Grand Slam
About This Machine
The Grand Slam, produced by J. H. Keeney and Company Incorporated of Chicago in May 1936, is an artifact from the early days of electro-mechanical (EM) pinball. Keeney was one of the many Chicago coin-op manufacturers active during the 1930s boom, and this single-player game dates from the period when makers were first adding electrically powered scoring and features to what had previously been purely mechanical games.
Very little is documented about the Grand Slam's playfield or features. As a 1936 machine it would have predated flippers by more than a decade, so play would have revolved around the plunger launch and the ball's path through the playfield. Its age and manufacturer nonetheless make it an attractive piece for collectors and historians alike.
Unfortunately, no information survives about the game's design, theme, or artwork. Despite that, the machine remains a relic of pinball's formative electro-mechanical years and would be a meaningful addition to any collection or museum exhibit focused on the era.