# IPB Sells Parts Stock **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2009-04-18 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/ipbsale.html --- ## Analysis Illinois Pinball Company (Gene Cunningham) has sold most of its legacy parts stock acquired from Williams, Alvin G, and Capcom to Pinball Inc.'s James Loflin in April 2009. The sale includes original molds, dies, and technical drawings, allowing Loflin to expand manufacturing capabilities. Illinois Pinball will continue focusing on reproduction parts like cabinet art, playfields, and backglasses, while a significant portion of the inventory has been redistributed to Australian supplier Child Amusements. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Gene Cunningham's Illinois Pinball acquired most remaining parts stock when Alvin G, Capcom, and Williams closed their pinball businesses — _Article states this as foundational context for the sale_ - [HIGH] Williams sold remaining stock to Gene Cunningham after ceasing pinball production at the end of 1999 — _Explicitly stated in article body_ - [HIGH] James Loflin of Pinball Inc. has been manufacturing and supplying 15,000 replacement ramps under license to Illinois Pinball for seven years — _Article provides specific partnership duration and volume_ - [HIGH] A large portion of the purchased parts inventory has been re-sold and shipped to Child Amusements (Pinball Spare Parts) in Victoria, Australia — _Article explicitly states redistribution to Australian supplier_ - [HIGH] Illinois Pinball will continue producing reproduction parts including cabinet art, playfields, plastic sets, backglasses, and translites — _Article explicitly describes ongoing product focus_ ### Notable Quotes > "Gene had stockpiled a huge number of boxes of parts when Williams sold him their remaining stock after ceasing pinball production at the end of 1999." > — **Article narrator** > _Establishes the historical acquisition and scale of inventory_ > "To improve sales, Gene has been driving for many hours to various pinball shows around the US to sell his purchased stock alongside his various new reproduction parts." > — **Article narrator** > _Demonstrates the practical challenge of moving legacy inventory and Gene's business model evolution_ > "Gene, meanwhile, will continue with his reproduction parts business, making cabinet art, playfields, plastic sets, backglasses and translites." > — **Article narrator** > _Clarifies post-sale strategic focus for Illinois Pinball_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Gene Cunningham | person | Founder/owner of Illinois Pinball Company; acquired and managed legacy parts stock from major manufacturers; selling inventory to refocus on reproduction parts manufacturing | | Illinois Pinball | company | US-based pinball parts and reproduction company founded/run by Gene Cunningham; acquired legacy stock from Williams, Alvin G, Capcom; specializes in cabinet art, playfields, plastic sets, backglasses, translites | | James Loflin | person | Founder/operator of Pinball Inc.; ramp manufacturer based in Atlanta, Georgia; held 7-year licensing agreement with Illinois Pinball to produce 15,000+ replacement ramps; now acquiring Illinois Pinball's parts stock and molds | | Pinball Inc. | company | Atlanta, Georgia-based pinball ramp manufacturer and supplier operated by James Loflin; acquiring Illinois Pinball's legacy parts inventory and manufacturing molds/dies/drawings | | Child Amusements | company | Australian distributor trading as Pinball Spare Parts, based in Victoria; receiving significant portion of Illinois Pinball's parts inventory for redistribution | | Williams | company | Historical pinball manufacturer that ceased production in 1999; sold remaining parts stock to Gene Cunningham/Illinois Pinball | | Alvin G | company | Historical pinball manufacturer whose parts stock was acquired by Illinois Pinball after business closure | | Capcom | company | Historical pinball manufacturer (arcade/gaming company) whose parts stock was acquired by Illinois Pinball after business closure | ### Topics - **Primary:** Parts inventory liquidation and business restructuring, Legacy parts stock management from defunct manufacturers, Reproduction parts manufacturing and supply chain - **Secondary:** International distribution of pinball parts, Manufacturing licensing agreements ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Article is factual reporting of a business transaction with no evaluative language or emotional framing. Presentation is straightforward and informational. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** International expansion of pinball parts distribution with significant inventory redirected to Australian supplier (confidence: high) — Large portion of parts 'has been immediately re-sold and are en-route to Child Amusements (trading as Pinball Spare Parts) in Victoria, Australia' - **[business_signal]** Acquisition of original manufacturing molds, dies, and technical drawings by Pinball Inc. expanding their production capabilities beyond ramp manufacturing (confidence: high) — Article notes sale includes 'a number of original molds, dies and technical drawings which will enable James to manufacture new injection-molded, rubber molded and metal die parts' - **[business_signal]** Illinois Pinball liquidating legacy parts inventory to refocus on higher-margin reproduction parts manufacturing (cabinet art, playfields, backglasses, translites) (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states Gene 'has decided to sell most of it in order to concentrate on the production of new pinball parts' and will continue only reproduction parts business --- ## Transcript Date: 18th April 2009. Gene Cunningham's Illinois Pinball Company, which bought most of the remaining parts stock when Alvin G, Capcom and Williams closed their pinball businesses, has decided to sell most of it in order to concentrate on the production of new pinball parts. Gene had stockpiled a huge number of boxes of parts when Williams sold him their remaining stock after ceasing pinball production at the end of 1999. Although Illinois Pinball has a web-based store, it only featured a small proportion of their products and fulfillment of orders was often far from certain. To improve sales, Gene has been driving for many hours to various pinball shows around the US to sell his purchased stock alongside his various new reproduction parts. Gene Cunningham with a small selection of his Illinois Pinball parts Now, the majority of those new and new-old-stock parts has been sold to Pinball Inc.'s James Loflin who, for seven years, has been a manufacturer and supplier of 15,000 replacement pinball ramps under licence to Illinois Pinball from his Atlanta, Georgia base. James Loflin with some of his Pinball Inc. products However, some of those parts may not stay in the US as a large number of them has been immediately re-sold and are en-route to Child Amusements (trading as Pinball Spare Parts) in Victoria, Australia. Along with the parts sold by Gene come a number of original molds, dies and technical drawings which will enable James to manufacture new injection-molded, rubber molded and metal die parts to add to his current Pinball Inc. range. Gene, meanwhile, will continue with his reproduction parts business, making cabinet art, playfields, plastic sets, backglasses and translites. Parts relating to these areas of the business have not been sold and will continue to be offered by Illinois Pinball. Back to the News page Back to the front page _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1f252ebe-eb71-4cc6-ba0c-fd302d650e54*