Stern Electronics

Stern is the name of two different but related companies in the arcade game industry. Stern Electronics, Inc., which had manufactured arcade video games and pinball machines from 1977 until 1985, was best known for the 1980 video game Berzerk. Stern Pinball, Inc., founded in 1986 as Data East Pinball, is a North American pinball machine manufacturer. Stern Electronics, Inc.Stern Electronics was formed when Sam and Gary Stern bought the assets of Chicago Coin in December 1976. Sam had previously owned the amusements manufacturer Williams, purchasing half of the company in 1947 and selling it to the Seeburg Corporation in 1964. Gary had trained under his father at Williams, and from 1973-1976 the two ran the company. Stern Electronics, Inc. acquired their core inventory by purchasing Chicago Coin's assets at bankruptcy sales. As a separate company, they did not assume any of the debt Chicago Coin had amassed. All the stock in this new company was held by Gary Stern and his brother David Stern. In September 1977 Stern acquired Universal Research Laboratories after they went bankrupt a few months earlier. Universal Research Laboratories manufactured circuit boards for Bally pinball mac