Big Jack

Big Jack, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in October 1968, is an interesting footnote in Gottlieb's export history: it is a version of the company's Paul Bunyan, produced for export to Italy. As an Add-A-Ball game, it awarded extra balls rather than replays, the standard adaptation for markets where replay awards were restricted.

The two-player game carries a fantasy, myth-and-legend theme drawn from the Paul Bunyan folk tale, with artwork by Art Stenholm. Its most striking feature is an unusual complement of six flippers, supported by three pop bumpers and two kick-out holes, giving players an uncommon degree of ball control for a late-1960s EM machine.

Big Jack was designed by an impressive roster of Gottlieb talent - Wayne Neyens, Ed Krynski, and Steve Kirk - and a confirmed 1,725 units were produced. As an export variant of a classic Gottlieb design, it remains an appealing curiosity for collectors interested in the international side of pinball history.