The Question Mark

"The Question Mark" is a rare early example of pure mechanical (PM) pinball, manufactured by the Silver Star Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, New York, in February 1933. It is a single-player machine featuring a distinctive "Figure 8" playfield layout.

Gameplay centered on affordability and volume: players got 10 balls for just 5 cents, aiming for one of 22 gobble holes or the single Free Play hole, which offered a chance to continue playing at no extra cost. The cabinet was advertised at a compact 36 inches long, 17 3/4 inches wide, and 37 inches high.

Little is documented about the machine's designer or its broader influence on the industry. Later that year, an "Improved Question Mark" was advertised, though it's unclear what, if anything, was actually changed, and no further games from Silver Star Manufacturing are known to have followed. As a survivor from the earliest days of coin-operated pinball, The Question Mark remains a curiosity for collectors interested in the pre-flipper era of the game.