Top Ten

The Top Ten pinball machine, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company in 1975, is a two-player electro-mechanical (EM) machine with a music, singing, dancing, and show-business theme, released as the industry was on the cusp of transitioning to solid-state technology.

Gameplay on the Top Ten is characterized by its blend of flippers, pop bumpers, slingshots, drop targets, standup targets, rollover buttons, and spinning posts. The machine's designers, Albin Peters, Jerry Koci, and Wendell McAdams, incorporated a variety of features to keep players engaged, with 3 or 5 ball play options and an end-of-ball bonus rewarding players for reaching specific goals. The sound design features two chimes and a distinctive knocker.

The Top Ten's show-business theme, with artwork by Christian Marche, is a departure from the era's more common rock-and-roll motifs, evoking the glamour of classic musical revues instead. The four-player version of this game was released as Chicago Coin's 'Gold Record.' Little further information about this machine is documented online, making it an intriguing find for pinball enthusiasts and collectors.