Skipper

The Skipper pinball machine, manufactured by Bally in 1933, is a small pure-mechanical counter game from the early days of coin-operated pinball. Rather than being a pioneering 'first,' it represents one of many pure mechanical pin games that proliferated during the format's rapid growth in the early 1930s.

The gameplay on the Skipper is straightforward yet fitting for its gambling theme. Players can choose to play with either 1 cent or 5 cent pieces, with three balls being shot for a winning combination. The machine's design also showcases its mechanical construction, featuring a cedar finish cabinet and measuring approximately 19 inches long, 11 1/2 inches wide, and 6 inches high; it sold new for $16.50 including tax.

The Skipper's gambling theme is fitting given the period in which it was created, when many counter-top pin games doubled as wagering devices. The game's simplicity and compact tabletop format make it an interesting specimen for collectors and historians. Unfortunately, there is limited information available on its designer or any other notable features that might set it apart from other early pinball machines. Nonetheless, the Skipper remains an interesting piece of pinball history, offering a glimpse into the early days of this beloved game.