Star Play

Star Play, manufactured by A & M Vending Machine Company of Brooklyn, New York in September 1932, is a rare and significant example from the earliest days of pinball. As a single-player Pure Mechanical (PM) machine, it predates the electromechanical and flipper eras entirely, relying purely on mechanical means — gravity, plungers, and pins — to move the ball and register scores. The fact that this machine has survived to the present day makes it a valuable piece of pinball history.

At first glance, Star Play may appear simple in design and gameplay by later standards. However, it reflects the clever mechanical problem-solving of its era, before any electrical scoring or lighting was incorporated into pinball design. Its playfield layout would have offered basic scoring and player interaction typical of pre-electric pinball machines of the early 1930s.

Unfortunately, few details are known about the machine's specific design, art, or theme beyond its age and manufacturer. Despite this lack of documentation, Star Play remains an important artifact for historians due to its place at the very dawn of the pinball industry.