Rocket

The Rocket pinball machine, designed by Harvey Heiss and manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company in 1950, is a notable single-player electro-mechanical (EM) game with a Space Age theme. It shares the same playfield and artwork as Genco's 1950 'Mercury,' and has a layout similar to Genco's 1950 'South Pacific.'

The Rocket features two flippers, one pop bumper, and ten kick-out holes, providing multiple paths for the ball to travel and increasing replayability. Only 756 units were produced, making it a relatively scarce machine today.

The Rocket's Space Age theme is reflected in its artwork. Interestingly, while the Encyclopedia of Pinball Volume 1 credits Steve Kordek as the designer, Harvey Heiss told Chicago Expo founder Rob Berk in 2011 that he was in fact the designer, a detail that adds some historical intrigue to this early Genco title.