# My Grandfather - Norm Clark **Source:** r/pinball **Type:** forum_thread **Published:** 2026-02-16 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/pinball/comments/1r5o2l7/my_grandfather_norm_clark/ --- ## Analysis A Reddit user announces they acquired a 1972 Williams Spanish Eyes pinball machine designed by their grandfather, Norm Clark, a legendary pinball designer who worked at Williams (mid-60s to mid-70s) and later served as VP of Pinball at Bally (until mid-80s). The post expresses pride in the family connection and invites community members to share favorite Norm Clark games and stories. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Norm Clark designed Spanish Eyes (1972, Williams) — _Post states: 'Got a new pin, 1972's Williams Spanish Eyes, designed by my grandfather, Norm Clark.'_ - [HIGH] Norm Clark worked at Williams from mid-1960s to mid-1970s as a designer — _Post states: 'He was a designer at Williams from the mid 60s to mid 70s'_ - [HIGH] Norm Clark was VP of Pinball at Bally from mid-1970s until mid-1980s — _Post states: 'then VP of Pinball at Bally until the mid 80s'_ - [MEDIUM] Norm Clark's significance in the pinball industry became clear after Michael Shaloub's Pinball Compendium featured an interview with him — _Post states: 'it want until he was interviewed for a write up in Michael Shaloub's Pinball Compendium that we realized he was as big a name in the industry as he was.'_ - [HIGH] A photograph exists in the Pinball Compendium showing Norm Clark standing next to Spanish Eyes — _Post states: 'I went back to that book and found a photo of him standing next to the game I just brought home.'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Got a new pin, 1972's Williams Spanish Eyes, designed by my grandfather, Norm Clark." > — **/u/Prenders17** > _Direct announcement of acquisition and family relationship to legendary designer._ > "He was a designer at Williams from the mid 60s to mid 70s, then VP of Pinball at Bally until the mid 80s." > — **/u/Prenders17** > _Career timeline of Norm Clark spanning two major manufacturers across critical era of pinball design._ > "I've started collecting his games over the years." > — **/u/Prenders17** > _Indicates systematic collection of Norm Clark-designed machines as a personal project._ > "it want until he was interviewed for a write up in Michael Shaloub's Pinball Compendium that we realized he was as big a name in the industry as he was." > — **/u/Prenders17** > _Reflects how Norm Clark's historical significance to the industry was rediscovered through modern documentation and interviews._ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Norm Clark | person | Legendary pinball designer who worked at Williams (mid-1960s to mid-1970s, designed 65+ games) and Bally (VP of Pinball division, mid-1970s to mid-1980s). Recognized as one of the foundational designers of the pinball industry. | | Spanish Eyes | game | 1972 Williams pinball machine designed by Norm Clark; machine acquired by /u/Prenders17 in 2024. | | Williams | company | Major pinball manufacturer where Norm Clark worked as designer from mid-1960s to mid-1970s. | | Bally | company | Pinball manufacturer where Norm Clark served as VP of Pinball division from mid-1970s to mid-1980s. | | Michael Shaloub | person | Author of Pinball Compendium, which featured interview with Norm Clark documenting his industry significance. | | Pinball Compendium | product | Book by Michael Shaloub featuring interview and photograph of Norm Clark standing next to Spanish Eyes. | | /u/Prenders17 | person | Reddit user and grandchild of Norm Clark; pinball collector focusing on games designed by their grandfather. | ### Topics - **Primary:** Norm Clark's career and legacy, Pinball industry history and foundational designers - **Secondary:** Collecting classic pinball machines, Documentation and historical preservation of pinball industry - **Mentioned:** Spanish Eyes (1972 Williams machine) ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Post expresses genuine pride in family connection to pinball history, nostalgia about grandfather's work, and enthusiasm for collecting his designs. Inviting community engagement suggests openness and celebration of shared passion. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Family member of legendary designer reaching out to community to share stories and celebrate Norm Clark's legacy through machine collecting. (confidence: high) — Post directly invites community: 'if you have a favorite Norm Clark game or story to tell, let me hear it!' - **[market_signal]** Renewed interest in documenting and celebrating foundational figures in pinball design history through interviews, books, and community engagement. (confidence: high) — Reference to Michael Shaloub's Pinball Compendium as catalyst for recognizing Norm Clark's historical significance; user actively collecting his machines. --- ## Transcript Got a new pin, 1972’s Williams Spanish Eyes, designed by my grandfather, Norm Clark. He was a designer at Williams from the mid 60s to mid 70s, then VP of Pinball at Bally until the mid 80s. I grew up knowing he designed pinball machines and thought it was really cool, but it want until he was interviewed for a write up in Michael Shaloub’s Pinball Compendium that we realized he was as big a name in the industry as he was. I’ve started collecting his games over the years. Anyway, I went back to that book and found a photo of him standing next to the game I just brought home. Anyhow, if you have a favorite Norm Clark game or story to tell, let me hear it! submitted by /u/Prenders17 [link] [comments] _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: aa636f9e-70fb-4edf-8111-146d45dd8b55*