Monopolee
About This Machine
Monopolee, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company and dated April 7, 1936, is a rare one-ball payout machine — only 127 units are confirmed built. It was equipped with the Electropak and Electrolok coin-handling systems, and a Billboard magazine article from May 1936 reveals that Chicago Coin delayed its release to be sure the machine performed reliably, eventually running a double shift to also produce its next release, System.
Monopolee's key mechanic ties into its property-board theme: landing in any "property" hole lights the corresponding light on the backglass, and every subsequent landing in that same hole pays out a higher award. The two "mortgage" holes pay fixed amounts of 30 and 50 cents, and the "national hotel" hole pays a flat $1.50 at all times.
In regions where one-ball payout games were not legally permitted, Chicago Coin also produced a two-ball version of Monopolee, according to contemporary trade press. Its escalating-payout design and property theme make it a notable, historically documented example of Depression-era payout pinball.
Images (1)
Technical Details
- Model Number:
- 20
- Notable Features:
- Landing in any "property" hole lights the corresponding light on the backglass. Every time that hole is made after that pays out a higher award. The two "mortgage" holes pay out 30 cents and 50 cents, respectively, at all times. The "national hotel" hole pays out $1.50 at all times.