The History of the Pinball Machine CLINT EDMUNDS

Bagatelle (France, Late 15 th Century) Shoot the balls into the holes with the cue stick, trying to knock the pins over Cue Stick

The Transfer to the Colonies (1775 -1783) France “Bagatelle” The American Revolution The West Thirteen Colonies �The French introduced the game “Bagatelle” to the colonists when the French were helping them fight against the British in the American Revolutionary War.

The American Design (1871) �Montague Regrave’s design for a machine that has a plunger to launch the balls in the upper playfield, and is built at an angle, which is the rough shape and design of most pinball machines today. �U. S Patent #115, 357 for “Improvements to Bagatelle”

Coin-Operated Machines �In 1931, David Gottlieb made the first coin operated pinball machine named “Baffle Ball, ” the game dispensed 5 -7 balls for a penny, which provided cheap entertainment for many. �The machine sold for $17. 50 per product. Co t for o l S in ne th chi a M e

Electrification Added to the Mix �A few years later, Harry Williams invented the first pinball machine with electrified effects “Contact. ” �Williams would later (1944) form his own company, Williams Manufacturing.

WWII and Pinball Machines �During WWII all major manufacturing companies in coin operated games such as pinball, were put into use by manufacturing equipment and supplies for the American War effort.

Golden Age �Pinball machines really grew in popularity after World War II. The ten year period of 1948 -58 is referred to by some as the "Golden Age" of pinball, due to the invention of flippers in 1947 by the D. Gottlieb Co. in a game called "Humpty Dumpty”, and was one of the main reasons for the renewed interest in pinball machines at the time. Humpty Dumpty was the very first pinball machine with flippers !

1990’s - Now �Today Stern is the one and only leader in pinball manufacturing. �Chicago has been the center hub for manufacturing and since the early 1930 s where then, there were 150 companies manufacturing pinball machines. �The only product that is posing a problem for machines today is the video games, and their rapid improvements and additions to game already existing.

Fun Facts �The best-selling pinball machine of all time is still “The Addams Family, ” which came out in 1991. �In 1974, Ronald L. Mowry set a world record for playing pinball non-stop for over three days, on a machine called "Super Soccer" made by "D. Gottlieb". He spent over $100 in quarters, despite winning 145 free games. After 704 games, he was rushed to the emergency room for severe inflammation of his lower extremities.