Big-Bertha (Senior)

Big-Bertha (Senior) is a rare and historic electro-mechanical pin game from Daval Manufacturing Co., presented to the coin machine market around August 1934. Its World War I military theme takes its name from 'Big Bertha,' the nickname given to a large heavy-duty German-made howitzer used in the war, which came to describe any large German gun. Curiously, the playfield spells the name with a hyphen ('Big-Bertha') while the printed literature does not.

Key features include 10 balls for a mere 5 cents, shooting cannons, and ringing bells - all indicative of the mechanical ingenuity that defined early pin games. The use of large glass marbles adds a unique twist to gameplay. Advertised at 46 inches long by 22 inches wide, the Senior model was the larger of two versions, with subtle playfield differences distinguishing it from the Junior.

The machine's theme and art are reflective of the era in which it was created, with the marbled coin door, marbled side panels, and dark-striped legs contributing to its distinctive appearance. The game even has a small place in hobby lore: it was incorrectly identified as 'Big Brother' in the 1975 museum brochure Tilt!, Pinball Machines 1931-1958 and in The Coin Slot magazine. Big-Bertha (Senior) remains an intriguing piece for collectors and historians due to its rarity and early place in pinball history.