Gold Star

The Gold Star pinball machine, manufactured by Ripepi of Messina, Italy in 1976, is a rare example of Italian electro-mechanical pinball design. As an EM machine built well after flippers and pop bumpers had become standard, it represents the kind of small regional manufacturer output that flourished in Italy during the 1970s, often alongside larger domestic makers.

The gameplay features on the Gold Star include two flippers, three pop bumpers, a roll-under spinner, and a kick-out hole. This combination creates a dynamic, single-player play experience that rewards skill and strategy, typical of the Add-A-Ball format used in many European machines of the era.

The Gold Star's Western theme was brought to life by artist Michele "Mike" Martinelli, whose work also appears on other Italian pinball conversions and kits from the period. Beyond the artist credit, little else is documented about the machine's design history, but it remains an interesting piece for collectors seeking lesser-known examples of 1970s Italian EM pinball.