Bell Coin Matic

Bell Coin Matic, founded in the late 1970s in Bologna, Italy by Mr. Cavazza, emerged as a key player in the European pinball industry by capitalizing on the market demand for conversion kits during a period of economic uncertainty. These kits allowed operators to inexpensively refresh aging machines with new themes, artwork, and playfield elements. By reusing existing cabinets and mechanical parts, Bell Coin Matic minimized production costs while delivering timely and culturally relevant titles, which helped them gain traction both locally and abroad. Although the company later began trading under the name Bell Games, the original Bell Coin Matic banner is most widely remembered for its inventive approach and early success.

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The company’s notable titles include The King (1978), White Shark (1979), and The Hunter (1980), each released as a four-player solid-state conversion kit adapted from existing pinball hardware. The King, widely believed to pay homage to Elvis Presley, introduced Bell’s kit concept to the market and showcased the firm’s cost-effective re-theming strategy. White Shark built upon the decade’s shark-centric pop culture by adapting the cabinet hardware from Bally machines like Evel Knievel, while presenting a custom ocean-adventure theme. The Hunter borrowed design elements from Gottlieb’s Sinbad, overlaying them with a war-movie theme inspired by The Deer Hunter. Michele Martinelli served as lead artist on several of these machines, providing visually distinctive artwork that set Bell’s conversion offerings apart from traditional new-in-box games of the era.

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By the mid-1980s, economic pressures and industry shifts led Bell Coin Matic to release fewer pinball conversions, culminating in their final pinball effort, U-Boat 65, in 1988. Shortly afterward, they ceased pinball production altogether, focusing instead on other coin-operated amusement ventures under the Bell Games and Alpha monikers. Despite its relatively short period of pinball manufacturing, Bell Coin Matic’s innovative business model and resourceful design strategies left an enduring mark on the European pinball landscape, demonstrating how agile and low-cost production methods could effectively extend the life of older machines.