Okotoks, AB
I have no real issue with a "topper" especially the factory ones. That said, 5 toys/figures/dolls, don't make a "topper".
(Topic ID: 167687)
Minneapolis, MN
Fortitude Valley
More Toppers (such as Whirlwind / Twister) should be functional / interactive. Outside of factory installed or option toppers from factory looks generally atrocious. However I have come across some rather tasteful / impressive ones, but generally if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be on top of the game.
1 week later
Quoted from BOBCADE:Ahhhhhh, nope
Kinda reminds me of that creepy Freddy topper in that, you know, it's creepy.
Quoted from BOBCADE:Ahhhhhh, nope
OMG. 
Bermuda Triangle
there are some realy cool toppers here;
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/show-us-your-custom-made-pinball-toppers
Many enthusiasts do not realize many games had factory toppers (not aftermarket) that they have never knew existed, as they were thrown out by operators. I am not talking about common titles.
Some were prototyped that never got produced in large quantities.
Collectors want them because they are RARE.
They did not all come "plastics sets".
That is another reason people own them, not necessarily to display them on their games.
The list quite large.
Frequently, I get the comment when I pull them out "what is that?"
Then a bit of history is revealed.
I like toppers if they are somewhat symmetrical and appear as if they belong or came with the game. Putting random stuff on the top of a pinball is not my cup of tea, done right they are beautiful. That said, I probably need to go to topaholics anonymous as I'm buying toppers for machines I don't have. I thought this thread might help me, but I just makes me want to look at more toppers.
Quoted from fishbone:New trend from the Netherlands: Human Toppers!
if you are in the netherlands go to rotterdam and vissit the dutch pinball museum
real great guy/place!
Quoted from sparechange1974:I like toppers if they are somewhat symmetrical and appear as if they belong or came with the game. Putting random stuff on the top of a pinball is not my cup of tea, done right they are beautiful. That said, I probably need to go to topaholics anonymous as I'm buying toppers for machines I don't have. I thought this thread might help me, but I just makes me want to look at more toppers.
Ugh those pics are just more examples of just say no.
Quoted from patrickvc:If it's a stock topper like my Addams, wh20 and Whirlwind it's ok. No offense to laseriffic toppers or any aftermarket topper, they are not my cup of tea
100% agree. Laseriffic are the worst. And while there are a few aftermarket toppers which are creative and cool, I wouldn't want them on any of my games.
Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:Many enthusiasts do not realize many games had factory toppers (not aftermarket) that they have never knew existed, as they were thrown out by operators. I am not talking about common titles.
Some were prototyped that never got produced in large quantities.
Collectors want them because they are RARE.
They did not all come "plastics sets".
That is another reason people own them, not necessarily to display them on their games.
The list quite large.
Frequently, I get the comment when I pull them out "what is that?"
Then a bit of history is revealed.
Such as?
Quoted from SilverBallz:100% agree. Laseriffic are the worst.
+1
Quoted from SilverBallz:Such as?
+1
Quoted from SilverBallz:Such as?
A few couple off my memory:
Getaway (It was similiar to HS with different images and wording)
BK2K (Interchangable balls per game inserts with oversized BK image which matched the second product plastic set, not the the one in repo sets)
Prototype DW (Lenticular specialized Hologram inserts, I have both the "regular" version, and the hologram which is very rare from the first prototype from Pfutz)
EATPM (Oversized Elvira, nearly always stolen or broken)
AGBGoaWT (Used to be common on Ebay, but now have dried up, most were never installed, got cracked, or stolen)
Most are hard to impossible to find, but a few were repoed over the past 30 years.
There were even a few toppers for early 80s games.
Quoted from jorro:if you are in the netherlands go to rotterdam and vissit the dutch pinball museum
real great guy/place!
Absolutely! 
Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:A few couple off my memory:
Getaway (It was similiar to HS with different images and wording)
BK2K (Interchangable balls per game inserts with oversized BK image which matched the second product plastic set, not the the one in repo sets)
Prototype DW (Lenticular specialized Hologram inserts, I have both the "regular" version, and the hologram which is very rare from the first prototype from Pfutz)
EATPM (Oversized Elvira)
AGBGoaWT (Used to be common on Ebay, but now have dried up, most were never installed, got cracked, or stolen)
Most are hard to impossible to find, but a few were repoed over the past 30 years.
There were even a few toppers for early 80s games.
AGBGoaWT 
Another RARE Bally factory topper that was not exclusive to individual titles but used for 80s early SS games given to operators to generate increased profits and promote changes in coinage of the United States.
"The years of the Susan B. Anthony dollars."
Pinball history in a single photo.
Not all toppers are "bad", but you do not have to display them on your games. Just put them in a frame and smile when somebody asks.
Quoted from Pinplayer1967:That Bally S.B.A. topper is actually really cool, I wish I had one
I don't remember if this topper was ever reproduced. It is just a simple piece of plastic plexiglass with a ink screened backing. Later versions were made even cheaper by using a thin adhesive decal attached to the plastic.
These were given to operators.
They were not "standard" inclusions with new games.
I may scan it and have a few made for nostalgia using modern lexan plastics technology and laminate adhesive similiar to what Stern does with their backglasses or even modern marquees for video games.
Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:I don't remember if this topper was ever reproduced. It is just a simple piece of plastic plexiglass with a ink screened backing. Later versions were made even cheaper by using a thin adhesive decal attached to the plastic.
These were given to operators.
They were not "standard" inclusions with new games.
I may scan it and have a few made for nostalgia using modern lexan plastics technology and laminate adhesive similiar to what Stern does with their backglasses or even modern marquees for video games.
Please post a scan, I can work with that.
5 months later
Leeds
Quoted from stoptap:NOTHING in this thread has made me change my mind about toppers.
Yes, I still love them all!
I'll bet you guys think incandescent bulbs look better in DMD-era games, too.
I kid. I kid. Mostly...
I agree 100% that some toppers are gaudy (I'm generally not a fan of a bunch of action figures/toys sitting on top of games, and prefer the look of just one element serving as the focal point), but I also think that there are a lot of toppers that look badass. Factory toppers like the ones for TAF, WH2O, TWD, look fantastic.
I have factory toppers on my TAF and TWD and a Laseriffic topper on MB. The only games of mine that don't have toppers are GB (I don't really care for the factory one), BSD (haven't seen one that I like), and Tron (I have identity discs hanging from the ceiling above the head - so I guess that's "kind of" a topper).
My only toppers that I think some (this club for sure) would put in the gaudy column are my CFTBL topper (a Creature gravewalker, but I built a stand for it so that it sits at an angle and doesn't look like he's looking straight up like a lot of the ones I've seen) and a fogging skull pile that sits atop my Scared Stiff.
I'm sort of a member out of stubbornness.
Picked up my first machine, a WH2O, without a topper (not knowing it was unobtanium) and since it's just not worth it to me to drop the ridiculous amount to find one for it, I've simply not bothered with them for my few other games either. I actually discussed this with Dennis Nordman at expo and he totally to agreed so that made me feel better 
I even had the topper for the bk2k i had for awhile but never bothered to put it on. Figure this policy could save me a ton of money as my collection expands. Seriously, I'd rather spend it on PDI, LedOCD, ColorDMD, etc.
What i need to figure out is when i get an Alien with the beacon topper, will i still be a club member? It's pretty low-key and primarily is there to interact with the gameplay, so does it get a pass?
Quoted from Mancave:I accept it, i'm in need of some therapy
Quoted from AlexSMendes:Yes, I still love them all!
TROLLS!!!
. Looks even better alongside the others! All McKee.
Quoted from PiperPinball:Both plasma balls are hardwired to the game and interact (flash) when Frankenstein comes alive! Via a relay board.
Ok, those are pretty damn cool, I'll admit.
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