# Happy Birthday to George Jetson! A Look at the Rare Jetsons Pinball Machine **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-07-31 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/happy-birthday-to-george-jetson-a-look-at-the-rare-jetsons-pinball-machine --- ## Analysis A retrospective article celebrating George Jetson's fictional birthday (July 31, 2022) and highlighting the rare Jetsons pinball machine manufactured by Spooky Pinball in 2017. The game was a limited contract production for The Pinball Company with only ~100 units produced at $6,999-$7,499. The author encountered the machine at Helicon Brewing in Pittsburgh. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The Jetsons pinball machine was manufactured by Spooky Pinball in 2017 as a limited contract job for The Pinball Company — _Direct factual statement about manufacturer, year, and client_ - [HIGH] Only 100 or so Jetsons pinball machines were produced — _Specific production volume cited as approximate figure_ - [HIGH] Regular Edition priced at $6,999 and Special Edition at $7,499 — _Specific pricing provided for both tiers_ - [HIGH] Special Edition had approximately 25 units produced with purple powder coated armor and topper — _Details about Special Edition specifications and quantity_ - [HIGH] George Jetson would be 40 years old in 1962 (the show's air date), making 2022 his 100th birth year — _Mathematical calculation based on show air date and character age_ ### Notable Quotes > "I did come across one that was available for the public to play at the amazing Pittsburgh brewery / pinball venue Helicon Brewing on an arcade road trip to Pittsburgh in 2021." > — **Author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Personal anecdote documenting a rare sighting of the machine in a commercial location_ > "It's a pretty rare game, and even more rare to see on location." > — **Author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Establishes the rarity and collector value of the Jetsons machine_ > "If you're ever in the Pittsburgh area, it is a must visit!" > — **Author (Knapp Arcade)** > _Endorsement of Helicon Brewing as a destination pinball/arcade location_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Spooky Pinball | company | Manufacturer of the Jetsons pinball machine in 2017 | | The Pinball Company | company | Commissioned Spooky Pinball to produce the Jetsons machine as a limited contract job | | The Jetsons | game | Pinball machine based on the classic cartoon series; produced in limited quantities in 2017 | | George Jetson | person | Fictional character from The Jetsons cartoon; subject of birthday celebration on July 31, 2022 | | Helicon Brewing | organization | Pittsburgh-based brewery and pinball venue where author encountered the Jetsons machine in 2021 | | Pittsburgh | organization | Location of Helicon Brewing; pinball tourism destination | ### Topics - **Primary:** Rare and limited edition pinball machines, Spooky Pinball manufacturing, Licensed IP in pinball (The Jetsons) - **Secondary:** Pinball location venues and tourism, Limited contract manufacturing models ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Enthusiastic tone celebrating a rare machine and endorsing a pinball venue; nostalgic and appreciative of collector history ### Signals - **[licensing_signal]** The Jetsons represents a contract manufacturing arrangement for The Pinball Company by Spooky Pinball, indicating licensed IP from classic cartoon property (confidence: high) — Described as 'limited contract job for The Pinball Company' commissioned from Spooky Pinball - **[market_signal]** Extreme rarity of Jetsons machine in circulation; limited to ~100 units, making secondary market availability very constrained (confidence: high) — Author explicitly states 'It's a pretty rare game, and even more rare to see on location' and notes limited production of 100 units total - **[announcement]** Retrospective coverage of The Jetsons pinball machine as a limited production title from Spooky Pinball in 2017 (confidence: high) — Specific details about manufacturer, production volume, pricing, and release year provided --- ## Transcript The Internet is currently abuzz that today, July 31, 2022 may be the actual birthday for George Jetson, the fictional member of the cartoon family the Jetsons. Here's the theory behind the posts and articles. The Jetson's television show first aired on July 31st, 1962, but it was set one hundred years in the future, putting the date of the events in the cartoon at 2062. During the first season of the Jetsons, George was 40 years-old. So, 2062 minus 40 equals 2022. Did you know that there is actually a pinball machine based upon The Jetsons? It's a pretty rare game, and even more rare to see on location. I did come across one that was available for the public to play at the amazing Pittsburgh brewery / pinball venue Helicon Brewing on an arcade road trip to Pittsburgh in 2021. The Jetsons pinball machine was manufactured by Spooky Pinball back in 2017 as a limited contract job for The Pinball Company. Only 100 or so Jetsons ever ended up being produced at a price of $6,999 for the Regular Edition and $7,499 for the Special Edition (25 units or so) that came with purple powder coated armor and the topper. Happy Birthday, George Jetson? The internet thinks he was born on July 31, 2022 https://www.npr.org/2022/07/31/1114759037/happy-birthday-george-jetson Here’s several pictures of the Jetsons Pinball machine that I dug up from when I got a chance to play it at Helicon (https://heliconbrewing.com/ ). I don't believe that the game is on the floor there any more, but it is an absolutely amazing pinball location. If you're ever in the Pittsburgh area, it is a must visit! _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 5b63bc72-5651-4e0b-adce-f26f00741816*