Hi-Lo

Hi-Lo, manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company of Chicago in June 1938, is a single-player flipperless electro-mechanical game from pinball's pre-war years. Genco was one of the city's long-running coin-op makers, producing games from 1931 to 1958, and Hi-Lo is characteristic of their late-1930s output.

The playfield features 14 spring bumpers, a common fixture of the period that kept the ball lively as players relied on plunger skill and nudging in the absence of flippers. The game's charm centers on its backglass light animation, which shows a girl diving, a playful complement to its diving and swimming theme.

Little is documented about the designer behind this machine or its production run, which adds a bit of mystique for collectors. For enthusiasts of early pinball, Hi-Lo offers an appealing blend of pre-war technology and lighthearted animated backglass design.