Minstrel Man

The Minstrel Man, designed by Harry Mabs with art by Roy Parker, was manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in February 1951, with 1,800 confirmed units produced. Its theme celebrates American history, music, singing, and dancing.

The Minstrel Man features two flippers, three pop bumpers, five passive bumpers, two kick-out holes, and three drop targets. Unlike later drop targets, the surface hit by the ball stays stationary while a plastic image behind it drops into the playfield — the same style used on Gottlieb's 1951 'Wild West.' A V-shaped safety gate between the flippers adds an extra layer of challenge, and the machine can display a maximum score of 7,990,000 points.

The machine's design and artwork reflect its music and entertainment theme. As an early-1950s Gottlieb title with a notable drop-target mechanism, the Minstrel Man is a worthwhile piece for collectors and enthusiasts of the classic EM era.