Bally Bonus
About This Machine
The Bally Bonus, manufactured by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in February 1936, is a one-ball payout machine from the era when many coin-op games doubled as gambling devices. For a nickel, the player shot a single ball at playfield holes marked with numbers representing instant cash awards - '10' paid two nickels, while '150' paid thirty - dispensed into a swing-out payout tray on the cabinet front. The machine ran on five dry-cell batteries and was advertised as 44 inches long by 22 inches wide.
Its signature feature is the 'Bally Hole' at the top of the playfield. Each time a ball lands there, an arrow advances through the letters B-A-L-L-Y and the ball is returned to the player: the first letter pays nothing, subsequent letters pay 10 cents, 10 cents, and 30 cents, and completing the 'Y' pays $6.50, for a maximum of $7.00 - paid as $2.00 in nickels plus a token worth $5.00 dispensed to a cup on the side of the cabinet. Three outhole pockets at the bottom of the playfield drive a separate Bonus dial on the apron; the outer holes advance the dial while the center hole collects its value, a feature that carries over from game to game until won.
The game was available in cash payout or ticket payout versions, and this model has no backbox (a backbox-equipped 1936 Bally Bonus also exists). With its layered award mechanics, the Bally Bonus offers a glimpse into the ingenuity of Depression-era payout game design.
Images (13)
Technical Details
- Model Number:
- 69
- Notable Features:
- 1 ball for 5 cents. Free Play holes (2). The playfield holes are marked with numbers representing instant cash payout even though the instruction card refers to these awards as 'points'. For instance, '10' pays two nickels and '150' pays 30 nickels in the swing-out payout tray on the lower cabinet front. Operates on five dry-cell batteries. Advertised as 44 inches long by 22 inches wide. A ball landing in the 'Bally Hole' at top of playfield advances an arrow pointer for the word B-A-L-L-Y to indicate the award paid for that ball. The ball is returned to the player to shoot again. 1st time in hole earns 'B' for no award. 2nd time in hole earns 'A' for instant 10 cents payout. 3rd time in hole earns 'L' for instant additional 10 cents payout. 4th time in hole earns 'L' for instant additional 30 cents payout. 5th time in hole earns 'Y' for instant additional $6.50 payout. The maximum payment for this feature is $7.00 which pays $2.00 in nickels in the front payout drawer plus a token worth $5.00 dispensed to the payout cup on the right side of cabinet. Three outhole pockets at the very bottom of the playfield activate the Bonus dial shown on the lower right apron. Landing in either the left or right unmarked 'Bonus outholes " advance the dial counterclockwise one step. Landing in the center 'Bonus hole' collects the value shown on the dial. This feature will carry-over from game to game until a cash payout is awarded.