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: 6,703  Serials: 70,506  Visitors: 81,529,705  Members: 5,787  Photos: 45,918  Lat/Lng: 39,176  Masks: 70,506(1,051.86%)  Traits: 578  Nudges: 232,797  Backglasses: 1,865
  Most Serials: Twilight Zone(1,351)  Most Submissions: Dennis Braun(6,157)  Most Points: Dennis Braun(45,844)  Highest Quality: The Knight(17.00)  Most Nudges: pinballservice-nl(29,840)

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 5/11/2010 7:35:33 PM by Michael
On the left side of the cabinet, inside of the coin box, there appears to be a serial number stamped on a piece of wood that's stapled to the bottom of the cabinet. I was told that my machine was from France since the coin box is in F1. It also says that it's made in Germany under the Bally Midway MFG Co., USA. The serial number is 6 digits.

Posted 2/6/2014 11:33:59 AM by Rod McLarge
Top right hand side of the backbox. Three digit number (or four digit depending how many were produced), follows the same numbering format used by the Bally-Midway USA games of the same era.