The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database or IPSND collects serial numbers of pinball machines and publishes a database of these on the Internet. Our goal is to make available a registration of all pinball machines in existence and allow tools for slicing, dicing and visualization of the data.

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Locating Serial Numbers on a Pinball Machine:

Finding serial numbers on a game can sometimes be quite challenging. They are commonly hidden, painted over, destroyed or just in non-obvious places. The main difficulty is that manufacturers put their serial numbers in a variety of places in and out of the game and then they often changed the location of the serial number as time went on. Several manufacturers used a consistent numbering system for many years and others changed their formats often. In addition, there are frequently numbers on a game that might not be the serial number at all, it could be a part number, an inspector number or something that has no connection to the actual serial number at all.

This page is a reference on how to locate serial numbers for all manufacturers in the database. The nice part is that you can add your own tips and suggestions for other people to read as well. I have added initial comments on the information that I have from Bill Ung out of the original Internet Pinball Project (now defunct). Feel free to submit new information on serial number locations specific to each manufacturer and appropriate time period.



(Please do not post serial numbers here, please use the Search Page, to find your specific game)
Posted 1/2/2010 7:50:17 PM by King of Pinball
Late 40's and early fifties Exhibit games had the serial number at the top center or top left of the playfield (where the manufacturer's certificate appears on many Gottlieb EM games.) The number is either stamped into the wood or is simply a number on a small sticker.
Posted 10/29/2010 12:46:15 PM by Chris Ostling
Handwritten on the inside of the back head cover and the inside bottom of the head
Posted 10/29/2010 12:51:12 PM by Chris Ostling
Handwritten on the inside back cover
Posted 10/30/2010 7:08:31 PM by King of Pinball
The number is also sometimes handwritten on the inside bottom of the lite box, as with a 1947 Ranger machine that I inspected recently.
Posted 2/9/2015 9:09:23 AM by Scott Gamble
On 1940 Zombie serial was handwritten on the inside of the head, on the inside of the backdoor, on the underside of the playfield , on the back of the bottom cabinet where the head bolts on and inside the bottom cabinet - appears to be black wax crayon or pencil