When did the term "Pinball Tables" supplant "Pinball Machines"

[sfchris]

Older dude, but first time poster here... I used to participate in many Usenet pinball discussions in the 80s and early 90s. Back then, on usenet and in person I never once heard people say "Pinball Tables". It was always "Pinball machines".

I am sure a few pockets of people in the industry may have used that term but it was not widespread or at least I never heard it.

There seems to be a bit of a resurgence of pinball occurring now and I am finding machines turn up all over the place in bars again, so I have been having a blast lately. Talking to the early 20 kids playing them was a little weird at first because they all kept saying "pinball tables". So I decided to google the term... didn't find much, but I did find this site.

Being interested in linguistics, I thought I would ask you guys what year approximately this term took over, and also I am curious what has caused pinball's resurgence. I am not complaining, I love a good pinball game with my beer and now I can play again!

 

[Jeff Strong]

This is something I've thought about recently as well. It's always been "pinball machines" for me too. The only time I use the term "tables" is for video game pinball. I think most people who only use the word "tables" for real pinball machines seem to be the guys who started out playing video game pinball, or have spent the majority of their time playing such.

All the major pinball sites call them pinball machines (IPDB, Pinside, Pinball News, etc.).

Calling a real machine a "table" just never sounds right to me.

 

[Heretic]

Welcome bud,

Very nice first post

The term i csnt say tables for me isa digital term, but machine is the mire masculine real life beast, i dunno ffs

As for the resurgence its a combo of stale big budget games and the cheap effective viseral and satisfying games that tpa provides is much better than cod10

Sorry for my spelling amd grammar since its a lanuage focused question

Welcome again

 

[Timelord]

We called them tables as far back as the 60's in Chicago, machine is also acceptable. I believe if you check table was an older term left over from before they actually had legs and stood alone. Some terms come in and out of fashion.

From Pinball wizzrd (The Who) "Even at my favorite table, he can beat my best"
Again later in the song " I though I was the Bally table king, but I just handed my pinball crown to him".

YMMV, however.

Timelord ....

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

Welcome Chris!

I use the two terms more or less interchangeably, but I usually consider "machine" to mean only the physical object, whereas "table" covers both the physical machine and virtual forms like TPA.

 

[Heretic]

The voice of willie hartnel

Good to know timelord

 

[Jeff Strong]

We called them tables as far back as the 60's in Chicago, machine is also acceptable. I believe if you check table was an older term left over from before they actually had legs and stood alone. Some terms come in and out of fashion.

YMMV, however.

Timelord ....

Not only is machine also acceptable, it's way more common out in the wild. If you were to show the average Joe on the street a pinball picture and asked him what he calls it, I'd be willing to bet he'd say "pinball machine" 9 times out of 10.

I usually only hear people use the word "table" on video game sites, such as this one and VP, but it's probably going to become more common now that pinball video games are getting more popular and bringing more people into the pinball scene.

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

"Table" might have come in use from other devices commonly found near pinball machines, namely pool tables, foosball tables, air hockey tables, etc.

 

[Timelord]

Not only is machine also acceptable, it's way more common out in the wild. If you showed the average Joe on the street a pinball picture and asked him what he calls it, I'd be willing to bet he'd say "pinball machine" 9 times out of 10.

I usually only hear people use the word "table" on video game sites, such as this one and VP.

Totally agree Jeff.
Much more common, especially now.
It was an older term that fell out of use.

Timelord ...

 

[SpiffyRob]

I saw "table" all the time, but I never say "pinball table."

I pretty much only say "pinball machine" when it would not otherwise be clear what I mean by "table."

 

[Timelord]

I saw "table" all the time, but I never say "pinball table."

I pretty much only say "pinball machine" when it would not otherwise be clear what I mean by "table."

Correct syntax SpiffyRob !

e.g. Scared Stiff is my favorite table, it is a great pinball machine.

Timelord ...

 

[Kolchak357]

"Table" might have come in use from other devices commonly found near pinball machines, namely pool tables, foosball tables, air hockey tables, etc.

This was always my thought as well.
We used both terms when I was a kid in the late 70's/early 80's.
I also grew up in a small coal town where many people called green bell peppers mangos. Yes, my Mom still calls them mangos. So don't go by me.

 

[Heretic]

Brll peppers make me ill

 

[Timelord]

This was always my thought as well.
We used both terms when I was a kid in the late 70's/early 80's.
I also grew up in a small coal town where many people called green bell peppers mangos. Yes, my Mom still calls them mangos. So don't go by me.

Please don't think that I will profess a "right or wrong" attitude. I just enjoy etymology as a hobby; and as I was in the industry as a professional, pinball in particular holds a particular interest for me.

The term table is left over from when pinball evolved from the bagatelle tables. Furthermore, the intermediate use of table was more of a description of a "model" or particular design as manufactured; or even as an individual machine as opposed to other of the same model or pinball machines in general.

The beauty of the English language is that it is a "living language" so that all the variances of syntax and usage are equally correct, particularly in relationship to geographic locations or equally in terms of "banter".

I believe pinball machine was always more common than table in 99% of the English speaking population, as Jeff has already stated.

Timelord ...

 

[smbhax]

Google says:

"pinball machine": 2,840,000 results
"pinball table": 231,000 results

I agree with Rob's point about "table" being used without "pinball" on the front. : )

 

[k88dad]

Getting back to the question of pinball's resurgence, we have to give credit to inexpensive pinball apps. People who have invested a buck or five in a pinball app are going to be more likely to try out the real deal. A lull in non-pinball computer/console gaming is also a factor.

Table has never sounded odd to my ears, due almost certainly to The Who's 1969 hit. Now, if we could just get something else—anything else—for TPA's menu soundbite.

 

[Matt McIrvin]

I think "table" is more of a pinball-fan term. "Pinball machine" is the general public's preferred phrase.

 

[brakel]

My brother and I stepping into a new arcade in the early 80's while traveling with my parents:

My brother to arcade dude: "Do you have any pinball machines?"
Arcade dude: "Ya, we have three tables in the back. Turn right after you get to Defender and look for the emergency exit sign."

I guess that's similar to how others remember the usage.

 

[Jeff Strong]

I grew up in the 80’s arcades and never heard anyone call them tables back then (it wasn't until I started playing video game pinball that I really remember hearing it). Maybe it depends on where you're from.

 

[DrainoBraino]

I think of it as the "machine" is the entire thing. A machine has to be the real thing, it's the whole package. The "table" is part of the machine. Both can be used interchangeably when talking about the real thing, though.

As far as video/virtual pinball, it's always "table" for me. Video pinball is not a pinball machine, it's a table.