Starlite
About This Machine
The Williams Starlite, released in March 1953, is a single-player electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine designed by Harry Williams and Sam Stern, with artwork by George Molentin. It arrived several years after flippers had become a standard feature of pinball following Gottlieb's 1947 Humpty Dumpty, and reflects the increasingly sophisticated scoring systems EM designers were building around that new mechanic.
The Starlite's gameplay is characterized by its five-ball-for-a-nickel format. The inclusion of two flippers and two pop bumpers adds an extra layer of challenge and excitement. One of the machine's unique features is its scoring system, which rewards players with replays when specific in-line or corner combinations of lights are completed on the backglass (S-P-O-T bumpers and rollover channels).
The Starlite's design and art reflect its circus/carnival theme, featuring colorful illustrations that evoke the excitement of the midway. As a product of the notable Williams/Stern design partnership, it's an interesting example of early-1950s EM pinball design.
Images (12)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Circus/Carnival
- Model Number:
- 83
- Notable Features:
- 5 balls for 5 cents.Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (2), Trap holes (16). Lighting any adjoining 3-in-line or 4-in-line on backglass, horizontally or vertically, tied together by yellow lines, scores replays. Lighting 4 corners scores replay. Lighting S-P-O-T scores replay. When S-P-O-T bumpers are lit, side rollover channels spot numbers as indicated. S-P-O-T bumper lights go out when replays are scored from in-line score. 1 replay for ball thru any rollover channel when 4 corners are made.
Credits
- Designer:
- Harry Williams, Sam Stern
- Artist:
- George Molentin