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 4/1/2009 9:19:35 AM by BIG JON
38223 MARKED ON THE INSIDE OF THE BACK COVER ALONG WITH "LITE BOX DOOR" WRITTEN BEFORE IT...
Posted 4/17/2010 7:52:40 AM by King of Pinball
For early Williams machines, such as the 1948 "Saratoga" and the 1949 "Phoenix" machines, look just above the top end of the playfield. It will be in the center engraved in the wood just under the playfield glass.
Posted 12/18/2011 9:07:13 PM by Pistol Pete
Front of the cabinet down and to the right of the coin door and also on the inside of the backbox cover on a tag labeled "BACK DOOR".
Posted 1/23/2013 10:53:48 PM by James Girasa
There is also a serial number underneath the single flipper.
Posted 3/27/2017 7:41:33 PM by Phil Jordan
On the playfield
Posted 11/20/2023 12:04:39 AM by Chris Cassell
I have a 1952 Disk Jockey machine with numbers on the left front of cabinet and paper labels on the coin door, light box and back locking panel. All match except for the light box label is one digit off from the other three.