Pinball Manufacturers: Alvin G. & Co

Founded in 1991, Alvin G. & Co. was a brief but fascinating anomaly in the pinball world. The company was established by Alvin Gottlieb, the son of David Gottlieb (founder of the legendary Gottlieb pinball empire). By the early 90s, the original Gottlieb brand had been sold and changed hands multiple times. Seeking to reclaim his family’s manufacturing legacy on his own terms, Alvin launched this independent venture during a highly competitive era.

Despite going up against heavyweights like Williams and Bally during the 1990s boom, Alvin G. & Co. managed to release a handful of wildly creative titles between 1991 and 1994. Because production runs were exceptionally low, finding an Alvin G. machine on location or in a tournament bank today is a rare treat for competitive players.

While Alvin G. & Co. brought fresh, out-of-the-box ideas to the arcade, they struggled to secure a massive footprint. The overall decline of pinball’s popularity in the mid-1990s, combined with the sheer manufacturing dominance of their rivals, forced the company to close its doors in 1994. Although their lifespan was short, Alvin G. & Co. remains a highly respected name among collectors and pinball historians for their fearless creativity and their dedication to the Gottlieb family legacy.