Gold Mine

The Gold Mine pinball machine, manufactured by Marvel Manufacturing Company of Chicago in January 1948, is an interesting example of a small postwar manufacturer's take on electro-mechanical pinball. Marvel operated only from 1944 to 1948, and Gold Mine dates from the company's final year, arriving just as flippers were transforming the industry.

The gameplay features of Gold Mine are a key aspect of its appeal to enthusiasts. Players received five balls for just five cents, a relatively affordable option at the time. The machine boasts four flippers and thirteen passive bumpers, along with three kick-out holes and an outhole bonus feature. The outhole trough is particularly noteworthy: it actually consists of five additional scoring pockets, a clever design choice. The game was sold either as a single-coin model or, for ten dollars more, with the 'Plus 4' coin feature, allowing pricing of 5, 10, 15, or 20 cents per game through a single coin chute - each additional coin lowered the high score needed to win an award.

The Gold Mine's prospecting theme reflects the post-war optimism and sense of possibility that characterized American culture at the time. While the designer is not documented, the machine's age and the short life of its manufacturer make it of interest to collectors and historians. A rolldown version of the game was also produced by Marvel in 1948 under the same name.