THE FRENCH COLLECTION

Story dated February 7, 2007 .

Mention the words "pinball" and "museum" in the same sentence and your thoughts might turn to Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas (which Pinball News will be visiting shortly for a full report).

But the city in the desert is now joined as home to a superb collection of classic pinball games by Paris.

This is the Pinball Museum located in Aubervilliers, just north of Paris in France and although not yet open to the general public, the collection can be viewed by appointment with the Museum's owner Raphael Lankar who welcomes visitors to his creation.

Raphael told Pinball News how he has been working towards this museum since the 1950's and has been getting the 200 pinball and 50 slot machine exhibits together over the past three years.

There are also several jukeboxes and an extensive collection of backglasses on display around the museum building.

The majority of the collection cover the years 1931-1975 with 90% being of American origin. It includes some rare European conversions of well known US games alongside some genuine classics from the era. All the games have been restored to the highest quality possible as you can see from these pictures.

It hasn't been easy either. Raphael said making his dream a reality took "a lot of money, a lot of people, a lot of organization and a lot of me."

But his search for games hasn't finished with the opening of the museum. He is still on the look out for rarer games and examples which are closer to perfection to compliment the existing collection.

Although it is intended to eventually open the doors for general admission, until then visitors wishing to experience this superb collection for themselves should contact the museum's owner at [email protected]

You can get more details at the museum's website pinball-gallery.com where you can also view images of each machine in the collection and all the backglasses.

Here is a complete list of the pinball games at the museum at the time of writing:

1931   BAFFLE BALL     GOTTLIEB       
1931   BALLY HOO       BALLY       
1931   BINGO       GOTTLIEB  
1931   BUSTER BALL     GENCO       
1932   CLOVERLEAF     GOTTLIEB       
1932   FAVORITE       BUCKLEY       
1932   LE REX BOULE     BOULET       
1932   RO-LAY       WAL-BIL NOVELTY CO.
1932   ROLLS ROYCE     A. M. WATZER CO       
1932   ROUND       BALLY       
1932   WHIZZ-BANG     GOTTLIEB       
1932   WOW         MILLS NOVELTY       
1933   AIRWAY       BALLY       
1933   FIVE STAR FINAL     GOTTLIEB       
1933   SCORE BOARD     GOTTLIEB       
1933   SKIPPER       BALLY       
1933   WINGS       ROCKOLA       
1934   PONTIAC       GENCO       
1935   CHICAGO EXPRESS   DAVAL MFG CO. INC   
1935   TURN TABLE     GOTTLIEB       
1936   TOPLER       CHICAGO - COIN       
1936   TRICKS SENIOR     GENCO       
1937   ZEPHIR       BALLY       
1939   CHEVRON       BALLY       
1939   COMMODORE     CHICAGO COIN       
1939   SUPER CHARGER     KEENEY       
1940   JOLLY       CHICAGO COIN       
1941   BELLE HOP       GOTTLIEB       
1946   MIDGET RACER     BALLY       
1946   SEA BREEZE       UNITED       
1946   STAGE DOOR CANTEEN   GOTTLIEB       
1947   BALLY ROCKET     BALLY       
1947   HAWAII       UNITED       
1947   HUMPTY DUMPTY     GOTTLIEB       
1947   KILLROY       CHICAGO COIN       
1947   LUCKY STAR     GOTTLIEB       
1947   RANGER       EXHIBIT       
1947   ROLL DOWN       CHICAGO COIN       
1948   ALI BABA       GOTTLIEB       
1948   BARNACLE BILL     GOTTLIEB       
1948   BUCCANEER     GOTTLIEB       
1948   CINDERELLA     GOTTLIEB       
1948   CONTACT       EXHIBIT       
1948   EL PASO       WILLIAMS       
1948   JACK AND JILL     GOTTLIEB       
1948   LADY ROBIN HOOD   GOTTLIEB       
1948   OLDE KING COLE     GOTTLIEB
1948   TENNESSEE       WILLIAMS       
1948   TRIPLE ACTION     GENCO       
1948   WISCONSIN       UNITED       
1949   PLAY TIME       EXHIBIT       
1949   SHARP SHOOTER     GOTTLIEB       
1949   ST LOUIS       WILLIAMS     
1949   UTAH         UNITED       
1950   BOWLETTE       GOTTLIEB       
1950   GEORGIA       WILLIAMS       
1950   HITS AND RUNS     GENCO       
1950   JUST 21       GOTTLIEB
1950   KNOCK OUT       GOTTLIEB       
1950   PUNCHY       CHICAGO COIN       
1950   SOUTH PACIFIC     GENCO       
1951   NIAGARA       GOTTLIEB       
1951   SEA JOCKEYS     WILLIAMS       
1951   SELECT A CARD     GOTTLIEB       
1951   SHOO SHOO       WILLIAMS       
1951   SPARK PLUGS     WILLIAMS       
1951   TRI-SCORE       GENCO       
1952   CROSS ROAD     GOTTLIEB       
1952   DISK JOCKEY     WILLIAMS
1952   HAPPY DAYS     GOTTLIEB
1952   HONG KONG     WILLIAMS       
1952   QUEEN OF HEARTS   GOTTLIEB     
1952   SHOOTING       MARCHAND  
1952   SKILL POOL       GOTTLIEB       
1953   ARABIAN KNIGHTS   GOTTLIEB       
1953   FLYING HIGH     GOTTLIEB       
1953   GRAND SLAM     GOTTLIEB       
1953   GUYS AND DOLLS     GOTTLIEB       
1953   PIN WHEEL       GOTTLIEB       
1953   VOLLEY       MARCHANT       
1954   DIAMOND LILL     GOTTLIEB       
1954   GREEN PASTURES     GOTTLIEB   
1954   HAWAIIAN BEAUTY   GOTTLIEB   
1954   LADY LUCK       GOTTLIEB       
1954   STAGE COACH     GOTTLIEB       
1954   SUPER JUMBO     GOTTLIEB       
1955   GYPSY QUEEN     GOTTLIEB       
1955   SLUGGIN CHAMP     GOTTLIEB   
1955   SOUTHERN BELLE     GOTTLIEB   
1955   TWIN BILL       GOTTLIEB       
1955   WISHING WELL     GOTTLIEB       
1956   AUTO RACE       GOTTLIEB       
1956   BALLS A POPPIN     BALLY       
1956   CLASSY BOWLER     GOTTLIEB       
1956   DERBY DAY       GOTTLIEB       
1956   GLADIATOR DELUXE   GOTTLIEB       
1956   HARBOR LITES     GOTTLIEB       
1956   RAINBOW       GOTTLIEB
1956   SCORE BOARD     GOTTLIEB       
1957   MAJESTIC       GOTTLIEB       
1957   ROYAL FLUSH     GOTTLIEB       
1957   SILVER       GOTTLIEB       
1957   SUPER CIRCUS     GOTTLIEB       
1957   SUPER JUMPING     ALBEN       
1957   WORLD CHAMP     GOTTLIEB       
1958   BRITE STAR       GOTTLIEB       
1958   CONTEST       GOTTLIEB       
1958   ROCKET SHIP     GOTTLIEB       
1958   ROTO POOL       GOTTLIEB       
1958   SITTIN PRETTY     GOTTLIEB       
1958   SUNSHINE       GOTTLIEB       
1958   WHIRL WIND     GOTTLIEB       
1959   AROUND THE WORLD   GOTTLIEB       
1959   ATLAS       GOTTLIEB       
1959   CROSSWORD     WILLIAMS       
1959   HI DIVER       GOTTLIEB
1959   LIGHTNING BALL     GOTTLIEB       
1959   MISS ANNABELLE     GOTTLIEB       
1959   QUEEN OF DIAMONDS   GOTTLIEB       
1959   SEA ISLAND       BALLY       
1959   STRAIGHT SHOOTER   GOTTLIEB       
1959   SWEET SIOUX     GOTTLIEB       
1959   THE KING       ALBEN       
1959   TIC TAC TOE     WILLIAMS       
1959   UNIVERSE       GOTTLIEB       
1959   UNIVERSE       GOTTLIEB       
1960   BEACH QUEEN     BALLY       
1960   CAPTAIN KIDD     GOTTLIEB       
1960   DANCING DOLLS     GOTTLIEB       
1960   LITE A CARD     GOTTLIEB       
1960   MELODY LANE     GOTTLIEB       
1960   SERENADE       WILLIAMS       
1960   SPOT A CARD     GOTTLIEB       
1960   WAGON TRAIN     GOTTLIEB       
1960   WORLD BEAUTIES     GOTTLIEB       
1961   BIG CASINO       GOTTLIEB       
1961   BOWLING FLIPPER     VICTOR SALMON       
1961   CORRAL       GOTTLIEB       
1961   FOTO FINISH     GOTTLIEB       
1961   SHOW BOAT       GOTTLIEB       
1962   COVER GIRL       GOTTLIEB       
1962   LIBERTY BELLE     GOTTLIEB       
1962   OLYMPICS       GOTTLIEB       
1962   RACK A BALL     GOTTLIEB       
1962   TROPIC ISLE       GOTTLIEB       
1963   GAUCHO       GOTTLIEB       
1963   SLICK CHICK     GOTTLIEB       
1963   SWEET HEARTS     GOTTLIEB
1964   HAPPY CLOWN     GOTTLIEB       
1964   NORTH STAR     GOTTLIEB       
1964   SHIP MATES       GOTTLIEB       
1964   WORLD FAIR     GOTTLIEB       
1965   BANK A BALL     GOTTLIEB       
1965   BIG CHIEF       WILLIAMS       
1965   BUCKAROO       GOTTLIEB       
1965   DODGE CITY     GOTTLIEB       
1965   HI DOLLY       GOTTLIEB       
1965   ICE REVUE       GOTTLIEB       
1965   POT O GOLD       WILLIAMS
1965   SKY LINE       GOTTLIEB       
1966   A GO GO       WILLIAMS       
1966   CROSS TOWN     GOTTLIEB       
1966   HURDY GURDY     GOTTLIEB       
1966   MAYFAIR       GOTTLIEB       
1967   KING OF DIAMONDS   GOTTLIEB       
1967   SHANGRI-LA     WILLIAMS       
1968   HAYBURNERS II     WILLIAMS       
1968   ROYAL GUARD     GOTTLIEB
1972   FLYING CARPET     GOTTLIEB       
1972   ORBIT       GOTTLIEB
1972   TWIN JOKER       BALLY       
1972   WILD KINGDOM     WILLIAMS   
1973   HIGH HAND       GOTTLIEB       
1973   PRO FOOTBALL     GOTTLIEB       
1974   BOOMERANG     BALLY       
1975   ABRA CADA BRA     GOTTLIEB       
1975   ATLANTIS       GOTTLIEB   
1975   ELDORADO       GOTTLIEB       
1976   BUCCANEER     GOTTLIEB       
1976   CARD WHIZ       EUROPLAY ITALIE       
1976   SHIP AHOY       GOTTLIEB       
1976   SPIRIT OF 76       GOTTLIEB       
1976   SURE SHOT       GOTTLIEB       
1976   SURF CHAMP     GOTTLIEB       
1977   CENTIGRADE 37     GOTTLIEB       
1977   GOLDEN ARROW     GOTTLIEB       
1977   JET SPIN       GOTTLIEB       
1978   BLUE NOTE       GOTTLIEB       
1978   NEPTUNE       GOTTLIEB       
1978   QUEEN CASTLE     ZACCARIA       
1979   INCREDIBLE HULK     GOTTLIEB       
1979   ROCKY GIRL     EMG       
1980   ASTEROID ANNIE & THE ALIENS  GOTTLIEB
1996   BARB WIRE       GOTTLIEB
1997   MEDIEVAL MADNESS   WILLIAMS       
1998   CACTUS CANYON     BALLY       
1998   MONSTER BASH     WILLIAMS   

 

 

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