The Complete Handbook of Pinball Machine Accessories
A practical reference for operators, technicians, and collectors on selecting, installing, maintaining, and profiting from pinball machine accessories.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
From rubbers to power supplies: the practical reference for buying, installing, and servicing every pinball machine accessory.
About this book
Pinball machines are complex electromechanical and electronic systems, and their accessories are the replaceable, upgradeable, and wearable parts that keep them playing well. This handbook covers the full spectrum, from consumables like plunger tips, coil sleeves, and post rubbers, to larger components like backbox lighting, cabinet decals, and power distribution boards. Each category is explained in terms of its function, common failure modes, specification standards (such as coil resistance, rubber durometer, lamp base types, and connector pin counts), and fitting instructions across major eras and manufacturers.
Operators and technicians will find detailed sections on troubleshooting common issues like weak flippers, stuck switches, blown fuses, and lane change failures. Serious home collectors will learn how to match replacement parts to specific machine models, assess aftermarket quality against original manufacturer specifications, and avoid damaging valuable playfields with incorrect installation. The book also dedicates significant space to the business of pinball accessories: how to establish a parts inventory, negotiate with distributors, run a successful service side-hustle, and understand pricing trends in the secondary market.
The final chapters look at emerging trends like LED lighting retrofits, custom powder-coating and powder-coated parts, and the growing market for modern replacement parts for classic electro-mechanical games. A comprehensive glossary and FAQ round out the volume, making it an immediate first reference for anyone who works on or with pinball machines.
Reader Reviews
Melissa Johnson
★★★★★It's a solid reference book and I've already used it to identify a few parts I had mislabeled in my own shop. But I was hoping for a bit more depth in the installation sections, specifically with step-by-step photos or wiring diagrams. The text descriptions are accurate but a little dry, and for a beginner tech like me, visuals would have helped a lot. Still, the troubleshooting chapter is worth the price alone, and I've bookmarked the glossary. I'll keep it on the shelf next to the manuals.
Paul Campbell
★★★★★I've been running a route of 14 machines for eight years, and this is the first book that actually understands how I work. The chapter on choosing parts for high-traffic abuse is exactly what I needed - I've already switched the post rubbers I buy based on the durometer discussion, and my outlane drain complaints from players have dropped noticeably. The business chapter on sourcing and pricing is gold. It's not a coffee table book; it's a shop reference and I use it daily.
Donna White
★★★★★The book arrives as a dense, text-heavy reference, which is fine for what it is. My main gripe is that the section on LED retrofits feels half-complete; it covers different bulb bases and voltage, but I wanted a clearer guide on which brands are actually worth the premium for home use. The compat table for different machine eras is genuinely helpful, and the maintenance chapter prevented me from making a mistake with my coil stops this weekend. I'm keeping it, but I hope a second edition does a deeper dive in a few spots.
Ashley Campbell
★★★★★As someone who restores one or two machines a year as a side business, I found this book hit the right middle ground between the manufacturer manuals and the broad hobby forums. It is thorough, but honestly the chapter on business opportunities felt a little generic at points. The install hints for setting switch gaps on flipper buttons were a huge help, though, and now my adjustments hold a lot better. I would recommend it to any serious restorer, but I wouldn't give it to a newbie without warning them it's a textbook, not a coffee table book.
Matthew Harris
★★★★★I picked this up hoping for a comprehensive guide, and it mostly delivers, but the organization feels odd to me - the types and specs chapter dumps a lot of numbers and pinouts on you before the book has really oriented you in the install section. Once I got to the FAQ and glossary at the back, things clicked. The explanations for coil resistance and rubbers are accurate and I used them to track down a misfire in my old Gottlieb. Three and a half stars, really: a good desk reference but it's not the easiest book to read straight through.