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.

Games: 6,696  Serials: 68,299  Visitors: 74,155,799  Members: 5,620  Photos: 43,827  Lat/Lng: 37,400  Masks: 68,299(1,020.00%)  Traits: 572  Nudges: 222,342  Backglasses: 1,865
  Most Serials: Twilight Zone(1,305)  Most Submissions: Dennis Braun(6,100)  Most Points: Dennis Braun(45,409)  Highest Quality: The Knight(17.00)  Most Nudges: pinballservice-nl(28,209)
Space Invaders - IPSND/IPDB No. 2252 - April 1980
Backglass Image
Manufacturer: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (1931-1983)
Players: 4
MPU: Bally MPU AS-2518-35
Production Run: 11,400
Game Type: Solid State Electronic (SS)
Model: 1178-E
Submissions: 363 serials of 11,400 (3.18%)
Coverage help:

Coverage is a mathematical interpretation of the serial numbers that have been submitted so far. The term 'coverage' relates to the amount of the production run that has been 'covered' in the given submissions.

There are two coverage methods shown, each has a different approach of calculating an guess on the number of games produced by analysing the currently submitted serial numbers.

Linear: Linear coverage simply looks at the highest serial number and subtracts from it the smallest serial number to estimate the number of games produced. For some games, this works fine because the serial numbers were sequential and without gaps (Early Bally, Early Stern, etc). However, this approach starts to fail quickly for games that serial numbers are part of a bigger numbering scheme (Williams pre 1984, Current Stern) or that intentially had gaps/skips in the numbering sequence(Gottlieb post 1960). If you see a linear coverage number that is higher than the known production run, it is probably not the best way to look at the serial range and you should look at the clustered approach below.

Clustered: Clustered coverage assumes that there are gaps/skips in the serial sequence for a game. It groups the serial numbers together based upon how close they are to the next serial number in the sequence. If they fall within a certain threshold then the SerialBot assumes that there are valid serial numbers between the two. If they are far enough apart, then the SerialBot assumes this is a gap. Once all the gaps and groups are determined, it sums up all the linear ranges in each group. This way, if a sample run of games started at 15,000-15,100 and the production games started at 17,000 onwards, it would assume that the serial numbers between 15,100-17,000 were a gap an are not counted. Using this method, as more serial numbers are submitted the gap analysis will get more accurate.

17,407 (152.69%) linear / 12,152(106.60%) in 5 clusters 570 wide.
Cluster Serial Number SerialBot Submitted By Country Game Part

Submit a new Game Trait

The following traits help

Game Traits are properties for an individual game that you would like to see tracked along with the other information gathered for a serial number submission. Some examples of existing traits are... Joust: Black or Blue bottom Arch, Black Knight: Faceted Inserts or Normal Inserts, Twilight Zone: 3rd Magnet Installed or not.

have been submitted for this game...

Field NameDescriptonSubmitted BySubmit DateSubmitted
There are no traits submitted for this game

Cluster Serial Number Country

This section lists any known game part serials that happen to match this game's serial mask (if defined). What this can tell you is if a game has any orphaned parts that might exist in other machines. This generally applies to CPU/MPU boards, Driver Boards, Display boards etc that are easily moved from game to game. Repair shops and distributors often robbed parts from other 'scrap' games laying around in a pinch if they were not able to fix the original part or of the original part was damaged beyond repair. If serials start showing up in the database as 'game parts', there is potentially a good chance that that game has been parted out completely, which is unfortunate. It is becoming more and more common for people to part out games and sell them on ebay simply because the seller can often make more money that way.... Please do not sacrifice complete games for money!!!

SerialBotSerial NumberTypeSubmitted ByCountryDetails
59613 ESI10107 Solenoid Driver Fun House United States flag United States
56352 ESI10352 Sound Board Fun House Germany flag Germany
59953 ESI10891 Solenoid Driver Fun House Austria flag Austria
68587 ESI11041 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50494 ESI11349 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
34687 ESI11391 Solenoid Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
72715 ESI11489 Coin Door Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50799 ESI11521 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50521 ESI11594 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
52418 ESI11595 Lamp Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
35196 ESI11696 Lamp Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
33868 ESI11696 Display/Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
49824 ESI11713 Sound Board Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50915 ESI11739 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
60033 ESI11768 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
53218 ESI12017 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
30931 ESI12155 Solenoid Driver Pistol Pete United States flag United States
36558 ESI12197 Lamp Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
49404 ESI1224 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
75020 ESI12343 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
27495 ESI1247 MPU/CPU John Vorwerk United States flag United States
47625 ESI1965 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
51161 ESI2892 Power Supply Fun House United Kingdom flag United Kingdom
50868 ESI2993 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
51013 ESI3033 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
74334 ESI4017 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50949 ESI4310 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
68891 ESI4503 Other/Unknown Clive Pedersen United Kingdom flag United Kingdom
30382 ESI4524 Display/Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
25305 ESI4541 Display/Driver Morgan Steele United States flag United States
30391 ESI4601 Lamp Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
49188 ESI4630 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
49267 ESI4701 Solenoid Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
31159 ESI4711 Lamp Driver Matías N. Brusa Argentina flag Argentina
35407 ESI4851 Solenoid Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
50561 ESI4959 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
74595 ESI4971 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
78643 ESI4981 Display/Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
74805 ESI5097 Solenoid Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
49118 ESI5120 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
47553 ESI5556 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
28167 ESI5596 Sound Board John Vorwerk United States flag United States
56085 ESI5632 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
54854 ESI5702 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50519 ESI5707 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
56334 ESI5718 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
60507 ESI5821 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
50385 ESI5847 Lamp Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
48893 ESI5847 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
49263 ESI5916 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
67641 ESI5939 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
60169 ESI5964 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
49216 ESI6034 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
62713 ESI6274 Display/Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
75021 ESI6446 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
52106 ESI6557 MPU/CPU John Vorwerk United States flag United States
30025 ESI6689 Solenoid Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
58275 ESI6795 Solenoid Driver Fun House United States flag United States
32355 ESI6909 Lamp Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
20940 ESI6916 Solenoid Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
56236 ESI7264 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
65111 ESI7273 Sound Board Dennis Braun United States flag United States
28967 ESI7330 MPU/CPU John Vorwerk United States flag United States
57272 ESI7343 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
57525 ESI7578 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
49614 ESI7610 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
78622 ESI7716 MPU/CPU Fun House United States flag United States
72021 ESI7735 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
72636 ESI7744 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
30456 ESI7761 Display/Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
20727 ESI8325 Solenoid Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
27163 ESI8363 Other/Unknown 4By United States flag United States
21419 ESI8405 Sound Board John Vorwerk United States flag United States
50848 ESI8438 Coin Door Dennis Braun United States flag United States
58860 ESI8562 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
28138 ESI8563 MPU/CPU John Vorwerk United States flag United States
59160 ESI8599 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
70880 ESI8676 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
36370 ESI8752 Solenoid Driver Felix United States flag United States
62730 ESI8775 MPU/CPU Dennis Braun United States flag United States
42574 ESI8793 Display/Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
35412 ESI8903 Lamp Driver John Vorwerk United States flag United States
33866 ESI8903 Sound Board Rod McLarge United States flag United States
50520 ESI8976 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
76104 ESI9006 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
40937 ESI9014 Lamp Driver Felix United States flag United States
67350 ESI9019 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
61016 ESI9336 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
42390 ESI9384 Solenoid Driver Rod McLarge United States flag United States
62729 ESI9477 Solenoid Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
60103 ESI9716 Lamp Driver Dennis Braun United States flag United States
67576 ESI9917 Solenoid Driver Clive Pedersen United Kingdom flag United Kingdom

This section lists any known information about how to physically find serial numbers on games created by this manufacturer. For all manufacturer tips, please visit the Serial Tips Page . (Please do not post serial numbers here on this form.)

Posted 1/11/2007 11:42:34 PM by Bill Ung

60's games most often had the serial number stamped into the wood cabinet directly below the right flipper button. The serial number was a 4-digit number.

For games manufactured from the mid 70's onwards, the serial number is located on the left- hand side of the headpiece (while facing the game), up near the top. The serial number I got off of Centaur was: ECE4682. From more recent data, it seems that Bally serial numbers of that era start with an E (perhaps for "Electronic") followed by two letters that identify the machine and then a serial number of three or four digits.

On Bally games from around 1986 to 1988 there are two numbers on the game. One is a six digit number sticker near the FBI warning on the back, and this is not the serial number. The real serial number is a three or four digit number printed at the top of the right-hand side of the head (while facing the game) and on a bar code sticker mid-left in the cabinet (although this sticker sometimes falls off.)

Posted 6/27/2007 12:09:07 PM by Jess Askey
I just noticed on my Centaur (1981), that my displays have serial number stickers on them. I didn't know that Bally games had serial numbers on the PCB's that matched the cabinet serial number. The stickers don't seem to be of the best quality though, I only had two stickers with serial numbers out of the 5 displays.
Posted 11/11/2007 11:15:26 PM by Jess Askey
On Pre-Flipper woodrails like 1946's Surf Queens, the serial number is stamped into the wood where the right flipper button would soon be.
Posted 10/7/2008 9:09:14 AM by Arm Binger
All Bally E/M-Machines have their serial-numbers stamped below or beneath the right flipper-button and also on the right side of the litebox. Serial always started with 1000. Solid-State Machines from Bally have the numbers on the left side.
Posted 11/17/2008 3:12:37 AM by Matt Rusk
Also on most 70's bally machines there is a manufacture's certificate stapled somewhere inside the cabinet, usually somewhere near the coin box.
Posted 4/23/2009 11:19:49 PM by King of Pinball
On a 1975 Air Aces, the serial number may appear in at least 4 places. As is typical of Bally machines, it is stamped into the wood under the right flipper button. Second, it is printed on a bar-code sticker on the inside of the coin door in the format "Air Aces xxxx." The 5 digit number just above that is not the serial number. In addition, the last 3 digits of the 4 digit number may be stamped twice in ink on the wood just behind the coinbox. You will need to remove the coinbox and these 2 numbers will be clearly visable on the wood facing you as you look into the coin door opening.
Posted 6/28/2009 8:28:14 PM by Paul Dadd
Found 'Hay Ride' serial on "manufacturers certificate" in far upper right of playfield under glass.
Posted 8/21/2009 12:05:35 PM by William Smith
I just had a bally CYPRESS GARDENS machine given to me. The serial number that I have found is located on the right side of the head piece near the top and forward of center. My serial number is C3471. I have no idea what it means or why it is what it is.
Posted 10/12/2009 11:36:38 PM by Jay Stafford
Bally EM numbers started with 1001, not 1000. The first game would be 1001.
Posted 7/30/2010 3:48:07 PM by Roger Fredrich
Space Invaders 1980 Number is on the left side at the cabinet near the left flipper button. Not easy to read it correctly :-(
Posted 10/23/2010 1:46:49 PM by King of Pinball
For early 30's games, the serial number can be in varying places. On a 1935 Jumbo, for example, it can be under the glass stamped into the metal frame holding the instruction card. Or, it can be stamped into the wood on the outside, on the back of the cabinet. However, it will not normally be in both locations.
Posted 8/17/2011 6:55:14 AM by Steve Fulton
My Ballys Space Invaders 1980 game has the serial in these places: stamped in the outside left side of main cabinet, stamped in the outside left side of backglass cabinet, stapled paper behind coin box, matching stickers on each electronic board behind the backglass, and also a matching sticker on the back of every LCD score screen.
Posted 11/15/2014 1:05:21 PM by DAVID KELLY
My 1976 Bally Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy has serial # carved in the outside left side of main cabinet and carved in the outside left side of backglass cabinet.
Posted 11/16/2014 10:21:40 AM by Charles Ritter
Found SN on power supply, and processor boards
Posted 3/7/2015 1:35:54 PM by Pistol Pete
On Bally Bingo games the serial numbers are found on the right side of the head/backbox, the top arch of the playfield and by one of the right light shields on the playfield.
Members can submit new tips on how to find serial numbers! Sign up for a free membership here!

This game has the following serial number formats defined in the database. As serial numbers are sumbitted, trends are recognized and defined or information about a serial number format is collected through historical information.

TypeExamplesRegExMaskLowerLimitUpperLimitAutoAssignable
Production Game ESI11320, ESI11502, ESI11512 ^(ESI)(?<sortdata>[0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9]([0-9]?))$ 1001 True


The Serial Bot Summary information here gives a detailed explanation of the Serial Bot analysis for this specific game. The theory behind the Serial Bot is this...

Every game has many many serial number submissions, the goal of the IPSND is not to guarantee that *all* information is 100% correct but that over time, the system should automatically devalue inaccurate submissions while increasing the value of correct submissions.

You may click on the SerialBot score of any submission to see how it was calculated.

SerialBot Color Codes:
- Not Validated The serial number submission has not yet been validated by the submitter via email.
- Unknown There is no known information on the serial number format for this game yet. As more submissions are received we can start to make a best guess on the serial number format.
- Good If a serial does not fail any of the tests for a status of Warning or Bad, then it is good.
- Suspect A serial will have a suspect status if the format is technically correct but there is something wrong with the data. Examples might be that the number might be too high or low for the known range of serials for this game.
- Bad If a game has a serial number definition mask defined for it, then a serial may be marked as 'bad' if the number does not validate agains the mask. Masks are created for games by looking at known serial number formats and consist of a regular expression to define the format of a game serial.

SerialBot Scores:
1 Point Awarded if the serial number has a game assigned to it. This autoatically makes submissions with a known game more valuable than submissions without a known game.
1 Point Awarded if the serial number has been 'verified' by the submitter. A submission is 'verifed' if the submitter clicks on the link in the email sent to them for each submission. The basis for this rule is that submissions by people that do not take the time to respond to the email might be entering garbage data and/or giving fake email addresses. However, it is common for 'verification' emails to get stuck in spam filters etc, so, members may have 'verification' emails re-sent at any time.
1 Point Awarded if the submitted serial number matches one of the predefined serial number masks for this game.
1 Point Awarded if the serial number was marked as 'Physically Viewed' during the submission process. This is an interesting distinction as there are many times that serial numbers are submitted off owners lists, Ebay auction, etc. While these serial numbers are valuable, they may also be innacurate. In comparison, Physically Viewed serial number submissions are numbers that the submitter has actually been in front of the machine reading the number and then submitting it. Since it is more likely to get a good visual from a physically viewed machine, this gains an extra point.
1 Point If a photo is uploaded with the serial number submission. The submission automatically gains an additional point. Be aware however that this opens the submission up to 'Nudges' by members where even more points can be added or subtracted based upon the quality and accuracy of the photo.
-3 to +3 Points Members can 'Nudge' every sumitted photo once and give it an extra boost of 1 point or take away 1 point depending if the photo matches the submitted serial number. While any number of members may nudge a serial, the nudging can only affect the score by +/- 3 points in either direction.

The following map shows the locations of all serial numbers that were submitted with a geolocation...