Play Ball

Play Ball, manufactured by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) in May 1932, holds a place in the early history of pinball. As a pure mechanical counter-top game, it marks a step in the development of the medium during its formative years.

Play Ball's defining gameplay feature is its accessibility: it offers 10 balls for a single cent, an enticing proposition for players of the time. A period manufacturer advertisement also references a Play Ball playfield sold separately for converting other games, and the game's design traces to a patent filed in 1926 by Percy C. Smith on behalf of Exhibit Supply Co. owner John F. Meyer.

As a small tabletop/counter unit, Play Ball reflects the simple, low-cost coin-op games common in the early 1930s. While details about its designer's specific creative choices and its artwork remain limited, it remains an interesting relic from pinball's early days.