Chime with the great tower — this is the Big Ben from Williams, an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a theme of world landmarks and famous places, celebrating London’s iconic clock tower. Designed by the legendary Steve Kordek with art by the great Christian Marche, and carrying reel scoring and a confirmed run of 2,900, it’s a handsome woodrail-era piece from a genuine master of the craft.
The layout is a clean, engaging spread: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, five rollover buttons, three drop targets, and a kick-out hole. Those three drop targets give a player a satisfying objective to clear, while the five rollover buttons offer plenty of additional scoring to work through and the two pop bumpers keep the ball lively up top. It’s a well-balanced design in the classic Kordek mold, built to deliver the honest, chiming pleasures that made these EM machines such enduring favorites, all in service of its grand landmark theme and Marche’s striking artwork.
This Williams Big Ben is a fine example of Steve Kordek’s design craft and Marche’s showstopping illustration — and it’s worth noting that the Spanish maker Segasa built a different machine by the same name, so collectors should mind which Big Ben they’re pursuing. Kordek was a genuine legend whose innovations echoed across decades of pinball history. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and its foundational figures, it’s a rewarding find. Clear those three drops, work the five rollovers, and chime with the great tower. Some machines are treasured for the master behind them, and this Kordek landmark classic is one of them. Mind the hour and drop a coin.