Gizmo

Gizmo, created by Williams Manufacturing Company in August 1948, is an early flipper-era electro-mechanical pinball machine designed by Harry Williams and Sam Stern, with artwork by George Molentin. Its title comes from aviator slang: a "gizmo" is a piece of technical gear, fitting the game's aviation theme.

Gizmo's most distinctive engineering quirk is its flipper system: all four flippers operate simultaneously, controlled by a single coil. Likewise, all five kick-out holes fire simultaneously from a single coil. Gameplay revolves around navigating the ball through nine passive bumpers and into those kick-out holes, a challenging setup that rewards careful nudging and timing.

As an example of pinball design in the first years after the flipper's 1947 debut, Gizmo shows how manufacturers were still experimenting with how flippers should work before independent flipper control became standard. For enthusiasts exploring the early days of flipper pinball, Gizmo presents an intriguing look at the building blocks of the modern game.