Pacific Pinball Museum is a Blast from the Past
Photo: Pinball Expo in San Rafael, Calif. sponsored by Pacific Pinball Museum
A blast from the past that puts virtual games to shame, pinball is something every kid should have an opportunity to experience, and every adult should have chance to reminisce about when you hear the bells & whistles go ballistic–you’re on a roll and scoring big points. What’s so addictive about pinball? The flippers often have a delay from the time you press the buttons till they go into action to stop steel balls from rolling into the trap or drain. If you manage to secure enough points during your session, you can earn extra balls and keep playing. And something you can’t do in the virtual world–nudging and bumping the machine to influence the ball. If you push too hard, the machine registers a “tilt” and locks you out. Bummer!
Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda is dedicated to the preservation of an American icon, the pinball machine, and is open to the public, inviting visitors to pay one admission fee and play 40 antique pinball machines (pacificpinball.org). In addition to the museum, the nonprofit organization also hosts the annual Pacific Pinball Expo in San Rafael, usally in September or October.
Highlights in pinball:
- Spring launchers invented in 1869
- Coin operation in 1931
- Electricity and active bumpers introduced in 1933
- Flippers in 1947
- Solid state electronics in 1970s
