Hot Cha!

Hot Cha! is an early pure mechanical (PM) counter game manufactured by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) of Chicago in July 1932. Emerging during the depths of the Great Depression, this tabletop machine is a testament to the ingenuity of early coin-op designers, who packed maximum entertainment into a small, affordable package - it sold for $17.50 and was equipped for 1-cent play unless 5-cent play was ordered.

This six-in-one machine boasts an impressive array of gameplay options: Hot Cha, Play Ball, Football, Shoot the Moon, Domino Pool, and Indian Dice. The aluminum playfield and walnut-finished cabinet add a touch of elegance to this mechanical marvel. Weighing in at a mere 12 pounds and measuring only 15 inches long by 12 inches wide, Hot Cha! was compact enough to sit on any store counter.

Little is known about the machine's designer or the creative vision behind it. Nevertheless, this antique counter game offers a fascinating glimpse into the earliest days of the coin-op industry, and its unique blend of multiple games in one simple mechanical package makes it an exciting find for collectors and historians alike.