Wico Corporation

Wico Corporation is a Chicago‑based American maker and distributor that rose to prominence as a supplier of coin‑op amusement parts and iconic arcade joysticks and also produced a small number of pinball machines including Big Top (1977) and Af‑Tor (1984) Af‑Tor stands out as a widebody solid‑state pinball that introduced alphanumeric displays, layered playfields and two‑ball multi‑ball features that were advanced for a smaller manufacturer Big Top reflects Wico’s late‑1970s push into home/novelty pinball and ¾‑scale designs that complemented the company’s parts and peripheral business Best known in the industry for its “joystick king” legacy, Wico built a vast distribution network, patented numerous hardware innovations, and became a dominant source for replacement parts, joysticks and cabinet components across North America Although corporate shifts and competition led to divestitures and a bankruptcy filing in the early 2000s, Wico’s hardware, patents and collectible machines such as Af‑Tor and Big Top remain influential in the vintage pinball and arcade communities