Spot-Lite

The Spot-Lite, produced by Daval Manufacturing Co. in May 1935, is an early example of coin-operated electro-mechanical amusement, offering players 10 balls for 5 cents. Powered by a dry cell battery, it reflects the mechanically inventive but still rudimentary state of pinball technology in the mid-1930s.

The Spot-Lite's gameplay features two kicker jets and eight flicker-flash lights on the playfield, along with an electric ball tilt mechanism and an electric out-ball trough. Balls landing in playfield score pockets light corresponding score values on the backglass, while landing a ball in the Outball Return hole at the top of the playfield returns all balls from the bottom trough to the player. Pushing the coin slide resets the pedestal tilt mechanism and returns balls on the playfield to the player for a new game, and a timer beneath the playfield ends the game and voids the score once time expires.

The Spot-Lite's original playfield lamps were painted in different colors, and its small lighted backglass adds to its period charm. Tilting the game lights a red tilt light on the backglass and voids the score, adding an early penalty mechanic to gameplay. No designer or theme is documented for this machine, but its collection of period-typical mechanical features makes it an interesting example of pre-flipper 1930s pinball.