# Bright Idea

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2003-10-23  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/pinled.html

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## Analysis

PinLED, a German company, has developed LED replacement displays for older solid-state pinball machines that use high-voltage gas plasma displays. These LED versions address the growing availability problem of original displays, operate safely on 5V power, support all original display features, and can be installed by users with modest technical skills in approximately ten minutes.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] High-voltage gas plasma displays in older solid-state pinball games are prone to failure and increasingly unavailable as manufacturers have ceased production — _Article states manufacturers ceased production and availability is a main problem that will worsen; affects home users and route operators_
- [HIGH] PinLED has produced nine different LED display models compatible with Williams System 11, WPC, and Data East games in 7-digit and 16-digit varieties — _Article explicitly lists PinLED's product range and compatibility_
- [HIGH] PinLED's LED displays operate on 5V power supply instead of high voltage, eliminating the need for high-voltage circuits — _Article details technical advantage: 'surface mount LEDs they run from a 5V supply and don't need the high voltages'_
- [MEDIUM] LED displays can be installed by users with modest technical abilities in approximately ten minutes — _Article quotes PinLED's belief that installation is feasible for non-specialists; estimates 'about ten minutes' for installation_
- [HIGH] PinLED offers a five-year warranty and believes displays should last indefinitely — _Article attributes warranty claim to Jurgen Jakobi, PinLED representative_

### Notable Quotes

> "These games were not designed to still be functioning today, and so these problems fall mainly on the home user, though many games using these displays are still on routes around the world."
> — **Pinball News author**, October 23, 2003
> _Establishes the dual market impact (home collectors and commercial operators) of display obsolescence_

> "The answer is 'absolutely yes'. Possibly even better because they will keep looking bright and crisp throughout their life."
> — **Pinball News author**, October 23, 2003
> _Directly answers whether LEDs can match original displays; suggests potential aesthetic superiority_

> "So even if your high voltage supply has failed you can still just plug in these LED replacements and you're up and running as there is a 5V supply in the original cable."
> — **Pinball News author**, October 23, 2003
> _Highlights key practical advantage: LED replacements work even with failed high-voltage systems_

> "Not only do they look fantastic, they also support all the scrolling, dimming, flashing and fading of the originals."
> — **Pinball News author**, October 23, 2003
> _Confirms feature parity with original displays, essential for preserving game functionality_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| PinLED | company | German company producing LED replacement displays for classic pinball machines; founded/operating by 2003 |
| Jurgen Jakobi | person | Representative of PinLED; provided warranty information to Pinball News |
| Marco Specialities | company | North American distributor for PinLED LED display replacements as of October 2003 |
| Williams System 11 | product | Pinball platform using high-voltage displays; compatible with PinLED replacements |
| Williams WPC | product | Pinball platform using high-voltage displays; compatible with PinLED replacements |
| Data East | company | Pinball manufacturer; produced games with displays compatible with PinLED replacements |
| Pinball News | organization | Independent pinball media outlet; published this product review/announcement on October 23, 2003 |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Display technology obsolescence and retrofit solutions, Aftermarket parts and machine restoration, High-voltage vs. low-voltage display systems
- **Secondary:** Home collector vs. commercial operator needs, Williams and Data East machine preservation

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Article is enthusiastic about PinLED's solution to a known industry problem; frames product as solving a critical need with multiple advantages. Tone is celebratory without being hyperbolic. Minor note of caution about 128x32 display limitations does not significantly detract from overall positive assessment.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** European company (Germany-based PinLED) entering North American market through distributor partnership (Marco Specialities) (confidence: high) — Article notes products available 'either direct from PinLED or in the North America from Marco Specialities'
- **[market_signal]** Growing market for aftermarket display replacements driven by manufacturer cessation of original display production (confidence: high) — Article identifies display unavailability as 'the one big issue if you own an older solid state pinball game' and notes this problem 'will only get worse in the future'
- **[announcement]** PinLED officially announcing LED display products through Pinball News media coverage (confidence: high) — Structured product announcement with technical specifications, compatibility details, warranty information, and distribution channels
- **[technology_signal]** PinLED introduces LED-based display replacement technology for high-voltage plasma displays in classic pinball machines, representing a significant shift in restoration and preservation methods (confidence: high) — Article documents transition from high-voltage gas plasma to low-voltage surface-mount LED technology with superior longevity and availability

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## Transcript

Story
dated
October 23, 2003

It's
the one big issue if you own an older solid state pinball game. Displays.

Once
manufacturers started using microprocessors to control the games,
they used high voltage gas plasma displays to show scores, ball number
and credits remaining.

These
displays are prone to failure as are the high voltage circuits required
to drive them. But the main problem now - and something that will
only get worse in the future - is availability. These games were not
designed to still be functioning today, and so these problems fall
mainly on the home user, though many games using these displays are
still on routes around the world.

So
what do you do when manufacturers cease production and you need a
new display?

Well,
one German company has come up with a solution - PinLED.
They have produced LED versions of these displays designed specifically
for pinball use.

But
can LEDs ever look like the original displays?

The
answer is "absolutely yes". Possibly even better because
they will keep looking bright and crisp throughout their life.

PinLED
have made nine different models to replace the displays in Williams
system 11, WPC and Data East games, so they come in 7-digit
and 16 digit varieties, with single or dual line versions available
too.

But
the big deal about these displays is because they are surface
mount LEDs they run from a 5V supply and don't need the high
voltages. So even if your high voltage supply has failed you
can still just plug in these LED replacements and you're up
and running as there is a 5V supply in the original cable.

PinLED
suggest you disconnect the high voltage supply to avoid the
possibility of shocks or fire but you can leave it working if
you want. Either way, it is not needed with these displays.

Not only do they look fantastic,
they also support all the scrolling, dimming, flashing and fading
of the originals. The company believes that anyone with modest technical
abilities should be able to fit one in ten minutes.

We mentioned the lifetime
of the displays. PinLED's Jurgen Jakobi says the company offers a
five year warranty but they should last indefinitely.

Most of these displays
are available right now, either direct
from PinLED or in the North America from Marco
Specialities.

That's what's available
now, but in the future they will also be producing LED versions of
the 128x16 dot matrix displays used in some Data East games and no
longer produced.

They have a 128x32 LED
display but it is uneconomic when compared to the currently available
high voltage versions. Also, it shows a noticeable grid pattern which
is being addressed.

But for anyone with a game
using 7 or 16 character displays, you now have any excuse for that
missing digit or a dim display.

Back
to the news index

Back
to the front page

©
Pinball News 2003

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: ff23b135-d0a8-42b8-9231-1f15c5e4d209*