Inside China's Only Pinball Machine Factory

[@lal12]

"I'm firmly of the belief that you should be able to repair your own machine" (1:30). ♥️ If just more people would think like that.

[@pileofstuff]

He's a former repairman, so it does make sense. I agree that more stuff should be built with repairability in mind.

[@Albert-wk8ts]

It should be illegal to produce things that are unrepairable. It is such a waste to throw out a whole computer, TV or other machine because of one failed, but crucial component. If we could do it back in the days, we surely can manage to do it today! :-)

[@daddy4kawaii853]

I think that was a stab at Stern lol either way I agree with that statement

[@DAndyLord]

@@Albert-wk8ts Some things make more sense to have a limited lifespan. If a device is made with conservation and recyclability in mind, longevity might not be the best environmental choice. It's easy to make an incandescent lightbulb last a hundred years. But it's far less energy efficient than a lightbulb that dies after a year or two. I'd really prefer more things are made with conservation in mind.

[@Fennecbutt]

@@Albert-wk8ts So what you're saying is that you want your mobile phone to be the size of a fridge?

[@blhack123]

Ahhh, something about the bottom side of that playfield, with all of the silkscreening on it is just *beautiful* to me. Like that is clearly meant for human beings to fix and touch. I absolutely LOVE when I take things apart and see stuff like that. I always try to include little details like that in my projects.

[@SwedishEmpire1700]

Silkscreen is shit to fix though when it wears down., then you'll need to buy a whole new silkscreen sticker

[@izac112]

Love seeing insides of these factories, Thank you for showing us.

[@bilalis29]

Next video "How i made my own pinball machine"

[@LukePettit3dArtist]

With an audio plug lol

[@jackoscar11]

in china

[@leaoaugusto]

with 128gb flash memory

[@johnsimon8457]

Doable with 3D printing but that’s months of effort even with experience

[@leaoaugusto]

with rfid tags

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

"They're all made with thru hole parts", "I'm firmly of the belief that you should be able to repair your own machine". You sir, are awesome!

[@NeverGotFamous]

SO happy you stopped by Homepin, I'm really rooting for these guys - the Thunderbirds machine is not only a dream theme, but I really dig the design choices they made with the playfield. So much nutritious info - great vid, man....

[@joe_g_]

But we all know that only interstellar pinball lasts forever...

[@NeverGotFamous]

GASP.!

[@hifiisking]

happy to see you here 👍🏻

[@NeverGotFamous]

@@hifiisking Thanks! I was lured by the siren song of Thunderbirds pinball....

[@MakersMuse]

This is one of my favorite episodes yet - possibly biased because Aussies but man, even in our currency that machine is incredibly good value considering the amount of effort that goes into its construction. Added to the wish list...

[@gusworkman4592]

Wow those machines are so neat! Lots of blinking lights. Makes me think, could you do a drone factory tour?? @DJI

[@StrangeParts]

DJI is notoriously secretive about their factories, but I think I can probably hook up a different factory...

[@gusworkman4592]

@@StrangeParts That would make sense to protect trade secrets, but yes some other company would be super cool! Keep up the great content!

[@talon4x4]

Any drone factory tour would be awesome

[@wobblysauce]

Modern machines are great, some like the old style but working on the,m is hit and miss with the way they did things.

[@Makenitso]

they (dji) sure are

[@brendanfarthing]

Hell yeah! Go the Aussies! That was a GREAT video! Sad that we cannot make and sell the machines from Australia and use local talent, but I fully understand why he is there. And totally awesome that he is keeping the pinball movement going. So interesting to see what his factory is made of and how the machines are made. Love it!

[@diddi1641]

Hoped he was offering the machines online..but you habe to call someone :/

[@pr0xZen]

This is what a lot of people misunderstand about *some* production done in China (or maybe, more that their information is outdated): Its much less about the labor costs, but so much about the supply chain. When most of the off-the-shelf, semi- and full custom parts that go into your product, is almost entirely produced on the other side of the planet, the supply chain gets incredibly expensive. For those who care, its not exactly a environmentally sound strategy either - transporting all your components in 50 go's halfway across the planet, instead of shipping only the finished product. Make no mistake about it, there is still a lot of (ab)use of cheap labor, especially for work that require little training - but its not the overwhelming factor it was years ago.

[@xw6968]

make no mistake.... We didnt , and i found that part of the story in no need as we all know it is still cheaper and the laws are still no good, specially in the South of China.

[@wobblysauce]

The prototyping is big, going from concept to reality is tiny vs if you had to ship things around.

[@robotparadise]

Foxconn still have suicides.

[@pcklubas]

maybe the whole supply chain is so good, because of that cheap labor? it's still comes down to cheap labor.

[@222222225574]

r0xZen Will you marry me and move to China together？

[@dulldusk]

I love Pinball Machines, this guy workshop is a dream come true. =D

[@dulldusk]

I was going to buy an Elvira machine years ago, to repair on my own. I have the complete manual printed out, with every part and circuit diagram. I would like to see them create their own version of it.

[@parkerbohnn]

@@dulldusk I played the first ball on "Scared Stiff" for 6 hours and 47 minutes with no extra balls at a true 6 and a half degree angle. Some machines are too easy. Look up the name Tommy Tutalidge that's me 6 time world pinball champion and still at age 60 the fastest player alive.

[@XSpImmaLion]

Awesome content, you have an irreplaceable eye for these things Scotty! There is a very important thing that I keep repeating in comments that was well explained in this video... the myth about production happening in China only because of labor costs. This might have been enough justification 20 years ago or so, but it simply isn't anymore, and too many people cannot or will not understand this. Most recent example I remember is the rare earth minerals mine in US and how they were simply harvesting stuff and shipping it to China for processing, and how this mine is put at risk with recent trade wars. A lot of people don't seen to understand that this isn't done just because processing in China is cheaper, it's mostly because China has developed tons of technology around this process, has all the specialized labor, and the infrastructure to support it that countries like the US just cannot compete even if it had even cheaper labor in comparison to China. The mentality of a whole ton of people in western countries seems to be stuck in 80s China or something. Things have dramatically changed over these past decades, and people are not following it. Anyways, thanks for yet another fantastic video Scotty! It's been an eye opening and very fun journey so far. o/

[@BerudPL]

as a pinball geek and Strange Parts subscriber i'm double happy! thanks a lot Scotty!

[@timrb]

Geez this is a treat. Strange parts AND pinball! I've loved pinball since I was a kid, my dad has always had this old 1977 Gottlieb Mustang in the shed since before I was born.

[@vaporm0nkey92]

Yet another QUALITY video! I have watched every video since the first, and they are always a highlight of my week when released. Thank you again for the fantastic, original content.

[@KingBobCat]

A very, very interesting video... Both from a manufacturing standpoint as well as a Pinball standpoint! Thanks for posting! 👍

[@mahound9]

Oh wow! This is actually what I used to do working for my grandfather and my uncle. He founded a company called Dale Distributing in Canada that later shut down and they then just ran the machines in consignment routes around BC and Ontario. As a kid my dad and uncle taught me how to maintain and refurbish the machines as we worked the routes until, one day my dad quit and it was now my job to keep the machines running in the arcade in our shop. Where I first learned electronics engineering. So many memories. Thanks Scott!

[@TodayGarage]

That was really awesome. I did not expect to be so stoked on a pinball video. That back and forth at 3:37 was super interesting.

[@Bolt6265]

Not that i mind the sponsorship stuff really but you should work on your ad transitions like it was kinda jarring to go immediately from the guy talking into an ad in a completely different locale with no segue or anything ykno.

[@evertchin]

still... magnitude better than linus.

[@SpeedyDrawMcGraw]

At least linus's are at the end usually. @@evertchin

[@mousiekebabs]

And the start, and half way through... with added product placements throughout... all after KZbin's own adverts...

[@Dgc2003]

Yea that caught me off guard. It was just jump cut jammed right in there.

[@ribhumukherjee8029]

I recently discovered your channel Scotty and saw a bunch of your videos (I think almost all of them) and I sub'd too. Have to say that I really enjoy your content, from the story telling perspective, even though the technicalities often go above my head and congratulations on 1 million; loved your last heartfelt 'thank you' video as well. There are parts in your video (and even in some videos before) where you're explaining the business strategies, like China is no more about getting cheap labour but about tooling and agglomeration et cetera. Would be great if you could, at your own pace, do just a normal podcast/video just explaining the business aspects of technology - I think that would be a very interesting component of how you want to 'story-tell' around technology . Would really like to hear given that you've widely traveled from the source of the parts (usually often in China) right up to the final product or HQ of a company (which is often in the Bay Area). P.S. Glad to see you came to my hometown in Calcutta for some of your Strange Parts work (the manhole cover video); would be happy to show you around, if I am in the city, if you ever decide to come this way again.

[@ChozoLabs]

Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to build a pinball machine in my spare time, and this video is really kicking that feeling in to high gear! Thanks for the awesome factory tour!

[@InnoRative]

Same here this is one of the favorite video on StrangeParts 😍

[@williamhart4896]

Thanks Scotty miss pinball machines in local arcades and pubs thanks for that shop tour

[@JP_Stone]

Very cool, never would have guessed there was only one Pinball factory in China.

[@mxskelly]

This is kinda cool. It actually reminds me of a place I used to work! I worked at a place here in Wisconsin where we made games for places like Chuck E Cheese and Dave & Busters and stuff. Lots of very similar things! We made our own cabinets, stuffed boards with through hole parts by hand and everything. I worked in the electronics area and it looked SUPER SIMILAR to here, kinda crazy!

[@Tranceinyapantz]

Is Homepin still going? I've played the Thunderbirds table and can't say I was too impressed. I've not seen or heard of any further releases.

[@Vermilicious]

I wouldn't mind working in a place like that. Pinball machines have always fascinated me. Much respect for the hard working staff, and a charismatic boss.

[@jocax188723]

As a thunderbirds fan this seriously pushes all my buttons. Great video, Scotty!

[@miraclo3]

1:25 most beautiful thing any electronic manufacturers could ever say. Ever.

[@charliebrown8596]

Awsome to see him keeping pinball alive, i wish i could afford a home machine and support theese guys!

[@Maxprofits101]

"I am firmly of the belief that you should be able to repair your own machine'- give this man medal! Replacing surface mount components is beyond the skill and equipment of almost everyone. Well done mate! My opinion of you and your product has skyrocketed.

[@ArtemisKitty]

Thanks so much for this! I've been waiting excitedly since I heard you say "pinball factory" :-D I used to repair old-school arcade cabinets and pinball machines, and to this day wish I could personally own a few of those old Williams or Bally machines I worked on... Ooh, or the old Stern Simpsons one. so much fun. That or someday maybe the official Star Wars pinball table with the digital throttle ball-launcher instead of a plunger... Ahh dreams. One of the best parts of repairing them, though, is that you have to FULLY test out the machine afterwards before you return it to the client. :-) These new tables are SO much more complex than I would have expected! It's crazy how they've progressed. That ball-drop issue when you lift the deck? SERIOUS issue. Older Bally machines (particularly from the '70s/early '80s) were notorious for it. And if they hit the plastic? Well... I was repairing near to actual antiques, so I can't speak as far as their strength when new, but... yeah. They would crack. And there's another week delay and a $20-30 part I'd have to replace... I love that they based it off that Williams table, too. That's a solid machine. :-)

[@TYNEPUNK]

I met this bloke proper aussie, legend in every sense and knows exactly what he is talking about. Electrical engineer and drinker.

[@NFMorley]

Awesome and interesting video - always loved pinball machines and the engineering that goes into all the little details!

[@CyberPirate2008]

This is pretty cool, My brother had 3 pinball machines and my favourite was The Lost World.

[@CNC-Time-Lapse]

Scotty, I hope someone like Netflix or Amazon or a major TV network comes a long and asks you to do a series for them. Lets throw some money your way. Great episode! Love these!

[@WickedGamerCollector]

That they still make new pinball machines I think this is really great. Seeing how you make these pinball machines really fun and cool idea. Thanks for sharing this with me :D

[@IrregularShed]

Fascinating stuff - thank you Scotty from Strange Parts!

[@travi5885]

No way! Mike used to be a customer of mine back in Cairns. I've been following his progress for years! So cool to see the factory and all his handwork.

[@robthesamplist]

Cool, what do you sell? I feel you would be a good video from strange parts...

[@GideonMiles888]

Great video, very interesting. The labour in the factory may not be cheap, but the labour within the supply chain will definitely be cheaper than the West.

[@geepersoilyrag1884]

Pinball Machine factory in Wales UK closed earlier this year, so this could be the only Pinball Machine factory outside America.

[@MageThief]

Really fun and interesting video Scotty.

[@marcelcevani5688]

i love the way these machines are designed :)

[@koukousnest]

Greetings from greece . an enjoyable video as always !

[@mauryginsberg7720]

I really like that they use through hole.

[@danielbull6709]

More factory videos, please! This was very interesting!

[@basaravia]

Can you please show us the robot industry, robotics manipulators and cncs?, your videos are incredible. greetings from Ecuador

[@johnzombi2854]

Best YT video I have watched in a long time, excellent channel..

[@TheHermitHacker]

I learned a lot in this video. Awesome stuff.

[@erikcharlat9844]

awesome content once again!

[@danoconnor618]

What a great video. Cheers for that.

[@johnc_]

Pretty please do more factory tours, things like solar panel manufacturers and other renewable energy things would be great

[@LRCohen1961]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[@QALibrary]

very interesting and good film - thank you all for your effort

[@deltakid0]

"It's in free play" I loved when I saw machines in that mode haha, I used to play The Getaway here in Colombia. Please Scott make a video about Memory LCD!!

[@parkerbohnn]

High Speed II always seemed like a better game to me.

[@Bunjamin27]

Would love more Strange Parts + Pinball! Imagine a wireless system. Scotty. ..Scottie? If anyone can do it, you can! :)

[@WickedGamerCollector]

I grew up with this pinball machines, now a days we have virtual that is cool. Only.. nothing beats the REAL deal... 😄

[@pubba26]

Good point about the supply flow in China and another big factor is the shipping infrastructure. I make puppets in Vietnam but send them to a fulfilment centre in China before shipping them to customers. It works out $15-20 cheaper for each delivery.

[@BotAwesome]

THANKS LAST PASS FOR SPONSORING HIM

[@fynbo1007]

Very cool and amazing factory tour. Thank you for sharing your amazing video. God bless you and your family

[@edzo29]

This is so cool. I love this sort of content.

[@Souchirouu]

This was cool, keep up the great work! I also like hearing that China might be moving away from being just cheap labor to a well educated and compensated workforce and instead using its short supply chain for everything to keep prices low.

[@spizzman8984]

They may have skilled laborers but that does not equate to educated and will compensate. China is still a communist country and the vast majority of the population is extremely poor and uneducated.

[@Souchirouu]

@@spizzman8984 But significantly less so than even 20 years ago. But don't get me wrong, there is still a lot wrong in China, but that shouldn't mean we shouldn't mention the good things when they do happen.

[@Fennecbutt]

@ A small team are designing those things, but the majority are each doing a simple task for their job, pressing a button or pulling a lever. It's the same in the Western world, too. Intelligence is a bell curve and we might need genetic engineering to change that.

[@308_Negra_Arroyo_Lane]

@@spizzman8984 China produces STEM graduates at a ratio of 8:1 compared to the USA, by 2030 it will be 15:1.

[@pawoon]

@@spizzman8984 99 percent literacy rate. More engineers than the US. A lot more.

[@DavidTravels]

Great video! Love your work 👍

[@thetruemorg]

Really a fantastic video thanks for posting it

[@glenngoodale1709]

Thanks for sharing another great video. wow , I would like to see more of pin ball factory

[@jctai100]

not a pinball guy (probably b/c i suck at it) but thoroughly enjoyed seeing the manufacturing process from concept to product

[@lunchboxbailey]

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO SCOTTY!!! Keep them coming!! Side note- I’m planning on going to San Francisco in January and would like to visit the Anarchist Hackerspace while there. Even if it’s nothing more than to make a contribution to the effort. Keep doing what you do man!!! Until the next one!!

[@stevebrule4742]

Been waiting for this :)

[@IchBinDerLikendHater]

This is fin awesome! Just read allot about pinball machines and how they work these days.

[@ShapeyFiend]

I love that these have a classic look, aside from the LED's which is understandable. Hand drawn art is so much prettier than the photoshopped poster look of a lot of Sterns recent stuff.

[@brmtmn]

Last Pass going crazy with the sponsorships

[@jadroppers]

Thank you for an other great video. Keep up the great work.

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

Good on ya Australian bloke, we do great things sometimes XD

[@Jako8557]

Great video, I enjoyed that. Maybe do a re-visit or update in the future. thanks

[@robertolongo]

Excellent video ! Congrats !!

[@neerajbunjun4099]

Good learning stuff! Never saw it this way.

[@ReeferReas]

Awesome! Good content

[@kawkchiang75]

you can visit some toy factory in LongGang Shenzhen ,its big and awesome

[@ebol08]

13:53 He's on a state of trance!

[@kingbane2]

so... that thunderbirds cabinet looks alot like team america world police hahahaha.

[@regfenster]

Team America was inspired by Thunderbirds and the whole host of Gerry Andersons 1960's puppet science fiction

[@jakinl]

Awesome! Keep it up

[@johnsimon8457]

Early 90’s pinball machines have even more chaotic wiring than anything modern Also that giant jig is something I’ve seen at pinball shows sometimes with 3D printed prototype parts like ramps and bumpers 😊

[@retrorewindllc9363]

Wait are the thunder birds like a 60s string doll show??? Ha that's Soo cool

[@SmokyFrosty]

This factory and how he works with the staff is almost exactly how me and my Father work with our Chinese Factory which is also in Dongguan!! These machines are absolutely incredible!! Would love to get to see this place myself and congratulate Mike on doing it everything RIGHT. Such a great thing to see, user serviceable parts, open to having cameras walking around, interacting with workers, and just generally breaking down those stereotypes people have about working in China. Great Video as always!

[@Mikere5]

Thanks for the positive comments. You and your Father are welcome to visit any time. We are about 40mins from the LoWu border crossing and just 1km from the DG border.

[@mikeledger2614]

He literally said a benefit was the cost of skilled labor...then he says is not a cheap labor thing...it’s a contradiction Even the host didn’t see it. Real slick. The CHEAP cost of skilled labor is what he meant to say.

[@michaeljordan6008]

Mike Ledger - You got ‘em Mike Wallace.

[@mikeledger2614]

​@@michaeljordan6008 Maybe he meant he is happy to pay more for skilled labor? Parts coming from factories within close proximity to his manufacturing plant makes sense. It also makes sense that a lot of manufacturers would start saying that more and more, as he said in the video. It's a great trend to divert attention away from the other....more cryptic and unexplained benefits....It's like, "hmm something is fishy here....", "oh no, I get my parts with less transport cost", "ohhh, that sounds okay", "Annnnd, *mumble* labor *mumble mumble*" "Wait, what?" "Look over here! Pinball!" "Oh cool!" Mike Wallace, 60 minutes, I'm still alive.

[@truenorth2615]

Great story, very interesting

[@Figureight]

Another fantastic vid as usual Scotty!

[@aegisofhonor]

interesting, a Thunderbirds pinball game. They are making new episodes of Thunderbirds based on old scripts written in the 60s.

[@chaddles623]

To be honest we needs to bring back manufacturing to the US. And we should do this in the Midwest, and have 24hr prototype manufacturing, like they do there in China, and be able to make all these prototype stuff over night for large & small scale manufacturing. Great video as usual, bro.

[@keesjanssen9299]

very informative, good video!

[@Miro080808]

What if they break into your last pass account with that one master password?

[@Miro080808]

So every time you use this system to log into any service you need token from that app?

[@mrhappy192]

The idea is that if you only have to remember 1 password, you can make it longer, more complex and harder to guess, and you wouldn't use that password anywhere else. Then, the only way they could break into your account is to hack lastpass, and in that case they're supposed to encrypt your password with the master password, so your passwords wouldn't be revealed to the attackers. This actually happened to lastpass before, and although attackers could read email addresses and other personal info, they couldn't access the stored passwords.

[@Miro080808]

Kinda scary if you hear that google had major leak in their database from google plus, and other services also had some issues. I still would not trust one company that you just heard on internet to entrust with your passwords and really important data. Maye in perfect world yea but not in this lifetime.

[@evertchin]

@@Miro080808 your concerns are completely valid but it is still the best method available. the risks are far greater when you are not using a password manager.

[@mrhappy192]

@@Miro080808 I agree. That's why the email account I use to sign up to all websites has a different, equally complex password that's not stored in my password manager. If the worst case scenario happens and all of my passwords are exposed, I can retain access to my email and reset the passwords on all of those accounts. And I only have to remember two passwords.

[@Jason-on4hg]

Cool video. I wish Homepin the best of luck, but Thunderbirds is kind of a dud compared to any modern table.

[@dakotamike]

Its a such a shame that its not really a very fun table by modern standards. I can tell that Mike, the owner/founder, put a lot of work into getting his factory going, but unfortunately playfield design and game-rules creation requires a very special talent. Even guys who've designed dozens of tables don't always get it right. And its really tough, because he's got so much time and money sunk into this venture. But sadly, Thunderbirds is one of the worst-reviewed modern tables on pinside. I can see why companies like Stern have teams of people, with decades of experience, designing and playtesting pins. Still, I wish Mike and homepin the best.

[@n057828]

Coming from an Aussie good on ya mate

[@davepowell1521]

Great content mate! Google pass is free on your phone anyway isn't it?

[@gubb5359]

I just watched your iPhone 7 headphone jack thing and just saw that you made a new video

[@DeadlySerpent]

I don't know if you could get a message to last pass or not but on the mobile app it would be really great to record new, and changed passwords when they are entered on apps and browsers

[@cy8646]

That is the coolest pinball machine I've ever seen!

[@ashvanbro9329]

I used to make the pcb boards for pinball machines and the wiring for electronics

[@float32]

A swedish, are all these wires and work cheaper than addressable leds?

[@Honeydwarf85]

You should ask if you can go to the Rapido factory!

[@matteldridge5581]

that was very cool stuff

[@Barca1010ch]

Really impressive video :)!