Round-Up

The Round-Up, manufactured by Simplex Phonograph Corporation in April 1932, is one of the earliest pinball-type machines, dating from the dawn of the coin-operated pinball industry. As a Pure Mechanical (PM) game, it predates the introduction of electrical components, scoring circuits, and flippers (which would not arrive until 1947) that later became standard in pinball design.

Gameplay on the Round-Up relied on gravity, springs, and levers rather than any electromechanical or player-operated flipper controls, in keeping with the era's mechanical bagatelle-style games. Notable features include steel and wood construction typical of the period, before more durable materials like plastic and aluminum became common.

Little else is known about the Round-Up's design, art, or theme beyond its age and manufacturer, and Simplex Phonograph Corporation appears to have produced this machine in 1932. As one of the earliest surviving examples of a coin-operated pinball machine, it offers a glimpse into the pre-electromechanical roots of the game, decades before flippers and modern scoring systems would define the industry.