![]() ![]() ![]() They found itself facing increased competition from other manufacturers introducing unique playfield designs. Pinball machines at the time were countertop games, with no legs and no back glass. It was a successful format, and they sold a lot of machines. The Lion Manufacturing company (Later to be called Bally) came out with their first coin operated Pinball game. The early 1930’s were a rough time for the coin-op manufacturers. Below is the article that was in the coin op collectors magazine. The “Who’s Goofy” is 24 by 16 by 9 inches high. The Bally “Goofy” is 30 by 16 by 9 inches high. ![]() Not only are they excellent working machines, with no play wear, but they are the same two machines that were used to make the Federal Judgement that it was close enough to be a copy, thus the first N.R.A. These are the two finest examples of these machines. So the colors are bright and vivid, and not faded. They have been on warehouse shelves, covered with canvas their whole life. These two machines are the actual machines that the judge looked at. Bally hired a coin machine operator and freelance designer, to buy one of the copycats, and take it and their “Goofy” to the federal court in Chicago. These two pinballs were the first test of that law. Included was a law that forbade the copying of specific features of another’s product, and using the features on your own products. The Depression had started, and the Government made the N.R.A. Goofy was so successful, that other Chicago coin machine manufacturers started making almost identical machines, right down to the bright colors and play features. After all the balls are shot, you add up your score. Before this machine there were just numbered score holes that the ball would drop into. It was the first pinball to incorporate moving playfield parts and special features. One is the 2nd machine Bally ever made, called “Goofy”. They are table top size typical of the first pinballs in the 1930’s. See more information and larger photo of the Bally Goofy Pinball from another web site. See article below.Īs a result of the lawsuit, very few, if any other, Goofy Junior pinballs exist. This pair of Goofy pinballs, consist of the original (larger) Bally Goofy pinball, and the smaller copycat pinball, Goofy Junior, that a competitor made. Second, these pinballs also had scoring levels (10, 20, etc., 100, 200, etc., 1000, 2000, etc., etc.) built into the design of the backglass with a separate light bulb for each score, whereas in the late 1950s the manufacturers utilized a digital scoring system.Ĭirca 1932s, made by the Bally Corporation, five balls for a nickel, features the Bally free ball hole. Metal legs and rails (for added strength and durability) were added in the late 1950s. First, the pinballs of this era have wooden legs and wooden rails on the sides of the machine. Two features distinguish the "Golden Age" pinballs from later model pinballs. Many people believe that the "Golden Age" pinball machines were pieces of pop art and collect them for their artistic merit as well as their payability. The first flipper game was Gottlieb's HUMPTY DUMPTY. The invention of the flipper in 1947 was one of the main reasons for the renewed interest in pinballs. The ten year period of 1948 to 1958 is referred to by many collectors as the "Golden Age of Pinball". The pinball machine really took off after World War II. Lights and backglasses were added in 1934, and the pinball bumper was introduced in 1937. As more features were added, the pinball machine was outfitted with transformers so that they could be plugged into an outlet. In 1933, electricity was introduced by adding a battery to the machine. Like today's video fads, many pinball machines were popular for only a few months until a newer more exciting machine was introduced. To counter this problem, the tilt mechanism was invented. Since many pinball operators gave away prizes for high scores, some players tried to cheat by shaking and lifting the machine. The popularity of the pinball machine, like the popularity of the penny arcade, is attributed to the depression and the desire for low cost entertainment. They were designed to be countertop games, legs were a later addition. In comparison to today's pinball machines, these machines were rather simple, low in cost, and small in size. Gottlieb & Company), and the BALLY HOO (Bally Corporation). The first popular pinballs were the BINGO (Bingo Novelty Company), BAFFLE BALL (D. The modern era of pinball machines started in the early 1930s. ![]()
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