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: 70,487  Visitors: 81,515,003  Members: 5,787  Photos: 45,899  Lat/Lng: 39,158  Masks: 70,487(1,051.57%)  Traits: 578  Nudges: 232,725  Backglasses: 1,865
  Most Serials: Twilight Zone(1,351)  Most Submissions: Dennis Braun(6,157)  Most Points: Dennis Braun(45,837)  Highest Quality: The Knight(17.00)  Most Nudges: pinballservice-nl(29,782)

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 11/20/2011 11:44:43 PM by Pistol Pete
The paper tags ARE NOT the game serial numbers. This is a MIDWAY cabinet style, black with rounded sides on the backbox. The serial numbers are stamped into the side of the cabinet and the side of the head. If you're reading a paper tag that is a board or part-specific number, NOT the serial number of a major component such as a backbox, cabinet or complete game. The only thing that entering the paper tag numbers has done is poisoned the serialbot toward true serial number submissions.