Book reviews

Over the years I've bought quite a lot of books about pinball machines and other related coin-op machines and collectibles. Here's an overview of the books, this can help you decide which one to buy..

Pinball machine books

Coin-Op Pinball Machines
A small booklet by Bally about their coin up machines.

The Complete Pinball Book
By Marco Rossignoli, tries to give an overview of every pinball made.

The Dark Side of Pinball
French / English coffee table book with pictures of vintage pinball machines in the dark.

Encyclopedia of Pinball
The history of pinball in detail.

Kastenbaas in Mokum and Kroegtijgers van toen
2 books with the memoirs of an operator in the heart of Amsterdam.

Les Flippers
French deluxe version translation with nice pictures.

Mike Pacak's Flyer book
Flyers, flyers and flyers. Flyer reference book with an overview of all pinball flyers ever made.

No Balls, No Glory
Dutch book for the 20th anniversary of the Dutch Pinball Organisation.

Nos Annees Flipper
French book about pinball. How pinball evolved over the years and its impact on culture. Very interesting!

Pinball
English translation of a book about Pinball

Pinball, an illustrated history
1976 book with many photos.

Pinball Art
Everything about the artwork. Very interesting !

The Pinball Compendium
Probably the best set of pinball books ever published.

Pinball in Argentina
A coffee table book with nice photos about the pinball scene in Argentina.

Pinball Machines
One of the first pinball coffee table books.

Pinball Magazine
5 magazines have been published, each of them providing valuable background information.

Pinball Memories
50 pinball machines described in detail, with personal stories added. Selected from forty years, between 1958 until 1998.

Pinball Snapshots; Air Aces to Xenon
Another 50 pinball machines, described in detail with beautiful photographs.

Pinball: the lure of the silver ball
This is one of the classic pinball books.

Pinball machines for Italy
All about these special machines, only created for export to Italy.

Pinball: wenn die kugel ausflippt
A german book about pinball machines.

Pinbotz Guide to the greatest pinball machines
A collector writes reviews of pinball machines.

Same Player Shoots Again
One of the oldest dutch books about pinball.

Pinball repair books

Pinball Machine Care and Maintenance
All a beginner to pinball machines needs to know.

Pinball Service book
Electro-mechanical pinball repair book.

Reading Schematics of electro-mechanical machines
Dutch repair book that teaches you how to read, understand schematics of electro-mechanical pinball, bingo and slot machines.

Russ Jensens' Pinball Troubleshooting Guide
Learn how an electro-mechanical pinball machine works and how to read schematics.

Art books with pinball and coin-op references

Charles Bell: The complete works
Photo realistic paintings of pinball, gumball machines and other toys.

Pinball Wizards and Blacklight Destroyers
The Art of Dirty Donny Gillies.

Mad Dog and his art
All about pinball artist Dave 'Mad Dog' Christensen.

Arcade and Video Gaming books

Arcade 1: Illustrated Historical Guide To Arcade Machines
The arcade equivalent of the encyclopedia of pinball.

Arcade Video Games: van Computer Space tot heden
Dutch book about arcade games. Great overview with many technical details.

Arcade Treasures
An overview of various coin-op games: arcade, pinball and skill machines.

Coin-Op Amusement
A small booklet by Bally.

The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games
An verview of almost all arcade video games made since the 1970ies.

Other coin-op machine books

Bally Bingo Pinball Machines
A book about all mechanical bingo machines made by Bally.

Slot machine books

Bally Slot Machines: The Complete Service Manual for Electro-Mechanicals 1964-1980
A complete service manual on how to maintain and repair the mechanical slot machines made by Bally.

Jukebox books

Jukebox
Nice photographs of jukeboxes.

Jukebox Art
A book about jukeboxes with quality photographs.

Jukebox Heaven
Catalogue of all jukeboxes ever made and background information.

Vintage Jukeboxes: The Hall of Fame
This book gives an overview of jukebox history, the most popular brands and its influence on pop culture.

Books about other collectibles

Het Belgische geemailleerde reclamebord
Complete reference book of all vintage enamel advertising signs created in Belgium.

Street Jewelry
A History of Enamel Advertising Signs in the UK