Louis Koziarz
@koziarz.com
Embedded systems farmer. Ex WMS, PLD, Stern Pinball. Randomly posting wacky stuff I saved from my time in the coin-op business and most likely retold incorrectly.
CALL THE RIPCO BBS (312) 528-5020
CALL THE RIPCO BBS (312) 528-5020
Hank and Iggy! I love old wall games.
December 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Hank and Iggy! I love old wall games.
"HR" was Henry "Hank" Ross. He was one of United's lead design engineers in 1956 and would leave the company about two years later to start Midway Manufacturing with partner Marcine "Iggy" Wolverton.
www.replaymag.com/midway-bally...
videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/tag/midway-m...
www.replaymag.com/midway-bally...
videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/tag/midway-m...
December 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
"HR" was Henry "Hank" Ross. He was one of United's lead design engineers in 1956 and would leave the company about two years later to start Midway Manufacturing with partner Marcine "Iggy" Wolverton.
www.replaymag.com/midway-bally...
videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/tag/midway-m...
www.replaymag.com/midway-bally...
videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/tag/midway-m...
And this was written by one of the legends. See if you can guess who this is.
December 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
And this was written by one of the legends. See if you can guess who this is.
Coin-op game programming, 70 years ago....
December 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Coin-op game programming, 70 years ago....
Jerry also sculpted the TOTAN lamp, which is an amazing piece of work for something that's not seen up close. The detail is incredible.
December 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Jerry also sculpted the TOTAN lamp, which is an amazing piece of work for something that's not seen up close. The detail is incredible.
Very special pinball artifacts from the box: early test sculptures and final mold shots for the Tales of the Arabian Nights genie toy.
December 6, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Very special pinball artifacts from the box: early test sculptures and final mold shots for the Tales of the Arabian Nights genie toy.
Every engineering organization, sooner or later, wants to start tracking time spent on projects to review and maintain costs.
Williams pinball was no exception. Did YOU fill out your timesheet this week? 🤔
Williams pinball was no exception. Did YOU fill out your timesheet this week? 🤔
December 2, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Every engineering organization, sooner or later, wants to start tracking time spent on projects to review and maintain costs.
Williams pinball was no exception. Did YOU fill out your timesheet this week? 🤔
Williams pinball was no exception. Did YOU fill out your timesheet this week? 🤔
OMG another pinball artifact: Placeholder Genie bash toy from Tales of the Arabian Nights. Used to test pose and position of the final sculpted toy.
Art by McMahon on xerox and colored pencil with butyrate cover.
Art by McMahon on xerox and colored pencil with butyrate cover.
December 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
OMG another pinball artifact: Placeholder Genie bash toy from Tales of the Arabian Nights. Used to test pose and position of the final sculpted toy.
Art by McMahon on xerox and colored pencil with butyrate cover.
Art by McMahon on xerox and colored pencil with butyrate cover.
Next random pinball artifact: A Pinball 2000 PUB card.
After the launch we got feedback that P2K's software update system was a bit exotic for most operators. It needed a laptop, serial cable, a network connection to download files, and some detailed instructions. Some found it confusing. (more)
After the launch we got feedback that P2K's software update system was a bit exotic for most operators. It needed a laptop, serial cable, a network connection to download files, and some detailed instructions. Some found it confusing. (more)
December 1, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Next random pinball artifact: A Pinball 2000 PUB card.
After the launch we got feedback that P2K's software update system was a bit exotic for most operators. It needed a laptop, serial cable, a network connection to download files, and some detailed instructions. Some found it confusing. (more)
After the launch we got feedback that P2K's software update system was a bit exotic for most operators. It needed a laptop, serial cable, a network connection to download files, and some detailed instructions. Some found it confusing. (more)
Random pinball artifacts incoming! I'm cleaning house and everything must go. Maybe a virtual garage sale?
November 29, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Random pinball artifacts incoming! I'm cleaning house and everything must go. Maybe a virtual garage sale?
This thing had everything except a 1/4" socket, which would have made it actually useful.
November 29, 2025 at 10:53 PM
This thing had everything except a 1/4" socket, which would have made it actually useful.
The Williams pinball factory was in such a rough part of town, employees were given company issued switchblades.
November 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The Williams pinball factory was in such a rough part of town, employees were given company issued switchblades.
Illinois Pin Ball, Part 0: (thanks @heyrocker.com for the reminder).
When pinball was laid off, employees were allowed to come back to the factory for a week or so to clean out their offices. We had decades of stuff that the company didn't want anymore, so we hauled it ALL off. (more)
When pinball was laid off, employees were allowed to come back to the factory for a week or so to clean out their offices. We had decades of stuff that the company didn't want anymore, so we hauled it ALL off. (more)
November 26, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Illinois Pin Ball, Part 0: (thanks @heyrocker.com for the reminder).
When pinball was laid off, employees were allowed to come back to the factory for a week or so to clean out their offices. We had decades of stuff that the company didn't want anymore, so we hauled it ALL off. (more)
When pinball was laid off, employees were allowed to come back to the factory for a week or so to clean out their offices. We had decades of stuff that the company didn't want anymore, so we hauled it ALL off. (more)
Reviewed my notes again: he wanted to sell *nonvoting* shares to pinball fans. Even worse.
November 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reviewed my notes again: he wanted to sell *nonvoting* shares to pinball fans. Even worse.
Illinois Pin Ball, part 3. Gene believed that by recruiting a solid group of ex-WMS staff, the company could be revived. There would be some financial input from all of us, and then Gene would go out to the public and try to raise funds. From my notes, he was seriously mistaken on a lot of issues.
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Illinois Pin Ball, part 3. Gene believed that by recruiting a solid group of ex-WMS staff, the company could be revived. There would be some financial input from all of us, and then Gene would go out to the public and try to raise funds. From my notes, he was seriously mistaken on a lot of issues.
Any excuse to put this classic photo up again... 😉
November 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Any excuse to put this classic photo up again... 😉
This must have been the low point where Williams said "fuck it, we're going with demons and sci-fi shit from now on."
November 23, 2025 at 5:08 AM
This must have been the low point where Williams said "fuck it, we're going with demons and sci-fi shit from now on."
Pretty much correct. But... explain THIS one! 🤣
November 22, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Pretty much correct. But... explain THIS one! 🤣
...and has always been...
November 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
...and has always been...
@flylanddesigns.bsky.social feel free to add this contribution to your art. 🤣 #pinballcats
November 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
@flylanddesigns.bsky.social feel free to add this contribution to your art. 🤣 #pinballcats
Illinois Pin Ball, part 2: So we got the invite to talk to Gene. A bunch of us drove down and met with him to discuss how this would work. I tried to take photos and notes to record the event.
November 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Illinois Pin Ball, part 2: So we got the invite to talk to Gene. A bunch of us drove down and met with him to discuss how this would work. I tried to take photos and notes to record the event.
"Gene Cunningham is worth 10 million* and wants to save Williams. He's got info on what is up for sale and wants to put together a company with Pat Lawlor running it. Who's interested in meeting with him in Bloomington? Let's meet up and drive down..."
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"Gene Cunningham is worth 10 million* and wants to save Williams. He's got info on what is up for sale and wants to put together a company with Pat Lawlor running it. Who's interested in meeting with him in Bloomington? Let's meet up and drive down..."
Solar Fox was one of those games where the arcade cabinet artwork was 1000x better than the actual game:
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Solar Fox was one of those games where the arcade cabinet artwork was 1000x better than the actual game:
