Looking for a Bally KISS machine I was presented with one machine that the seller claims to be a German version. Well I wasn't really looking for a German one as I would rather have the original KISS logo I started to wonder A. what's the differences are between the two machines and B. how can one prove a machine is a German one?

I know that the German playfield and backglass have the altered logo. I also have been advised that the German playfield has more black to it. IPB had reproduced the German playfields and the backglasses were also reproduced so it would be nothing for someone to be able to make a German KISS machine.

I am wondering if it was ever advised as to how many German KISS machines were produced and if the serial numbers were in a bank (i.e. if 3000 were made were the serial number EKI2000 - EKI5000)?

So, again, interested in the differences as well as to how to tell today if a machine is an original German machine.

That's just it .... there appears to be no way to confirm if one is original or not.

This is the first I am hearing of this difference, thanks for the post.

Also, wondering if the lights for the SS is the backbox were different? For the "standard" version there are four bulbs that light up each S in KISS and they're positioned for the lightning bolt S' so were the German bulbs set differently to light up the rounded S'?
kiss3 (resized).JPG

Unfortunately the seller is not a pinball person so he’s reluctant to take glass off. Said I can when I go to look at it.

Actually just noticed this. To your point the repo appear to have skin tone colors whereas the original was just b&w. I also did notice the primer underside is not present on the repo. Thnx for the post!

Bumping to see if anyone else has any info to offer up!

Just overpriced.

Actually had a Pinsider that has an original German machine and he PM'd me advising that the only difference was the SS in the playfield and the backglass. Even the bulb layout, as I described in post 7, is in the same pattern as all other machines.

Makes sense that no other differences as any differences would mean additional manufacturing and cost.

With both the German backglass and playfield being reproduced there's no real way to determine whether or not a game is an original German machine.

Also some info found:
"the similarity between the “SS” logo and KISS’ wasn’t an issue until around 1980, when the Nazi “SS” logo was used in a political ad in West Germany. KISS decided to modify it prior to a September 1980 tour of West Germany by rounding the edges. Since then all of their German-issued albums and marketing materials have used this modified KISS logo."

Take apron off and see if there's any type of stamping on it. Also, look at the sides as well as the front of the playfield for any numbers, could be stamped or hand written.

Very interesting.

When you lift the playfield, are the arrows CNC routed out of the wood or is it just a circle. Be interesting to know if they CNC's the playfield for the arrow inserts or if the were just circles. If arrows are CNC'd into the wood then it might be an overlay. If it's CNC'd circles then it might be some reason like #RC_like_the_cola eluded too.