Geiger-Automatenbau GMBH

Geiger-Automatenbau GmbH was founded in Germany in the mid-1970s by entrepreneurs aiming to participate in the flourishing coin-operated amusement sector. Although specific details regarding the company’s founding date and the identities of its principal founders are not extensively documented, Geiger positioned itself in southwestern Germany to leverage the region’s established distribution networks and growing interest in pinball. Early on, it recognized the advantages of working with international partners, securing licensing agreements with prominent American manufacturers to gain a competitive edge in Europe.

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By the late 1970s, Geiger’s most notable activity involved adapting popular Bally pinball machines for German-speaking markets, a strategy made possible through licensing arrangements. Among their best-known rebrands were Bally’s “Supersonic” (1979) and “Star Trek” (1979), which were modified with localized artwork and branding while retaining the original playfield designs and solid-state technology. This approach enabled Geiger to meet local regulatory requirements, align game themes with player preferences, and ensure that operators received reliable, tested hardware. Despite these efforts, growing competition from larger pinball manufacturers and shifts in consumer interest contributed to Geiger winding down its pinball production in the early 1980s. While records do not definitively state the precise cause of the company’s closure, Geiger’s machines have since become sought-after collector’s items, offering a snapshot of an era when licensing arrangements helped smaller European firms bring well-known American titles to regional audiences.