Odom Special

The Odom Special, manufactured by American Sales Corporation of Chicago in June 1932, is a pure mechanical (PM) marble/pin game from pinball's earliest commercial era, when games had no electrical components at all. It reflects the industry's origins before electromechanical and, later, flipper-equipped machines took over.

The Odom Special features an intriguing gameplay mechanic: players launch up to 8 marbles per play, emphasizing chance and unpredictability, characteristic of early pin games. The cabinet, built by Churchill, includes a short, thin wood-and-paper marquee typical of the period.

The manufacturer advertised trade prizes ranging from $5.00 down through twenty-five smaller prizes, meaning the game itself did not pay out directly — any prizes would have been provided by the location operator. Little else is documented about the Odom Special's design team beyond company personnel including W.G. Gray, Walter A. Tratsch, Lee S. Jones, A.H. Bechtol, and C.D. Odom, but its rarity makes it a notable find for collectors of early pinball history.