Sparky

Sparky, manufactured by Stoner Manufacturing Company in February 1941, is a rare and historically interesting electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine. Stoner produced pinball machines from 1933 to 1941, and Sparky comes from near the very end of that run, making it one of the company's last releases rather than one of its earliest. Machines from this narrow window of Stoner's production hold real importance for pinball historians tracing the company's output.

Notably, Sparky features five balls that can be played for just 5 cents, an appealing pricing strategy for its time. The machine boasts 15 passive bumpers, adding an element of unpredictability to gameplay. As a single-player, flipperless game, it reflects the simpler mechanics typical of pre-flipper pinball, which relied on skillful plunging and bumper placement rather than active ball control.

Little is known about Sparky's designer or specific design details, and no theme or artwork information is documented. Nevertheless, its place at the close of Stoner's pinball production makes it an intriguing find for collectors interested in the pre-flipper era.