Mystery

The Mystery, manufactured by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) in 1947, is an example of the flipperless, single-player electro-mechanical games common just before the flipper era began. It represents an interesting chapter in the evolution of pinball, arriving the same year flippers were first introduced to the industry.

Key features of the Mystery include 15 passive bumpers, which score without any electromagnets, and three kick-out holes that send the ball back into play. The game's simplicity is characteristic of flipperless EM pinball machines, which emphasized skillful nudging and gravity-based play over the flipper-driven control that would define pinball just months later. Notably, operators of this era would often retrofit flipperless games like Mystery with flippers after the fact, sometimes installing them in unusual playfield locations.

The Mystery's design and construction reflect the typical style of its era, with basic cabinet graphics and a playfield arrangement of targets and kick-out holes rather than elaborate theming. Few specific details are known about the game's designers or development process, but this machine remains an interesting piece for understanding the pinball industry on the cusp of the flipper revolution.