Wayne Neyens
 Wayne Neyens | |
| Wayne Neyens | |
|---|---|
| Retired | |
| Games Worked On Over 175 |
Wayne Neyens designed over 175 pinball machines for D. Gottlieb & Co. in the 1950s and 60s, designing over 15 games in some years. Some of his more recognized games include "Gigi," "Slick Chick," "Queen of Diamonds," "Buckaroo," and the "Flipper" series of add-a-ball games.
Mr. Neyens was born in Mason City, IA July 29, 1918. He graduated from Crane Technical High School in Chicago, Illinois. He started in the coin-op industry in 1936 as a draftsman for Western Equipment & Supply Co., working on baseball games. He quit Western and started at Gottlieb in 1939 as a playboard tester. Mr. Neyens later transferred to engineering where he worked with Harry Mabs.
Mr. Neyens was promoted to Chief Engineer in 1963 and then to Director of Engineering and Product Development in 1971. He was later promoted to Vice President of Engineering. Mr. Neyens worked in a consulting role from 1980 until his retirement from Gottlieb in 1983.
Mr. Neyens is responsible for many pinball innovations. He perfected the design of the add-a-ball concept based on an idea by Alvin Gottlieb. The intent was to allow games to be sold in Texas where free replay games were outlawed. He holds the following two patents: Patent #2,487,979, "Electric Switching Device," 1948. (Editor note: This is the pop bumper spoon switch) Patent #3,675,927, "Two Player Pinball Machine," 1972. (Editor note: This is Challenger, an unsuccessful attempt at a two-player head-to-head pinball machine)
In his interview with TopCast (at 48 minutes), Mr. Neyens explains how he sent a metered game out on location to measure the percentage of games that were two to four player games. There were not many two player games started and a "very low percentage" of four player games.
Wayne lived to be 104, but passed away July 30, 2022.
References
- Shalhoub, Michael, "The Pinball Compendium 1982 to Present", 2nd Edition, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen Penn. USA, 2012, pp 30-31.
- TOPcast Show 30, Clay Harrell interview with Wayne Neyens, April 25, 2007. [1].
- "Pinball Passion, A Pinball Story Told by Pinball People", DVD, Playfield Productions, 2008.
- "TILT! The Quarterly Newsletter of the National Pinball Museum," 2010 Special Edition, [2]
- "Pacific Pinball Museum - Vintage Pinball History Newsletter," [3]
- Wayne Neyens game list: [4]