Skip to content

A little history on Williams

Williams Manufacturing Company was founded in 1943 by Harry E. Williams, an innovator in the coin-operated amusement industry. The company initially focused on producing electro-mechanical pinball machines, quickly establishing itself as a major competitor to other manufacturers like Gottlieb and Bally. Williams was known for its technical advancements, including the introduction of tilt mechanisms to prevent excessive nudging and the first automatic scoring devices. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Williams continued to refine pinball gameplay with innovations in flipper design, multi-player functionality, and themed game releases, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the industry.

In the late 1970s and 1980s, Williams transitioned into the solid-state era, producing iconic machines such as Black Knight (1980), which introduced the first two-level playfield, and Space Shuttle (1984), which helped revive pinball’s popularity. The company gained further dominance in the 1990s, acquiring Bally/Midway in 1988 and producing some of the most legendary pinball machines of all time, including The Addams Family (1992), Twilight Zone (1993), and Medieval Madness (1997). Despite its success, Williams ceased pinball production in 1999, shifting its focus to video gaming and slot machines. Today, Williams’ legacy lives on through collectors, competitive players, and virtual recreations of its most celebrated titles, keeping its innovations and impact on the industry alive.

Williams logo

Pinballs:

Metallica (Retheme)

Metallica (Retheme) was manufactured by Williams and was released 2013-01-01
Star Wars Episode I_1999 06 01

Star Wars Episode I

Star Wars Episode I was manufactured by Williams and was released 1999-06-01
Monster Bash_1998 07 01

Monster Bash

Monster Bash was manufactured by Williams and was released 1998-07-01
Medieval Madness_1997 06 01

Medieval Madness

Medieval Madness was manufactured by Williams and was released 1997-06-01
No Good Gofers_1997 01 01

No Good Gofers

No Good Gofers was manufactured by Williams and was released 1997-01-01
Tales of the Arabian Nights_1996 05 01

Tales of the Arabian Nights

Tales of the Arabian Nights was manufactured by Williams and was released 1996-05-01
Junk Yard_1996 01 01

Junk Yard

Junk Yard was manufactured by Williams and was released 1996-01-01
Congo_1995 11 01

Congo

Congo was manufactured by Williams and was released 1995-11-01
No Fear Dangerous Sports_1995 05 01

No Fear: Dangerous Sports

No Fear: Dangerous Sports was manufactured by Williams and was released 1995-05-01
Dirty Harry_1995 03 01

Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry was manufactured by Williams and was released 1995-03-01