Jumpin' Jacks

The 1952 Genco Manufacturing Company's "Jumpin" pinball machine is a distinctive electro-mechanical (EM) upright with a vertical playfield. Harvey Heiss, credited as its designer, included a "Skill Control" button on the lower left of the backglass frame in place of a standard flipper button, which allowed players to control the machine's single flipper.

What sets Jumpin apart from its contemporaries is its unique gameplay feature: six balls per play. The buy-back feature, which allows up to six extra balls at one coin per ball, added an element of strategy and risk-reward. Rounding out its distinctive sound design is a single bell.

While information on Jumpin's theme and art is scarce, its unusual vertical cabinet and buy-back mechanic make it a curiosity for pinball enthusiasts. Interestingly, the machine's schematic bears three sets of initials, including those believed to belong to Steve Kordek, who may have served as electrical circuit designer while Heiss designed the physical playfield -- offering insight into the collaborative nature of early pinball design.