Jolly Roger

The Jolly Roger, designed by Norm Clark with artwork by Christian Marche, was produced by Williams Electronics in 1967 (model 343), with 3,502 confirmed units built. It brought players a swashbuckling pirate adventure, one of the historical-pirate themes that appeared during the electro-mechanical era.

The Jolly Roger features two flippers, four pop bumpers, and two slingshots, along with three standup targets and a score drum built into the playfield, offering players a varied and challenging layout typical of late-1960s Williams machines.

The Jolly Roger's artwork and design are quintessential of 1960s pinball aesthetics, with a focus on bold colors, nautical motifs, and whimsical illustrations of pirates and sea creatures, likely inspired by the classic skull-and-crossbones pirate flag. Notably, early production cabinets were finished in blue before the color was changed to yellow, and Jolly Roger was also the first 4-player Williams machine to place its on/off switch in the now-familiar spot underneath the front right corner of the cabinet. It remains an attractive and collectible example for enthusiasts of vintage pinball.