Chicago Coin Machine Mfg. Co.

Chicago Coin Machine Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois, around 1931 by Samuel H. Gensburg, his brother-in-law Sam Wolberg, and Lou Koren. Known for manufacturing coin-operated pinball machines, the firm’s first notable release was Blackstone (1933), which helped establish it as a competitive player in the nascent pinball industry. Over the ensuing decades, Chicago Coin produced a substantial portfolio of electromechanical pinball machines, including popular titles such as Beam-Lite (1935), which introduced illuminated playfields, and Kilroy (1947), a best-seller in the postwar era. Although the company’s games were generally considered dependable and entertaining, they were often viewed as adopting established mechanisms rather than leading technological innovation.

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Despite moderate success and the diversification of its product line to include bowlers, rifle games, and novelty amusements, Chicago Coin struggled to keep pace with industry changes in the 1970s. The rise of solid-state electronics and the quickly expanding video arcade market pressured manufacturers to innovate rapidly. Chicago Coin ultimately faced financial difficulties and ceased operations in 1977, at which point its assets were acquired by Gary and Sam Stern to form Stern Electronics. This transition allowed some of the company’s designs to persist in modified form under a new label, but effectively ended Chicago Coin’s nearly 46-year presence in the pinball industry.