Action (Jr)

The Action (Jr) pinball machine, designed by Harry Williams and manufactured by Bally in December 1934, is a fascinating piece of early electro-mechanical (EM) pinball history. Built under an unusual arrangement in which Williams gave Bally the manufacturing rights to this smaller 40 x 20 inch Junior model while his own company, Automatic Amusements, made the larger 46 x 22 inch Senior version, it showcases the inventive gameplay thinking that made Williams one of the most important designers of pinball's formative years.

What sets the Action (Jr) apart is its creative ball-routing. A ball falling into the Action hole at the top of the playfield pops up at the top of one of the Side Alleys, with subsequent balls alternating between the left and right alleys. Each alley has progressive scoring holes with diverters that route successive balls to the next higher scoring hole. A ball hitting the Bouncer is kicked in a seemingly unpredictable upward direction and can land in the Action hole, while a ball falling into the Release hole at the bottom becomes a captive ball kicked upward inside the enclosed center playfield area, repeating until it scores - and the Release hole also returns all outhole balls to the player for shooting into play.

A curious production note: the Bally-built playfields differ slightly from the Automatic Amusements versions, using the word 'Bouncer' in the upper playfield where the original used 'Rebound'. The Action (Jr) offers a glimpse into the evolution of pinball from its earliest days, making it an appealing piece for collectors and enthusiasts seeking to understand the roots of the game.