Golden Gate

The Golden Gate pinball machine, manufactured by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) of Chicago in September 1939, is an appealing piece of pre-war electro-mechanical pinball history. A flipperless, single-player game offering five balls for five cents, it provided an affordable entertainment option as the country emerged from the Great Depression.

The playfield is populated with eleven passive bumpers, and the instructions directed players to shoot for the lighted channel, with channels scoring 1,000 points or more when lit. The playfield also appears to have a captive ball channel running along its left side, an unusual feature about which little is documented. The large backglass measures a striking 21 by 21 inches.

The game's American Places - Sailing - Water theme evokes San Francisco and its famous bridge, reflecting the era's fascination with iconic American landmarks and maritime imagery. The instruction card's declaration that "this game for amusement only" is a telling artifact of the period, when manufacturers were careful to distinguish amusement pinball from gambling devices.