Lucky Stroke

Lucky Stroke, manufactured by B. G. Melton and Company of Richmond, Virginia in May 1932, is an early example of a pure mechanical (PM) pinball machine, from an era before electromechanical features became standard. As a product of the earliest years of coin-operated pinball, it offers a glimpse into the game's origins.

Key to its gameplay is its dual-playfield design, featuring two side-by-side playfields, each with its own coin slide, ball lift, and shooter, allowing two players to compete simultaneously. The machine's cabinet has a walnut finish and measures roughly 41.5 inches long, 26.75 inches wide, and 36.5 to 39.5 inches high.

The Lucky Stroke's theme is centered around playing cards, a popular motif in early pinball and amusement machines. Notably, a contemporary Automatic Age advertisement pictures a game that appears identical to a Billboard ad for Moseley Vending Machine Exchange's 1932 'Lucky Hole,' suggesting a close relationship (or possible rebadging) between the two titles. Little else is documented about the machine's specifics, but its dual-playfield design and early-1930s construction make it a notable piece of pinball's pre-flipper history.