An Acquisition Announced
In a surprise announcement posted to Facebook late Wednesday evening, American Pinball revealed it has been acquired by JB Vincent L.P., a Texas-based family office led by businessman J. Bryan Vincent.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JB Vincent LP Announces Acquisition of American Pinball
New ownership signals long-term investment in innovation, brand growth, and American manufacturing excellence.San Angelo, TX — [January 15th, 2026] — JB Vincent LP today announced that it has acquired the assets of American Pinball Inc., marking a significant new chapter for the company. This acquisition positions American Pinball for renewed growth, expanded innovation and a strengthened commitment to delivering licensed titles paired with the highest-quality manufacturing in the industry.
J. Bryan Vincent is a seasoned investor with a proven track record in brand imaging, product development and innovation, as well as scaling high-quality manufacturing operations. Under the direction and leadership of JB Vincent LP, the company will focus on building out a best-in-class team, enhancing product design, intellectual property, and building long-term value while honoring the craftsmanship and creativity that the pinball community expects.
"This investment is about the future," said J. Bryan Vincent, Managing Partner of JB Vincent LP. "Both American Pinball and Orbit Games have some elements we can build on; However, our top priority is building trust in the company while fostering a positive and engaging culture for employees and customers. I am a pinball enthusiast, so this investment is personally exciting for me. We are hitting the ground quickly and are already in the process of securing valuable licensing agreements for upcoming games. JB Vincent is committed to providing the liquidity and every resource available to make American Pinball a market leader that is passionate about serving the pinball community."
Vincent brings decades of experience as a manufacturer, with expertise in developing differentiated products and brands that resonate with customers. His background includes successfully leading organizations through growth phases that require both creativity and discipline in manufacturing.
"Pinball is a uniquely American manufacturing story," Vincent added. "Our goal is to ensure American Pinball is positioned not just to survive, but to thrive by building a community-oriented culture the that attracts people committed to building the best machines that are innovative, beautiful, and exciting to play. We believe pinball is an adventure and we invite our customers to Play the Adventure with us."
About JB Vincent LP
JB Vincent LP is a family office with investments across a range of asset classes and has a particular focus on building out operating companies to be a leader in niche markets.
Media Contact: Ron Lindeman, President / ron@americanpinball.com
The announcement follows rumblings of activity from the dormant Chicago-area manufacturer. In recent weeks, American Pinball has refreshed its logo, updated its tagline to "Play the Adventure," and posted a hiring call across the pinball manufacturing spectrum—from assembly to game design. I covered some of these details in last week's edition of This Week in Pinball. Then, as now, I remain skeptical and have sent numerous questions to President Ron Lindeman for clarification.
Who is J. Bryan Vincent and JB Vincent L.P.?
Vincent is a West Texas entrepreneur with a Ph.D. in chemistry and a track record building LED lighting companies. He co-founded Principal LED in San Angelo in 2010 and grew it into one of the top three LED suppliers in the sign industry globally—and notably the only U.S.-based manufacturer of LED sign modules.
Under a six-year private equity partnership with Valesco Industries, Principal Industries delivered 396% sales growth and completed four acquisitions before Vincent and his brother sold to Wynnchurch Capital in November 2024. Vincent was named SBA Small Business Person of the Year in 2017 and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist in 2023. What he doesn't have is any apparent experience in pinball, arcade games, or the amusement industry.
What Does this Mean for American Pinball?
Based on what I've been able to learn about Vincent's background, there's reason for cautious optimism. His manufacturing credentials are real, his acquisition playbook has worked before, and the family office structure suggests patient capital rather than a search for aggressive returns. The ecosystem is better with another healthy manufacturer in it.
That said, Vincent's experience is almost entirely in LED manufacturing for commercial signage, which is a completely different sector. Pinball requires licensed IP relationships, community engagement with collectors and enthusiasts, game design creativity, and dealer partnerships that have no parallel in his previous work. And pinball manufacturing has felled a number of ambitious entrepreneurs before.
American Pinball also has a lot to overcome in this new iteration. The company has been essentially dormant for over a year, its creative team scattered after the late 2024 layoffs, and its last original release was a commercial disaster. Vincent will have to rebuild AP's reputation both as a quality manufacturer and as a place where talented people want to work—both significantly tarnished by a series of high-profile missteps. The press release's emphasis on "building trust" and "positive culture" suggests he knows this. Whether he can actually deliver is another question.
I've sent questions to Ron Lindeman and will follow up when I hear back.
