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Kings

Manufacturer: Genco Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, Illinois, USA (1931-1958)
Year: 1935
Date: April, 1935
Type: Electro-mechanical (EM)
Players: 1

About This Machine

Kings, manufactured by Genco in 1935, is a rare and significant example of early electro-mechanical pinball machines. As one of the pioneers in the field, Kings played a crucial role in shaping the industry's trajectory. Its existence predates many other notable machines from this period, making it a valuable addition to any serious collector or museum.

The gameplay on Kings is straightforward yet fascinating, with 12 balls available for a mere 5 cents. Players aim to land the balls in one of eight patterns displayed on the backglass, lighting up corresponding King symbols as they complete each sequence. This early design already showcased an intuitive understanding of how players engage with pinball, setting the stage for future innovations. A notable feature is the option to switch from Regular Play to Fast Play by inserting only six balls, which would have allowed operators to cater to different player preferences.

The checkerboard artwork on Kings adds a touch of elegance to its design, while the lack of a specified theme underscores the simplicity and focus on gameplay that characterized early pinball machines. Unfortunately, no information is available about the designer or any interesting trivia surrounding this machine's production. Nevertheless, its historical importance and unique characteristics make it an attractive find for enthusiasts seeking to add a piece of pinball history to their collections.

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Technical Details

Notable Features:
12 balls for 5 cents. Checkerboard artwork. The object is to land balls in the playfield holes in any of 8 patterns specified on the backglass. Completing a pattern lights a King on the backglass for that pattern. Regular Play used 12 balls. Operator could select Fast Play by putting only 6 balls in the game.

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