Hello to all,

  I have a question in regards to pinball rubber ring kits... does anyone have the breakdown of pinball ring kits? I am just curious... Many have asked me about that and to be honest, I don't know if the companies have built up their information with time, or if there is a database on this somewhere?

Anyone know?

That would be very handy. Plenty of Gottliebs use cryptic codes in their manuals and it's necessary to cross-reference with PBR. Some of these basement/garage/barn treasures don't have manuals at all. I'm interested.

Quoted from OTTOgd

That would be very handy. Plenty of Gottliebs use cryptic codes in their manuals and it's necessary to cross-reference with PBR. Some of these basement/garage/barn treasures don't have manuals at all. I'm interested.

I hear you... maybe a database would be good to have... hmm...

I'm sure it is some database that they have come up with.  The manual is always incomplete with rubber ring lists or that's what I've always found, ever time I got to shop a machine, I always buy whats listed in the manual and then double it to make sure I have enough.  When I don't I always find I don't have enough.  

And some manuals just don't list everything.  I just re-rubbered Getaway on the weekend.  The manual was missing entries on the plastic posts (5/16" ring) and post sleeves.  If you have a revolving door of pins, then I suggest stocking up on bulk rubber rings.  No more worries after that.

I don't get kits.

I get a lot of every size.

Problem solved.

Quoted from Mrhide

I don't get kits.

I get a lot of every size.

Problem solved.

What if you could get kits locally?

Can't get closer than your own home.  Kits will always be more expensive than buying bulk.  

I have found that most kits are put together from the lists in the factory manuals, which is why they are almost always incomplete.

I usually just use the manual for the game I'm working on. I'm with Phil here, I keep a huge quantity on hand, that way I'm always set ( especially if the manual is not correct ).

When I need to replace any rubber rings, I would use the Gottlieb manuals and they were always bang on. Never needed a kit, each diagram was very clear about 1", 1.5" etc... And the quantity needed per game was perfect.

I keep min. qty 10 of everything on hand and when I have a chance, will replenish.  Small stuff like post rings, etc, 20 is my magic number.

Never mind manuals, many use different measurement standards. Visual works for me.

Ever notice that virtually all new rubber bumpers, regardless where you buy them , are all marked "Happ"?

Suzo Happ, obviously.

It's Only Pinball used to have a "Rubber Ring Database".

Maybe email them to see if you can obtain it and MAACA could possibly host the information again.

There's a handy cross-reference if you need to convert part numbers.

Quoted from wbradley

Ever notice that virtually all new rubber bumpers, regardless where you buy them , are all marked "Happ"?

Suzo Happ, obviously.

It's pretty well established company. Probably difficult to compete given the size of their operation.

Where do you guys get bulk lots of rubber rings?

Thanks!

Back in the late 80's & early 90's Happ Controls led up by Frank Happ was quickly becoming the main supplier to most manufactures during the video game boom. They were never big on pinball parts mainly because the big three were still active in supplying distributors, and hence the operators. There were too many game specific parts in the pinball industry to go after such a diverse market, and video game buttons were always a "Happ button", that is what we'd call them even back then. Joysticks, steering wheels, shifters and then trackballs were the other big items. As they took over controls in the video game industry, along with coin handling and generic pinball machine supplies and so on, they surpassed Peach State, Amusement Plus, Penn Ray Sales & Competitive products. Their only real competitors were Suzo in Europe and Betson-Imperial along with Wico in the States and Canada. When Wico finally went belly up, most of the reps went to work for Happ.

Happ got purchsed by a huge investment firm in the 2002 or thereabouts and then later, that same firm bought Suzo and whoever else was competition (i.e. Mazzco). Growth by acquisition is hard to compete with as we know. Their big market now is supplying the world's Casinos. Suzo was always big on that in Europe, so now Suzo-Happ has Casino machine supplies as their main market, vending machine parts and the amusement market which according to my rep is important, but the smallest of their markets. So from a family enterprise to huge corp in a matter of 10 or so years, is a powerful thing. Starburst buys all their pinball rubbers from them, amongst other things obviously.

If I got any of these things wrong it is because I am working from memory, not from Wikipedia, or a corporate video. Collective memory beats out one memory alone in almost all cases I would think.

Quoted from Sparky

What if you could get kits locally?

That would be perfect imo.

When I don't have a big order to get from States, I found someone in Quebec. On Ebay: patelrock.

Patelrock = good service for certain.

I would still like to find the least expensive source of bulk rubber.  Happ is one.  Seven Star Rubber??? (but no idea wher eto buy).

http://archive.maaca.org/s107351202.onlinehome.us/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?v-memberpanel/a-view/u-645/

Direct link to patelrock on MAACA ...  

Quoted from Splitskull

When I don't have a big order to get from States, I found someone in Quebec. On Ebay: patelrock.

Quoted from websherpa

Patelrock = good service for certain.

I would still like to find the least expensive source of bulk rubber.  Happ is one.  Seven Star Rubber??? (but no idea wher eto buy).

Seven Star are very rare in north America... No official distributor in North America but it,s the only one to do yellow mini flipper. (Embryon Vector)

Seven Star rubber are a bit cheaper