Banjo

Meet "Banjo", an early electromechanical (EM) pinball machine produced by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) of Chicago in March 1948. Its theme blends American History, Dancing, Music, and Singing. As an EM pinball, Banjo predates the advent of electronic pinballs, relying on electrical contacts, solenoids, and relays to control gameplay.

The machine offers the standard 5 balls per play of its era and boasts four flippers, allowing players to attack the ball with greater precision, as well as ten passive bumpers that react to the ball's trajectory. Three kick-out holes round out the playfield, catching the ball and ejecting it back into play.

In terms of design and art, Banjo's aesthetic is quintessentially 1940s American: think vintage jazz clubs, swing dancing, and the likes of Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong. Its charming, nostalgic quality makes it an appealing example of ESCO's postwar flipper-era production for pinball enthusiasts interested in the game's early history.