by Vladimir Vega 👾
◆ I struggled for a while with how to start this nostalgic piece, before finally deciding to just let my first spontaneous memory of Mehanotehnika lead the way, a memory that takes me all the way back to Belgrade, Serbia and my first days of school, way back in 1989. In the late 1980s, kids who had no one to look after them and whose parents didn’t quite trust leaving the house in their hands, could spend their time before or after school in a kinda special classroom. In my case, this was a room equipped with desks and chairs, a bunch of books, and toys! And no, these weren’t toys from big-name brands like Mattel, Kenner, Lego, or Tomy. They were strictly made by Mehanotehnika, a huge factory based in the small town of Izola, Slovenia, and the absolute pride and joy of former Yugoslavia.
The company started out in 1952 making plastic and tin toys as well as construction sets. But between 1959 and 1990, Mehanotehnika spawned an amazingly wide range of products — everything from mini-pinball toys and electric model trains, to educational electronic sets, remote-controlled cars, walkie-talkies, and all sorts of other toys that defined childhoods all across Yugoslavia. Out of that chaotic sea of toys, the legendary Elektropionir instantly stole the show, and I poured countless hours into it. But my real, lifelong love affair with Mehanotehnika toys wouldn’t begin until a year later, when I finally came face-to-face with their iconic electric mini-pinball.
I vividly remember the summer of 1990, when my cousin walked into grandma’s house carrying some clear-plastic marvel, borrowed “just for a second” from some kid. It was none other than the He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe mini-pinball machine. Ah, the legendary Masters, an immensely popular action figure franchise among us kids back then, backed by an awesome cartoon, a sticker album, and those comic books that even made their way over to us, published by Politikin Zabavnik and translated into Serbian.
Oh yeah, my eyes lit up and a grin stretched from ear to ear. We popped in the batteries, and real magic began, one that lasted for hours as we couldn’t put that beautiful thing down. Mehanotehnika had managed to secure an official license straight from Mattel, which was a huge deal back then and a clear sign that this was a serious manufacturer, capable of delivering a high-quality product. Besides the Masters Of The Universe, they quickly secured the rights to use the names and imagery of other popular 1980s cartoon series such as Transformers, G.I. Joe, The Real Ghostbusters, Thundercats, M.A.S.K. and Centurions. This quickly brought massive success, followed by a not-so-modest price tag.
That was it, it was love at first sight. The feeling was so intense that I decided to build my own pinball machine, just like some other kids did back then. I scavenged a wooden board, some nails, rubber bands, clothespins, and marbles, and got straight to work, because waiting for my parents to buy me that thing would take forever. My little Frankenstein creation was, truth be told, only a partial success, but it delivered plenty of fun, complemented by regular visits to the local arcades. On the other hand, computer pinball simulators were another obsession I couldn’t escape. I spent hours on end playing David’s Midnight Magic and 3D Pinball on my beloved Commodore C64. Anyway, this gem from Mehanotehnika was a genuine, full-fledged mechanical mini pinball machine, measuring 51 x 26 centimeters. The playfield featured flippers and 9 bumpers connected to a mechanical score counter that clicked with every hit while flashing a red light. Pinball was powered by 4 large D-size batteries, was made of sturdy plastic, and came with 2 steel balls and stands.
The first pinball machine produced by Mehanotehnika was the “Star Mission” model from 1977, soon followed by “Grand Prix” which was based on Formula-1 racing. During the 1980s, numerous other variants emerged, differing only in graphics and themes, while the mechanics remained virtually unchanged. Mehanotehnika’s only significant step forward was the introduction of larger models, such as “Record Breakers”, “Sky Bolt” and “IL Flipper One” which featured a digital score counter and a slightly different playfield. These were sold for a relatively short time, making them hard to come by today.
In a 1979 interview, the head of marketing at the time, Bogdan Orvel, made a rather confident statement: “We are one of the ten biggest toy factories in the world! We do business with over 70 countries and produce 500,000 pinball machines a year!”
Those numbers look pretty impressive, but hard to believe, especially considering that the Yugoslav toy industry back then was relatively small on a global scale. Even more controversial is his claim that the pinball machine from Izola allegedly served as the inspiration for the famous 1979 Japanese model “Atomic Pinball” by TOMY. Today, many collectors and pinball historians find that claim completely absurd, yet the claim remains a funny anecdote in the history of Mehanotehnika.
During the 1980s, the Yugoslav giant regularly participated in international expos, showcasing its products and gaining international recognition. Accordingly, the company tried to find a way to break into the US market. It succeeded in doing so through a partnership with Durham Industries that handled distribution in the United States under a licensing agreement. Thanks to this partnership, Mehanotehnika pinball machines became available in major retail chains such as Walmart and Kmart.
◆ The company was thriving and pinball machines from Izola could be found everywhere. Then, in 1990, Mehanotehnika decided to change its name to MEHANO looking to start a new business chapter.
During this time, new pinball models like Batman: The Movie and The Real Ghostbusters entered production. Unfortunately, everything stopped in 1991 for well-known reasons. The raging war in Yugoslavia devastated the region, abruptly interrupting the company’s remarkable run.
Seeking to navigate its turbulent financial period, the company most likely granted licence to companies in Hong Kong and China, so we got new pinball models like The Simpsons. In the years that followed, MEHANO phased out pinball production entirely, choosing to focus exclusively on electric train models that remain in production to this day and have been regarded among the finest in the world.
Today, some pinball models are highly sought after by collectors. Pieces like “Masters of the Universe,” “Transformers,” and “G.I. Joe” can fetch several hundred US dollars if they are well-preserved and fully functional. On the other hand, very rare models, such as “Battle Zone”, “Thundercats” or “Record Breakers/Sky Bolt” pop up in the wild every few years.
A few years ago, reissues of iconic TOMY models hit the market, such as the “Atomic Pinball” and the fantastic “Astro Shooter” from 1983. Perhaps now is the perfect moment for MEHANO to make a similar move and revive its classic pinball machine, taking us back to simpler times when Yugoslav toys brought joy to homes around the world.
3 responses to “Pinball From Izola : | Beyond The Yugoslav Dream”
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Welcome!
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Skroz ozbiljan i nadasve informativan tekst o nečemu što je većina ljudi a naših “vršnjaka” već pozaboravljala, al’ zato ste vi tu (kao sajt) da otrgnete sve te igre i konzole od zaborava. Jedva čekam sledeći post, jer iako nisam iz te ekipe (čitaj vazda sam bio smotan i jako loš u fliperu) mene ova priča i te kako zanima baš iz razloga što sam je preskočio i ostao samo na nivou ZX Spectruma. Živeli i srećan rad!
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Zahvaljujemo i otpozdravljamo!
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