (Airborne and Breakshot) plus the hidden "midnight madness" feature in new pinball machines

ATEI Show 1996 - report and pictures
Don't Do That To Your Pinball Game! - part one of a technical feature adapted from the advice US collector Tim Arnold gives every year at Pinball Expo
Pan European Pinball... Set For Success - Picture feature and report on the 1995 and 1996 European Pinball Championships
Tommy - a review of the stage musical version of The Who's famous pinball story
Williams No Fear - game review and play tips
Competition - name the game pictured
Pinball Expo '95 - a photo report of the Williams Factory Tour given to Expo attendees
Plus regulars: POA Sales (the usual books and bits plus an offer on the Gottlieb Star Series 80 Service Manual) and small ads

Volume 17, Issue 6

News - A pile of new releases, including Sega's Goldeneye, Premier's Mario Andretti, Williams' Congo and Bally's Attack From Mars, plus news of Pinball Fantasy '96
Allentown Pinball Wizards Convention 1995 - report and pictures
Williams Sounds and Music - a compilation of Ted Estes' Internet postings on the subject
Space Shuttle - a review of the 1984 Williams classic
Off The Nets - the latest edition of Ask Uncle Willy
Pinball Expo '95 - the second report and pictures from the show
Endangered Species In Safe Hands - a Brighton collector and restorer of penny slot machines
Letters - article ideas for future issues, praise for Theatre of Magic and an Austrian collection
Plus regulars: small ads

Volume 17, Issue 5

News - an unbelievable amount of new games either on release or ready to go, including Williams' Johnny Mnemonic and Jack Bot, Bally's Indianapolis 500 and WHO dunnit, Premier's Waterworld, Sega's Batman Forever and Apollo 13 and Capcom's Pinball Magic. Plus the POA "game of the year" award to The Shadow, committee appointments and results of the recent member survey
Sega Baywatch - game review
Pinball Expo '95 - first in a series of reports and pictures from the show and Lenc-Smith factory tour
A Fireside Chat With Steve Kordek and Wayne Neyens - part two of the transcript from the Expo '94 session
Gay Cruise - a review of a 1965 Bally payout game without flippers
Volume 14 In Review - a summary
Plus regulars: small ads

Volume 17, Issue 4

News - first details of Williams' Johnny Mnemonic, Bally's Indianapolis 500, Premier's Waterworld and Sega's Batman Forever. Plus details of Jukebox Madness, Pinball Expo and Pinball Wizards Convention events
Off The Nets - opinions of Jack Bot and Capcom's Pinball Magic
Ten Years of Pinball Expo - a celebration of the world's most popular pinball event
A Fireside Chat With Steve Kordek and Wayne Neyens - part two of the transcript
Bally The Shadow - game review
Letters - a reader lamenting the lack of penny slot material in recent issues of Pinball Player
POA Accounts - for the period ending 31 Dec 1994
Plus regulars: POA Pit Stop (spares), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 3

News - Pinball Expo approaches and the contenders for "best game of 1995"
Nags - game review
A Fireside Chat With Steve Kordek and Wayne Neyens - a transcript of the session with the two vintage designers during Pinball Expo '94
Convention '95 - a report and pictures from the event
Convention '95 Competition Report - an in-depth look at this year's Pinball Wizard competition at the Convention
Confessions Of A Convention Organiser - how it was all arranged
Pinball Software - a review of the Pinball Fantasies Deluxe PC CD-ROM
A Mere Bagatelle - The Craze of 1931 #9:A New Medium - the coming of plastic to games that had previously been made entirely of wood
Plus regulars: POA Sales (books), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 2

Obituary - the sad loss of Jon Gresham, owner of the Penny Arcadia museum in York
News - brief report of Convention 95 and news that licence duty on pinball machines had been (mainly) averted
Letters - can arcades legally get away with operating sub-standard machines?
Bally World Cup Soccer - game review
Off The Nets - some general technical tips and opinions of Theatre of Magic
Volume 15 In Review - a summary
Plus regulars: POA Pit Stop (spares), small ads

Volume 17, Issue 1

Convention '95 - coming soon
News - a report from PAPA 5 and more about licence duty for amusement machines
ATEI 95 - a report and pictures
Restoration Despite Everything - John Burke continues his quest to raise the dead, this time with Space Invaders, Black Knight and Xenon
Off The Nets - speculation on machine production runs and some general tips for pinball owners
High Voltage - the concluding part of the series sees the machine coming to life for the first time
Volume 16 In Review - a summary
Plus regulars: POA Pit Stop (spares), POA Sales (books), small ads

Volume 16, Issue 10

News - the fight against extra duty to be imposed in pinball machines in the UK
Williams High Speed II - The Getaway - game review
High Voltage - part one of two describing the creation of a unique, home-built project
Sega Pinball Factory Tour - pictures from the Expo event
Pinball Machine Maintenance - review of the book by Henk de Jager
Off The Nets - a new feature looking at the best of the information on the Internet
Plus regulars: Backnumbers, POA Pit Stop (spares), POA Sales (books), small ads

Volume 16, Issue 9

A Year With The Addams Family - the second and final part looks at common problems with the machine and how to fix them
The Jukebox Madness Show - a report on the 1994 nostagia show
The Tenth Pinball Expo Show - a detailed report from Expo '94 with pictures
Williams The Flintstones - game review
A Mere Bagatelle - The Craze of 1931 #8:One Offs - unusual format "one off" bagatelles
Plus regulars: A Review of POA Services, Kickback (news of PAPA5), small ads

Volume 16, Issue 8

News - a few words on Expo '94, including the POA award for best game of the year (Indiana Jones) and the award given to Pinball Player
The Making Of Twilight Zone - part two of this absorbing feature contains more stories and memories from the design team
Letter From Italy - memories of childhood pinball and the purchase of a first machine
Letter From Austria - a look at the pinball scene
A Pinball Christmas - a seasonal offering from John Burke, describing his first Christmas pinball tournament
Williams Star Trek The Next Generation - a Playtime game review and play tips
A Year With The Addams Family - part one of this two part feature describes the aquisition of a first pinball machine, and pitfalls to watch out for if you try it
Plus regulars: POA Pit Stop (spares), POA Sales (books), small ads

Volume 16, Issue 7

News - Alvin G. and Co. go out of business and Sega buys Data East
The Making Of Twilight Zone - the design team tell the story behind the machine in part one of a two part feature
The Jukebox Madness Show - a report on the show
Twilight Zone - game review
1993 Convention Report - a report from the POA event held at Hatfield
Plus regulars: POA Sales (books and T-shirts), small ads

Volume 16, Issue 6

Alvin G. and Co. Update - an update on the now three-year-old company
Trade News - Star Trek The Next Generation, Popeye, Wipe Out, World Soccer Action, Tales From The Crypt and Tommy all now out on site
Pinball Machines - a review of the book by Heribert Eiden and Jurgen Lukas
Forgotten Classics - Black Hole - game review
Alvin G. and Co. Mystery Castle - a Playtime game review
The Phoenix Pinball Show - information and competition results
Plus regulars: Editorial page, small ads

Volume 16, Issue 5

Trade News - the latest pins are Judge Dredd, Last Action Hero and Gladiators, plus a rumour that the next Williams release will be themed around Sonic The Hedgehog (!)
Boot-A-Ball - the third part of the series takes a closer look at this unusual machine and asks "is it really a pinball?"
Playfield Replacement - a full explanation, with pictures, of one of the most difficult jobs in pinball restoration
Williams Defender - game review
Restoration Or Bust! - John Burke's quest to breathe life into dead machines continues...
1993 Convention - what you can look forward to at Hatfield in November
Plus regulars: Editorial page, small ads

Volume 16, Issue 4

A Mere Bagatelle - The Craze of 1931 #7 - manufacturers of the time
Secretary's Corner - brief reports on a recent auction, back issue prices and POA committee elections
Bally Creature From The Black Lagoon - a Playtime game review
Gottlieb Captain Kidd - game review
Playfield Mylaring - another excellent article from expert John Whyatt explaining how to apply Mylar to protect a playfield
Trade News - news of Indiana Jones, Mystery Castle and Punchy The Clown
Tech Tips - how to keep pop bumpers in tip top operating condition
Boot-A-Ball - in part two, Federico discovers only 100 units of Boot-A-Ball were ever made, and starts looking in more detail at the machine
At Your Service - putting members in touch with others who can offer technical expertise
Plus regulars: Editorial page, small ads

Volume 16, Issue 3

Gottlieb King Of Diamonds - game review
A.G. & Company - continuing the Expo presentation made by Mike Gottlieb about the formation of this new company
A Mere Bagatelle - The Craze of 1931 #6 - focussing on manufacturer Chad Valley
Readers Letters - are new machines really more fun?
Safety First - a guide to electrical safety inside a pinball machine
Trade News - hitting the headlines this issue are Twilight Zone, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends, Jurassic Park, Streetfighter II and Tee'd Off
Boot-A-Ball - in the start of a three part series, Italian enthusiast Federico Croci tells us how he tracked down a mystery 1960s Bally machine in a basement...
Flippin' 'eck - in the second part of this series, Steve Treadgold gives some advice on how to restore and care for your newly aquired secondhand machine
Plus regulars: Editorial page, small ads

Volume 16, Issue 2

Trade News - new to the arcades is Bram Stoker's Dracula, and the pound/dollar rate is making machines and spares more expensive
ATEI Show 1993 - the regular yearly report from London's amusement trade show
Premier Factory Tour - a report and pictures from the Expo factory tour
Restoration In Desperation - another report from the battle lines as John Burke coaxes his broken machines into life
Data East Star Wars - a Playtime game review
A.G. & Company - the story of how a new pinball company came into being
Plus regulars: Editorial page, small ads

Volume 16, Issue 1

News Update - POA give their first "game of the year" award to Addams Family
Expo 1992 - a full report and pictures from the world's premier pinball event
Premier Cue Ball Wizard - a Playtime game review
Know Your Displays - a look at the types of electronic displays used in pinball machines over the years
Trade News - new machines at ATEI included Whitewater, Cue Ball Wizard, Al's Garage Band and Creature From The Black Lagoon
A Mere Bagatelle - The Craze of 1931 #6 - focussing on manufacturer The Amersham Toy Company
Restoration Or Reconstruction - more machines arise from the dead in the tender care of John Burke
Plus regulars: Editorial page, Technical Update (manuals for sale), small ads

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