Pinball spacing

[pinball god]

Unsure if this has ever been covered and I understand there is no right answer but what was the generally accepted spacing between pinballs in arcades/parlors.

I think this may help people to design their games room and work out what space is available for future additions. It would be great to ensure enough space to avoid grazing knuckles between players etc and also to maximize game room space utilization.

[swinks]

Hi there

It does come down to personal preference, space available, the look and feel that you are after and machine maintenance and I am sure other things that I may not have thought of.

So I did a quick few drawings (with a room measuring 4.3m x 2.8m with dimensions of the pinballs based on a CFTBL and a WW) to help explain some options, but personally my thoughts in relation to the drawings are:
I like to keep a 100mm off the walls so when you need to lift / move there is no risk of damage and the legs extend past the back of the machine also.
I like to have enough room to slide the glass out the front (shape represented in blue) allowing easier maintenance for globe changes etc without moving other machines.
I like to have enough room to remove a machine without moving other machines. (option 2 and 3 are better for this as option 3 is a little more of a juggle).
I have at least 100mm between machines to allow a little easier access for maintenance and also good if you have a few people around a machine watching, as there is enough room for a person either side to watch.

In the end if you have more machines you can get more in but it gets tighter to move around, and no this is not my place but purely just food for thought and a picture is equal to alot of words.

Hope it helps you.

Below is option 1, 2 and 3

[Boots]

If you have older Gottliebs (SYS1, SYS80) then you need to allow enough room for the headbox door to open, other machines you only need room for the key to go in the side of the head.

[mildflame]

I tryed option 2 for a while but it didn't work out too well... Because if someone was playing the machine to the side of you their or your hand would be near or in the way of the hip Also If the machines are too angled then you can see the back of the machine and that can be a turn off
I ended up doing somthin like option 3 and also did back to back against a wall. (Refer to My Lounge Room Update by Studley 67 In Room SLEEPOUT  )

[Strangeways]

What "was" the generally accepted spacing.. Got a shoehorn ?

In the old days, you FOUND space for more games. Their headboxes were touching. Machines were onsite to earn money - the more the better. That's the big arguement as to why videos killed the pinball scene - you could fit more upright cabinets in a location.