On Beam

The On Beam, manufactured by Bally in 1969 and designed by Bob Jonesi with art by Christian Marche, is an electromechanical (EM) pinball machine with an outer space theme, sharing its geometric cabinet design with Bally's 1969 'Cosmos' (in different colors).

Players navigate their space ship through four Beams on the backglass, with the goal of docking it with the space station on the same Beam to earn points and unlock a Special feature. The playfield features two flippers, four pop bumpers, and four mushroom bumpers (later-production units replaced the mushroom bumpers with stationary targets), plus a kick-out hole. The Beam-O-Meter on the playfield lets players track their Beam-docking progress without having to watch the backglass. Extra balls are kicked up into play from the outhole.

The On Beam's design and art are quintessential examples of 1960s space-age aesthetics, with bold lines, bright colors, and a futuristic flair. Its compact size and relatively simple layout make it an attractive addition to any pinball collection, and it offers a glimpse into Bally's late-1960s space-themed lineup.