Stop and Go
About This Machine
Stop and Go, manufactured by Genco and released in November 1938, is a flipperless, single-player pinball machine from the electro-mechanical era's early years. Initially offered in 5-ball novelty and free-game models, a reserve version was added by January 1939.
Stop and Go carries an Automobile Travel theme, with 15 spring bumpers scattered across the playfield, each worth 100 points. Hitting the first 5 bumpers lights the red lanes, and the next 5 lights the green lanes; passing over a lit red or green skill lane scores 1,000 points, while the amber skill lane always scores 1,000 points regardless of state. The skill lanes at the bottom of the playfield keep the ball in play until the end, and reaching a high enough score releases an extra ball.
As a flipperless game, shot-making depended entirely on the layout, the ball's momentum, and the machine's tilt mechanics rather than player-controlled flippers, which had not yet been invented. Little is recorded about the artwork or designer, but Stop and Go's scoring system reflects the inventive gameplay mechanics that Genco and its contemporaries were exploring during pinball's pre-flipper era.
Images (20)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Automobile Travel
- Notable Features:
- 5 balls per play. Spring bumpers (15). Information from the Billboard ad, similar to the flyer description: All bumpers count for 100 points. On the first 5 hits the red lites are lited. On the next 5 the green lites are on. If a ball passes over a red skill lane when the red lites are on, 1000 points are registered. When the green lites are on and the ball passes over a green skill lane, 1000 points are added. Amber lighted skill lane registers 1000 points at all times. Skill lanes at the bottom of the board keep the play alive to the end of play. When player reaches a certain high score an extra ball is released for play.