{"id":17340,"date":"2019-10-17T15:21:40","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T14:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=17340"},"modified":"2019-11-03T23:26:19","modified_gmt":"2019-11-03T23:26:19","slug":"pinball-expo-2019-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2019\/10\/17\/pinball-expo-2019-3\/","title":{"rendered":"PINBALL EXPO 2019 – THURSDAY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello and welcome back to our continuing coverage of this 35th annual Pinball Expo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Wednesday features the kick-off Bumper Blast party, Thursday is the first full day of events and, as in previous years, that begins at 9am when the buses arrive to transport Expo attendees to the Stern Pinball factory tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Expo<\/a>
Expo attendees wait for the buses to arrive<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The first bus arrives for the Stern Pinball factory tour<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Stern Pinball factory is located in Elk Grove Village, which is around 30 minutes by bus south of the Pinball Expo hotel in Wheeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"More<\/a>
More buses arrive and take tour guests to the Elk Grove Village factory
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The sign outside the factory<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"There<\/a>
There was a separate entrance into the factory for the tour guests<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The merchandise shop team were ready for the tour crowd<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The Stern arcade is located at the start of the tour<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"You<\/a>
You never know who you might find playing<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Gary<\/a>
Gary Stern welcomes tour guests to the factory<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The tour crowd was split into smaller groups before being taken round the factory<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another group starts the tour<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Dwight<\/a>
Dwight Sullivan took this group – here they are visiting the parts store<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Playfields<\/a>
Playfields from recent titles are kept for reference and for sales<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Racks<\/a>
Racks of playfields for Elvira’s House of Horrors<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The cabling department where the cable looms are made<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"In<\/a>
In the cabinet and backbox section<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Completed<\/a>
Completed cabinets and backboxes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"T-Rex<\/a>
T-Rex head assemblies for Jurassic Park<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The playfield production line<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"More<\/a>
More is added to the playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Complete<\/a>
Complete or near-complete playfields<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Playfields<\/a>
Playfields being tested and fitted into the cabinets<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The packing and shipping department<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Then<\/a>
Then back to the Stern store before returning to the buses<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"More<\/a>
More than an hour after the tour started there were still more guest joining the tour<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Once guests returned to Wheeling and had a chance to get some lunch, the Pinball Expo 2019 seminar schedule began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13:30 – Dino Gaspari: A Custom Pinball Is Within Your Reach<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first seminar was by Dino Gaspari from Pinballdepot.ca who spoke about how his company can create a custom-themed pinball to your own specifications. He said the cost is within your reach and usually takes around a month from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dino<\/a>
Dino Gaspari<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

He showed pictures of several custom games he has created, including a special Pinball Expo machine which he was displaying at the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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