Shanghai

The Shanghai, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company in 1948, is a solid addition to any serious pinball collection. As an electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine designed by Jerry Koci, it showcases the game's mechanics and design during the years just before the flipper era transformed the industry.

One of the Shanghai's most distinctive features is its 12 passive bumpers, which were typical of pinball machines in this period, before active pop bumpers became standard. The inclusion of two flippers and three kick-out holes adds variety to the gameplay, requiring players to adapt their strategies to navigate the ball through a challenging, compact playfield. Although specific rules or objectives are not well-documented, the Shanghai's unique blend of classic pinball elements makes it an attractive target for collectors and enthusiasts seeking a piece of early EM history.

Notably, the Shanghai sports a World Places theme, which was a common motif in 1940s pinball design. With 1,350 confirmed units produced and only limited additional information available about its production run or any notable variants, the Shanghai remains a solid, well-documented piece of pinball history, sure to captivate collectors with its rarity and nostalgic charm.