Ship-Mates

Ship-Mates, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in February 1964, is a four-player electro-mechanical pinball with a nautical/sailing/military theme. It was designed by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker, and 5,115 units were produced.

Ship-Mates features two flippers, four pop bumpers, two slingshots, six standup targets, two kick-out holes, and a rollunder. Its standout feature is a roto-target numbered 1, 2, and 3; hitting all three awards a same-player-shoots-again. The maximum displayed point score is 1,999 points per player, tilt penalty is loss of the ball in play, and the replay wheel maximum is 26.

The artwork reflects the game's nautical and military themes, with sound provided by two bells and a knocker. One curious detail: the roto-target's light shield is not plastic but polished metal with screened printing, and the ink on these shields is reportedly prone to flaking over time -- a small quirk of interest to collectors and restorers today.