Havana
About This Machine
Havana, produced by United Manufacturing Company in February 1954, is a bingo machine — a distinct branch of the coin-op family in which players launch balls into a field of trap holes, hoping to complete lines on a bingo-style card displayed in the backglass. United was one of the leading makers of these games in the early 1950s, and Havana shows the format in full flower.
The playfield features 25 trap holes feeding one card plus two Super-Cards and two Special Cards, along with a Lite-A-Name feature and the ability to return all balls. The game's most engaging wrinkle is its selection system: if the features were purchased with additional coins, the player could rotate a knob on the coin door to choose from any lit "selection feature" in the backglass before shooting the fourth or fifth ball, adding genuine strategy and decision-making. Eight balls were installed in the machine, the standard complement for bingos of this era.
The World Places theme lends the game its tropical name and flavor. As a well-featured mid-1950s United bingo, Havana is a historic find for enthusiasts exploring this often-overlooked corner of coin-op history.
Images (26)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- World Places
- Notable Features:
- Trap holes (25). 1 Card, 2 Super-Cards, 2 Special Cards, Lite-A-Name, Return all balls. Player can rotate knob on coin door to select from any lit "selection feature" in backglass if these features are purchased: • Select a lit selection feature before shooting 4th ball. • Select a lit selection feature before shooting 5th ball. Number of pinballs installed: 8