Hankin
A. Hankin & Co. · NSW, Australia · Made pinball 1978–1980
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About
A. Hankin & Co. was an Australian pinball manufacturer based in Newcastle, New South Wales. The Hankin family's amusement business dated back to 1955, when Alec Hankin began operating jukeboxes and pool tables around the city; after his death in 1974, his sons David and Peter Hankin took over and, a few years later, decided to design and build their own pinball machines rather than keep importing them from the United States. Working with Newcastle artist Mike Eggleston on the machines' theming and art, they released their first two designs in 1978: the space-themed Orbit 1 and FJ, built around the Holden FJ car.
Hankin followed with Dennis Lillee's Howzat!, centered on the Australian fast bowler, and Shark, themed on Newcastle's surf culture, before releasing The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. Lucasfilm licensed the Star Wars name to the small Australian company at no cost after David Hankin approached them directly, asking only that one machine be sent to George Lucas. It was the first licensed Star Wars pinball machine made anywhere in the world, though only 350 units were built.
The pinball venture was short-lived. Video games such as Space Invaders arriving in Australian arcades collapsed the pinball market within a couple of years, and Hankin ended production in 1980 after five original designs. A. Hankin & Company itself carried on, continuing to supply jukeboxes and pool tables from its Newcastle base.
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