Official (Counter)

The Official (Counter), manufactured by Mills Novelty Company in June 1932, is a compact tabletop/counter version of Mills' pure mechanical (PM) pinball game, also known as "Counter Official" or "Baby Official." It measures 21 1/2 inches long, 11 1/4 inches wide, and 7 inches high, and offers 10 balls for 1 cent. As a pure mechanical game, it has no electrical components and, like all pinball of this period, predates the invention of the flipper.

According to courtroom testimony from Mills Novelty president Fred Mills, this game resulted from field studies of the company's first game, 1932's "!WOW!" A metal plaque reading "Official Pin Table" is often found affixed to this counter version, even though the term "pin table" technically refers to leg-equipped machines rather than counter models.

The game's small footprint made it well suited to countertop placement in stores and other locations. While detailed design and artist information is not documented, its connection to Mills' pioneering "!WOW!" and its compact, historic format make it a notable piece of early pinball history.