My First Pinball Machine: Stern Venom Pro

There’s something special about bringing home your first pinball machine. Mine was a Stern Venom Pro, purchased at Captain’s Auction Warehouse for $4,000.

I already loved arcade machines, but this was a new chapter: my own pinball machine, coming home with me. I was excited before I even got it set up.

Of course, buying a machine at auction also means finding out what needs attention. Fortunately, my introduction to pinball ownership came with a couple of manageable fixes.

One loose screw

The main problem was toward the back of the playfield. A screw had come out of a mechanism with a pin that drops down, allowing that piece to pop out of position.

That sounds more dramatic than the repair turned out to be.

I put the piece back where it belonged and reinstalled the screw. That was it—a straightforward fix, and a satisfying first repair on my first pinball machine.

It was a good reminder that a mechanical problem doesn’t always mean an expensive replacement. Sometimes you need to look closely and figure out what has worked loose.

A small bracket made another easy fix

There was also a ramp-related issue to address: a section where the ball travels down could pop out of place.

I got a bracket from Stern and installed it with a small amount of screw hardware. Another simple repair, without a major teardown.

For a first-time pinball owner, those were encouraging jobs. I got to learn a little about the machine and take care of it myself, without immediately getting buried in a complicated restoration.

Cleaning it up and making it mine

After sorting out the repairs, I gave the machine a thorough cleaning.

That part matters to me. Bringing home a used game is exciting, but cleaning it up gives you a chance to inspect it, get familiar with it, and start making it your own.

With Venom, the process was especially memorable because it was my first pinball machine. Every little improvement felt like progress toward getting it ready for its next chapter.

Getting ready for players

Now I’m excited to put Venom Pro into service soon.

Owning it at home has been the beginning. The next step is getting it out where people can play it, enjoy it, and make their own memories around it.

This machine will always be my first pinball purchase: the excitement of bringing it home, a loose screw, a small bracket, and a good cleanup.

A pretty great way to get started.

—Matt, Classic Coinworks