Sky Blazer

The Sky Blazer, manufactured by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) in May 1941, is a flipperless, single-player electro-mechanical pinball machine with an aviation theme. Its release came as the United States watched World War II unfold in Europe, and its theme of aviation and flight likely resonated with the public's fascination with aircraft during this period.

Gameplay centers on ESCO's straightforward but engaging formula: 5 balls could be played for just 5 cents, and the playfield is packed with 12 scoring bumpers, adding to the excitement and challenge of racking up points. As a pre-flipper design, all of the scoring came from the ball's interaction with these bumpers and the layout of the field rather than from any flipper control.

The artwork on the Sky Blazer depicts aircraft and airfields, in keeping with ESCO's aviation theme. Little is documented about the machine's designer or its reception at the time, but the Sky Blazer remains an interesting example of the aviation-themed, flipperless machines that were common in the years just before flippers reshaped the game.